Bentonville offers an unparalleled mountain biking experience where rugged Ozark terrain meets state-of-the-art trail design. Whether fathers and sons are brand-new riders or seasoned experts, these two systems offer perfectly tailored progression lines.
💵 Entry & Trail Fees: 100% Free. Unlike state or national parks, there are no entry fees, parking fees, or trail passes required for either Slaughter Pen or Coler.
⏰ Park Hours: Sunrise to 11:00 PM daily. Many sections of Slaughter Pen are even lit for night riding!
🚲 Bike Rentals: If attendees don’t own mountain bikes, Bentonville has dozens of local bike shops within pedaling distance of the trails offering high-end full-suspension bikes and e-bikes.
Slaughter Pen was Bentonville’s first true mountain bike masterpiece. It is a unique urban trail system that connects seamlessly directly to the downtown square and winds alongside the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
The Vibe: Fast, flowing, and highly interactive. You can ride past world-class outdoor art sculptures one minute and hit a massive wooden berm the next.
Best for Father/Son: The Castle and Free Ride Park. This area features a literal stone castle structure surrounded by bike playgrounds, dirt jumps, pump tracks, and a series of progressive drop-offs where kids and parents can safely test their skills.
Located just two miles west of downtown, Coler is a designated “mountain bike preserve.” It feels entirely backcountry but operates with the polished infrastructure of a theme park.
The Vibe: Deep woods, steep valley walls, and gravity-fueled adrenaline. All gravity trails flow from a stunning, central steel-and-wood structure at the highest point known as “The Hub.”
Best for Father/Son: The Thunder Dome. A dual slalom track where fathers and sons can race side-by-side down parallel, identical dirt tracks full of rollers and berms to see who gets to the bottom first.
Camping at Coler: Coler features the only campgrounds directly on these trail networks. It offers primitive tent sites, camper van parking, modern restrooms, hot showers, and a community fire pit.
Airship Coffee (Coler): A world-famous open-air café buried deep in the woods of the preserve. It is only accessible by bike or foot. It’s the perfect mid-ride destination for fathers and sons to grab a refreshing drink, tacos, or a snack.
Bike Wash & Repair Stations: Both parks feature free public bike wash stations and fix-it stands equipped with tools and air pumps at the main trailheads.
Including this story on your page helps attendees understand just how special this location is:
Bentonville’s mountain bike empire started in 2007 with just five miles of traditional dirt singletrack at Slaughter Pen. Fueled by the vision and philanthropy of Tom and Steuart Walton (grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton), the city began treats trails as essential community infrastructure.
Trail builders from across the globe were brought into the Ozarks to carve out miles of perfectly sculpted dirt, massive limestone rock drops, and intricate wooden flyovers. Today, Bentonville sits at the center of an interconnected 250-mile regional trail system, transforming Northwest Arkansas into the global gold standard for cycling culture.
The Ozark Dirt Expedition: A Father-Son Singletrack Journey Lock your hubs and check your tire pressure—we are heading to Bentonville, Arkansas, for an absolute powerhouse of a mountain biking weekend! This is a fast-paced, high-energy two-day, one-night drop into the absolute best singletrack, drops, and flow trails in the country. Whether you and your son...
