Devil’s Den Loop

• Devil’s Den State Park’s beautiful setting, creeks and waterfalls, and extensive trail network
• Riding along Cove Creek in its narrow valley on the longer version of the loop
• Long and fast descents and big views atop ridgelines reward riders after each big climb

The Devil’s Den Loop departs downtown Fayetteville and meanders southwest out of town on recreation paths, past Kessler Mountain Park, and then follows ~6 miles of paved roads before turning toward Prairie Grove on gravel. Just past mile 16, riders can opt to follow the route into downtown Prairie Grove (where there’s a nice café, restaurants, a grocery store, and town park) or bypass it on Centerpoint Church Road. At mile 20, riders hit a 600-foot gravel climb, the first of the route’s three longer climbs, and ascend to a ridgeline with long views into the Boston Mount to the south and toward where Devil’s Den State Park is nestled.

The shorter and longer routes split at mile 28, with the shorter route taking a more direct route to Devil’s Den State Park that is ~10 miles less than the longer option with 800 feet less climbing. The shorter route descends to Cove Creek (a generally reliable water source) and then begins the second of the three long climbs. This one is paved to start, passes the former Strickler town site, turns to gravel, and rolls before the final pitch. The high point of the climb is at mile 36, and from there, it’s mostly paved and mostly downhill for ~7 miles to Devil’s Den State Park. The shorter route doesn’t pass any camping options until immediately before the state park boundary.

The longer version of the loop continues south from mile 28 climbing and then traversing a beautiful gravel road across the long summit of Skylight Mountain. A steep and winding descent brings riders down to Cove Creek at mile 37. From there, a 600-foot climb leads to the Ozark National Forest boundary at mile 41, and for the subsequent 6 miles, there are numerous dispersed camping opportunities. The route descends to a paved road along Fall Creek, and from the bottom of the downhill, it’s 6 paved miles with one more shorter climb to Devil’s Den State Park (or riders could turn west for a mile to a beautiful swimming hole at the bridge across Lee Creek).

Devil’s Den State Park offers a wide range of amenities and recreation opportunities, more than enough to spend an entire extra day just exploring the park. The mountain bike trail network through the canyons and past waterfalls has trails for all skill levels. There’s also a swimming pond, additional trails for hiking, and a café and small store (closed during winter months, however). For overnight stays, there’s a small bikepacking campground at the west end of the park, the larger main campground, and several styles of cabins. Reservations are strongly encouraged or required for all these – call the park (479-761-3325) or visit their website for more information.

Leaving the state park, the route climbs steeply up a switch-backed paved road. At nearly 1,000 feet, this is the longest climb on the route, but from the expansive views at the high point, the route is mostly a gradual descent all the way back to Fayetteville. The final 5-mile-long section of gravel parallels the towering Interstate 49 bridges. The community of West Fork at mile 59 (69 on the longer loop) has a grocery store and several restaurant options. From there, it’s just 14 miles back to downtown Fayetteville.

Shorter version:

• Paved: 70%
• Smooth Gravel: 30%

Longer version:

• Paved: 50%
• Smooth Gravel: 50%

See POI descriptions on route in RWGPS for more information; reservations generally required in campgrounds

• Mile 6 – Greenland: Gas station, fast food
• Mile 18 – Prairie Grove: Grocery store, café, restaurants
• Mile 30/36 (short/long loops) – Cove Creek
• Miles 41-46 (longer loop only) – Dispersed camping on Nat’l Forest lands
• Mile 42/52 – Popular creekside dispersed campsites adjacent to state park
• Mile 43/53 – Devil’s Den State Park: Campgrounds, cabins, store, café (check for open hours/season)
• Mile 59/69 – West Fork: Grocery store, restaurants
• Mile 66/76 – Greenland: Gas station, fast food

Additional Route Resources:

• Devil’s Den State Park website

Singletrack Trail Systems:

• Devil’s Den State Park has a variety of types of trails in its network for riders of all skill levels.
• Kessler Mountain Park on the southwest edge of Fayetteville also hosts a substantial network of singletrack

Route Alternates:

• Riders can opt to start/finish in Prairie Grove – this shortens the route by 10 miles to 62/72 miles (for the short/long versions), making it ~35 miles to Devil’s Den State Park and 28 back to Prairie Grove. Vehicles can be parked overnight at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park – a free permit required and can be gotten at the museum or via email in advance ([email protected]). To close the loop, riders will need to connect through on mostly-paved roads from West Fork through Hogeye and back to Prairie Grove (see the POIs in RWGPS).

• What kind of bike should I ride? We recommend a gravel bike with a minimum of 45mm tires; a mountain bike would also be absolutely fine.

• What’s the ideal time of year to ride the route? Spring and fall months tend to be ideal for riding in northwest Arkansas. Summer months can be dangerously hot and humid, and winter months can be cold, snowy, and icy at times, particularly in the mountains. Pre-leaf-out in the spring (typically late April/early May) will offer the best views, and fall colors typically peak around mid- to late October.

• How long will the route take to ride?  This route is designed as an overnighter with camping/lodging options located mid-way through in Devil’s Den State Park. The loop could also be ridden over 3 days with a partial or full day spent exploring the state park.

• Do I need any special permits? No.

• Are there any specific safety considerations on this route? See the general route network information for suggestions related to vehicle traffic, dogs, and ticks.

• What is the longest distance between resupplies? ~25 to 45 miles, depending on the season (the small store and café in Devil’s Den State Park are closed during winter months).

• What is the longest distance between reliable water sources? ~20 miles (filtering/treating required for creek water)

• What are the most recommended camping locations along the route? 

• • Longer version of loop: Dispersed camping opportunities on Ozark National Forest lands between miles 41 and 46
  • Popular dispersed campsites immediately west of Devil’s Den State Park (mile 42/52 on the longer/shorter versions) on Ozark National Forest lands
  • Devil’s Den State Park (mile 43/53 on the shorter/longer loops): Bikepacking campsites at west end of park, main campground and cabins centrally located in park; reservations strongly recommended. Call 479-761-3325 or visit the park’s website. Bikepacking campsites have a 2-night minimum on weekends if reserved more than two weeks in advance.

• Is it easy to find places to camp? Devil’s Den State Park camping/lodging reservations are strongly recommended/required. On the longer loop, dispersed campsites west of Devil’s Den State Park offer numerous options. The rest of the loops cross private lands with no camping opportunities.

• Where can I park? Overnight parking is available in the Fayetteville Town Center’s parking deck. The entrance is located on East Ave, at the intersection of East and Rock. If you intend to park overnight, please let us know in advance – [email protected]. An alternate starting location for these loops is Prairie Grove. Overnight parking is available at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park – a free permit is required and can be picked up at the museum or obtained via email in advance ([email protected])

• Can I ride the route in either direction? Yes, but the climbs are a bit less demanding when the loop is ridden in the counterclockwise direction; route resources are written in the counterclockwise direction.

• How do I follow the route? These routes are not marked on the ground in any way. The route is hosted on Ride With GPS – you can download the GPS data to a GPS unit or use the Ride With GPS mobile app to navigate (the free “basic plan” is all you need for this). Visit bikepackingroots.org/projects/fayetteville to find links to the route on Ride With GPS. If navigating on your mobile device, expect the battery to run down more quickly than usual.

• This route traverses the traditional lands of the Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), O-ga-xpa (Quapaw), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux), Caddo, and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^ (Osage).

Please be sure to get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.

Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.

Thanks to Kurt Refsnider for the route development, Brannon Pack and Andrew Onermaa for route suggestions, and all the Route Test Team participants who test rode this loop and provided valuable feedback.

Photo Credits: George Raines