Bentonville, Arkansas has been on a tear over the past several years, building out a massive network of high quality mountain bike trails easily accessible from town. As a result, an entire industry and mountain bike infrastructure has sprouted in the northwest portion of the state, bringing tourists and transplants alike. Today, Bentonville mayor Stephanie Orman says, “It’s true that Bentonville has become the new Mountain Biking Capital of the World. Over the past decade, our community has built a reputation among mountain biking enthusiasts and athletes as the premier global destination for the sport.”
Having hosted the IMBA World Summit in 2016 and countless professional riders and visitors from all over the world, Bentonville is on many mountain bikers’ radars, though riders will certainly debate whether it is the premier global destination for mountain biking. The region claims its resort-quality trails can be ridden year-round, unlike some better known North American mountain bike destinations like Moab and Whistler. Of course there are mountain bike destinations outside the Americas, like Finale Ligure and Rotorua, that boast similarly temperate climates, drawing large events like Crankworx and EWS races each year.
According to a press release shared on behalf of Visit Bentonville:
Bentonville has approximately 130 miles of singletrack connected to downtown Bentonville, with access to more than 250 miles of unrivaled regional trails in a network that sits at the heart of the state’s OZ Trails system. Hospitality opportunities abound – whether it be award-winning restaurants, a vibrant coffee scene, or a boom of daring and bold craft brewers.
Check out the announcement video below.
You gotta be kidding. No limit with marketing these days apparently.
😂🤣
Oh come on. Moab? BC? Park City? Sedona? St George/Hurricane UT? Rotura? Heck, I’d even take Vermont. Maybe the mountain bike capitol of the southern US, but this is just silly. Some great riding and a cool vibe, but Capitol of Nothing
I live in NWA, and Bentonville is a great place to ride. But my wife and I, both avid riders, cringed when we saw this announcement. I hoped it was a joke, but…alas.
It’s also too specific—it’s the whole NWA region, including Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs, the Ponca downhill trails at Buffalo Outdoor Center, and the scenic Monument Trail at Hobbs State Park that, combined with Bentonville’s flows and jumps, makes the riding here special. Not to mention the 100 miles of riding in Bella Vista, a separate city from Bentonville, though so close that you can ride to it from Bentonville. And for that matter, the rest of AR has really stepped up their game! Northwoods in Hot Springs, the 25 mile Monument Trail at Mount Nebo State Park, and even Rattlesnake Ridge near Little Rock.
Bentonville and NWA have earned a good name within the mountain biking community. I hope this “announcement” doesn’t damage that.
By coincidence, I crowned myself Freeride King of the World yesterday. I rode off a curb at about 6mph. It was epic.