Razorback Greenway Loop

• Quiet country roads leading north toward Bentonville with swimming holes along the way
• Coffee or snacks at the outdoor café in Coler MTB Preserve
• Connecting the communities and downtowns along the Razorback Greenway
• Numerous restaurants, coffee shops, and museums right along the route

Leaving downtown Fayetteville, this loop immediately hops onto the Razorback Greenway and passes the University of Arkansas campus before turning west and making its way out of town on a mix of recreation paths and bike lanes. After ~8 miles, riders leave the edge of residential neighborhoods and head into gently rolling wooded and open countryside on alternating stretches of well-maintained gravel and quiet paved roads. At mile 17, the route passes through a short section of Ozark National Forest land and crosses Wildcat Creek; a popular small swimming hole is just upstream of this crossing. At mile 23, the route crosses the more sizeable Osage Creek, where there often are folks fishing and kids splashing around during warmer months. At mile 31, riders enter the expanding developments around the edge of Bentonville. The route takes some of the quieter roads and then paths where possible for the next 10 miles and past numerous restaurants and stores at mile 37.

At mile 39, the route enters Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, and almost the entirety of the rest of the loop is on recreation paths with minimal climbing. Coler includes a small campground, the outdoor Airship Café, and a sizeable singletrack network. At the very northern end of the loop immediately north of the park, two private campgrounds (Blowing Springs Campground and Bentonville Bike Camp) are situated 2 miles off route. As the route begins to loop back south on the well-signed Razorback Greenway, it passes more singletrack networks, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and a variety of restaurants and coffee shops. By mile 53, riders leave Bentonville behind and meander through farmland, residential areas, and eventually reach Lake Fayetteville Park at mile 69. This park offers fishing, boat rentals, and a mellow singletrack loop around the lake; swimming is not permitted. The final 8 miles of the loop re-enter Fayetteville and follow the greenway right back to downtown.

• Paved: 80%
• Smooth Gravel: 18%
• Rough Gravel: 2%
• 4×4 Road: 0%
• Singletrack: 0%

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

• Mile 17 – Wildcat Creek
• Mile 23 – Osage Creek
• Mile 37 – Bentonville: Stores, restaurants, motels
• Mile 40 – Coler MTB Preserve: Café, campground
• Mile 42 – Blowing Springs Campground (2 miles off route)
• Mile 42 – Bentonville Bike Camp (2 miles off route)
• Mile 47 – Northern Bentonville: Restaurants
• Mile 53 – Downtown Bentonville: Stores, restaurants, motels
• Mile 59 – Lowell: Stores and restaurants
• Mile 66 – Springdale: Stores, restaurants
• Mile 70 – Lake Fayetteville

Singletrack Trail Systems:

• Many miles of trails in Bentonville of all difficulty levels (miles 39-45)
• Lake Fayetteville singletrack loop (mile 69)

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? ~40 miles

• What is the longest distance between reliable water sources? ~40 miles for potable water; 17 miles for surface water (filtering/treating required)

• What are the most recommended camping locations along the route? See the accompanying list of camping options – all come highly recommended. Reservations at the Coler MTB Preserve campground generally need to be made well in advance.

• Is it easy to find places to camp? Aside from the campground options in Bentonville, the only possibility for dispersed camping along the route is on a small parcel of National Forest land around mile 17. Reservations are generally required at the campgrounds.

• 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. The Razorback Greenway itself is well-signed and relatively straightforward to navigate.

• 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.

Photo Credits: Alex Roberts