As a real estate agent living in Arkansas, I’ve spent a lot of time finding the “fun” spots in Northwest Arkansas. And one of the questions I often get from people vacationing or moving here is: What are the best hiking, biking, and running trails in Northwest Arkansas? Lucky for you, I happen to enjoy all three of those, and I happen to know a few of them too!
Here are the best hiking, biking, and running spots in Northwest Arkansas:
- Centennial Park (Fayetteville)
- Slaughter Pen and The Back 40 (Bentonville)
- Mount Kessler (Fayetteville)
- Lake Wedington (Fayetteville)
- Hobbs State Park
- Devil’s Den
Read on to learn more about these trails and what makes them great for hiking and biking. I’ve also created a downloadable 3-day Itinerary for anyone looking to explore Northwest Arkansas. This itinerary includes the best places to visit and a full schedule for your weekend vacation.
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1. Centennial Park (Fayetteville)
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Let’s start with Centennial Park, one of the most important places in Northwest Arkansas. It’s right in the middle of Fayetteville and was purchased years ago by the city of Fayetteville. And they decided to use it to — among other things — host the major US competition, Cyclocross. You may be interested to know that the city took about three to five years to build this place.
For those who don’t know what Cyclocross is, it’s basically an intense biking competition where cyclists race against each other through various biking trails, occasionally get off and jog with their bikes on their shoulders, race across ramps and jumps, etc.
The competition is usually held in January when it’s cold, wet, and slippery. This makes the competition even more intense, so many people turn out to watch.
Because of the trails in Fayetteville, plenty of biking systems are available for the rest of the year. From dirt tracks to rocky paths, Centennial Park is the place to bike.
2. Slaughter Pen and The Back 40 (Bentonville)
Since Bentonville has a lot of trail systems, I’m going to combine them into one entry on this list. Bentonville is known for its incredible trail systems, but Slaughter Pen deserves special mention. This trail comes right out at the main connection point in downtown Bentonville, so it’s also conveniently located.
I could ramble on about Slaughter Pen and the Back 40, but I’ll try to keep it short. The city has used the existing environment to create fun biking and hiking paths. These trails include jumps, ramps, rock paths, gravel roads, dense forest paths, and much more.
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Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
3. Mount Kessler (Fayetteville)
Coming back to Fayetteville, let’s take a look at Mount Kessler. This mountain was also purchased by the city of Fayetteville and the organization that runs the Ozark trail systems.
The hiking and biking trails along Mount Kessler were created by improving the existing environment.
Instead of bringing in concrete or other foreign materials, the makers of the trail simply used the existing rock formations, gravel and dirt paths, and animal tracks to create a vast, interconnected trail system.
Another interesting sight on Mount Kessler is the old, Civil War-esque “ghost house” towards the top of the mountain. (I believe it’s over 150 years old, give or take.) You’ll probably come across it if you’re planning to hike or bike through Mount Kessler. It’s a fun place to picnic or even just explore with friends.
The biking trails on Mount Kessler are much more intense and difficult than some of the other spots on this list. So it isn’t very suitable for beginners, but hikers and experienced bikers can try out these trails.
There may be times when you have to get off your bike and cross on foot. If that’s the kind of biking you like, then, by all means, head on over to Mount Kessler!
4. Lake Wedington (Fayetteville)
Lake Wedington is located near Salem Springs, west of the Bentonville-Fayetteville area. This spot is an unknown gem of Northwest Arkansas and boasts some of the most picturesque trails in the area. The lake features 20 to 30 miles of trails right alongside it.
Lake Wedington also has many gravel roads nearby, so you can always move onto the road for an easier biking experience if you get tired of dirt tracks. These roads are also less traveled, so you don’t have to worry about cars while hiking or biking. This makes Lake Wedington a great place to hit up with your friends!
5. Hobbs State Park
Hobbs State Park is one of the main treasures of Northwest Arkansas simply because of the number of things you can do there. It features a trail system spanning 54 miles (86.9 km), multiple rivers and a lake, camping sites, trails for horseback riding, and much more. Plus, it’s relatively unknown, so you don’t have to worry about crowds.
Hobbs State Park is definitely the best place for a family vacation. It was developed by Monument Trails, a well-known trail developer in Northwest Arkansas. You can easily get your car, tent, or camper and park it at one of the many camping sites available. Then you can go hiking, biking, picnicking near the lake or river, horseback riding (if you have horses), and so much more.
The many rivers running through Hobbs State Park provide a beautiful view at any spot in the park, so it’s the best place to enjoy your vacation.
6. Devil’s Den
Also developed by Monument Trails, Devil’s Den is the go-to place for families, friend groups, and anyone looking for a fun, relaxing vacation. Devil’s Den features extensive hiking and biking trails, picturesque waterfalls, a swimming pool, a suspension bridge, campsites, picnic tables, etc.
It’s really the best place to spend some time outdoors with your loved ones. You can even rent a cabin or lodge in Devil’s Den or set up camp in their campsites if you plan to spend multiple days there.
Whether you’re spending just a few hours or multiple days in Northwest Arkansas, Devil’s Den is the place to go!