Lake Wedington Loop

• Quiet gravel country road riding through hilly oak woodlands
• Lake Wedington Recreation Area
• Side hike options to scenic views atop summits above the Illinois River

En route to the oak woodlands and hills west of Fayetteville, the Lake Wedington Loop makes its way out of town through the University of Arkansas campus and via two ~0.5-mile-long sections of singletrack to avoid busy roads (riders on gravel bikes may want to dismount and walk several short sections). By mile 7, riders will be out in the country, and after mile 16, the route transitions to mostly well-maintained gravel roads until returning to Fayetteville. The Ozark National Forest boundary is at mile 18, and riders will take a gated non-motorized two-track for one mile leading to the scenic Lake Wedington Recreation Area (currently closed to camping and swimming); singletrack in the recreation area remains open, however. The hills get a bit bigger north of the lake as narrow gravel roads meander on ridgelines. North of mile 22, dispersed camping options are numerous until around mile 33.

An out-and-back option to the Illinois River splits off the main route at mile 24 (skipping this out-and-back eliminates ~6 miles and ~300 feet of climbing from the loop). Several nice dispersed camping options can be found along this road, and at mile 26, the very rocky Twin Knobs Trail crosses the road; Upper Round Top is just a short side hike north on this trail and has big views from the summit. The easternmost mile of the out-and-back drops down a steep, rough road, and a very short social trail at the end of the road provides access to the river for retrieving water, fishing, or a dip if the current isn’t swift.

North of the out-and-back junction at mile 24, the route descends gradually to the popular Chamber Day Use Area on the Illinois River. Riders can cross the abandoned bridge here (mind the erosion on either end) and pause for a swim. Five miles past the bridge, the Logan Spring Preserve is a beautiful spot for a picnic, and the Logan Community Center just down the road has a spigot for water. Beyond Logan, the route meanders back toward Fayetteville on a mix of quiet gravel and paved roads before joining the Razorback Greenway for the final few miles to downtown.

• Paved: 50%
• Smooth Gravel: 35%
• Rough Gravel: 13%
• 4×4 Road: 0%
• Singletrack: 2%

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

• Mile 19 – Lake Wedington Recreation Area
• Miles 21-33 – Dispersed camping on Ozark National Forest lands; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 27 & 34 – Illinois River
• Mile 38 – Logan: Water spigot

No resupply options until the final few miles of the route

Singletrack Trail Systems:

• The Fayetteville Traverse and trails in Centennial Park (mile 4) offer singletrack alternates on the way out of Fayetteville; a short section of the traverse in Centennial Park is included in this loop.
• Lake Wedington Recreation Area (mile 20) offers a network of mountain bike trails.
• Twin Knobs Trail extends north from the Lake Wedington trail network, crosses the route at mile 27.5, and continues north to several scenic summits; this trail is very rocky and technical. The short section of trail from mile 27.5 up to Upper Round Top could also be a very worthwhile side hike.

Route Alternates:

• None

• What kind of bike should I ride? We recommend a gravel bike with a minimum of 40mm 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 Bentonville.

• 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? ~60 miles

• What is the longest distance between reliable water sources? ~22 miles; riders should be prepared to filter/treat/boil water.

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

• • Dispersed camping is permitted on Ozark National Forest lands between miles 21 and 33. No facilities are available, but numerous well-used sites are included as POIs on the route in RWGPS. The only water available in the area is from Lake Wedington and from the Illinois River (the out-and-back part of the route is included for anyone wishing to retrieve water from the river). All lake and stream water must be filtered, treated, or boiled.
  • The National Forest campground at the Lake Wedington Recreation Area is temporarily closed with no anticipated reopening date; currently the area around the lake is day use only, and the only facilities open to the public are the mountain bike trails and boat launch (swimming is not allowed at the beach).

• Is it easy to find places to camp? Yes, but only on the Ozark National Forest lands between miles 17 and 33.

• 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].

• Can I ride the route in either direction? Most certainly! The route resources are written in the clockwise 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 Alex Roberts for route suggestions, and all the Route Test Team participants who test rode this loop and provided valuable feedback.