Fayetteville Just Launched an Awesome Network of Bike Trails

Attention, mountain bikers, bikepackers, and lovers of natural beauty: A new network of mountain biking routes has emerged in Northwest Arkansas, and it looks absolutely amazing.

In an impressive move to solidify its place as a top destination for bikepacking, Bikepacking Roots and Experience Fayetteville have launched the Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network. This new suite of bikepacking loops is designed for riders of all experience levels, offering everything from short day trips to challenging multi-day adventures, all set against the rugged backdrop of Northwest Arkansas.

The new network of trails looks set to become a significant addition to the growing bikepacking scene in the U.S., showcasing the region’s quiet gravel roads, charming rural communities, and diverse landscapes, including the Springfield Plateau, the Boston Mountains of the Ozarks, and the Buffalo River Valley. Five distinct routes, ranging from 60 to 190 miles (for 2- to 4-day trips), are designed to give bikepackers a variety of riding experiences. And for those looking to take on something more ambitious, the routes can be combined into tours up to 260 miles long.

“Fayetteville is a natural base camp for outdoor adventure,” says Molly Rawn, CEO of Experience Fayetteville. “With more than a million acres of national forest and hundreds of miles of gravel roads at our door, we’re excited to launch the first curated set of bikepacking routes in our region.”

One of the key features of the route network is its accessibility. Riders new to bikepacking can start with the shorter, easier loops, gaining experience and confidence as they progress. These routes meander through the rolling hills of the Razorback Greenway and out to Lake Wedington, making them ideal for beginners. More experienced cyclists can tackle the tougher 2- and 3-day loops through the rugged terrain of the Boston Mountains and Devil’s Den State Park. And for the truly adventurous, there are 3- to 4-day loops that head east toward the stunning Buffalo River country.

Kurt Refsnider, co-founder and routes director at Bikepacking Roots, helped design the network in collaboration with local experts, including Andrew Onermaa of Ozark Gravel Cyclists. Refsnider emphasizes the region’s variety: “The terrain and gravel riding opportunities in the Fayetteville region are incredibly diverse. This is the perfect place to host a suite of routes that cater to the full spectrum of bikepackers.”

The network is designed with more than just routes in mind; it also comes with a range of helpful resources for bikepackers. A detailed, foldable guidebook offers logistical information, route overviews, and QR codes linking to digital resources like Ride with GPS files. Riders can pick up a guidebook at the Experience Fayetteville visitor center or request one by emailing bike@expfay.com.

The launch of the Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network is a significant step in cementing Fayetteville’s role as a leading bikepacking destination. This effort is part of a broader initiative to build a strong, diverse bikepacking community. Bikepacking Roots, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth of bikepacking, sees this as a key moment in expanding opportunities for cyclists across the country.

Noelle Battle, of Bikepacking Roots, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “I couldn’t be more excited to launch this innovative, beginner-focused bikepacking network in Northwest Arkansas.”

Fayetteville, already a well-known hub for cycling, offers much more than just the bikepacking network. The city has hosted major cycling events like the UCI cyclocross and gravel world championships. It’s home to the Fayetteville Traverse, an 18-mile urban singletrack trail that weaves through the city’s parks and neighborhoods, and the Razorback Greenway, a 40-mile paved trail connecting towns from Fayetteville to Bentonville. These existing amenities, combined with the new bikepacking routes, make the city a complete destination for cyclists of all kinds.

As more riders discover the diverse offerings of Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas, it’s clear at this point that the region is becoming a hotspot for gravel cycling and bikepacking. Whether you’re new to the sport or looking to push your limits on rugged terrain, this new Fayetteville bikepacking network provides a chance to explore the beauty of the Ozarks, all while challenging yourself.

Bottom line: If you like to ride mountain bikes and you live in the Midwest, you’re going to want to make a trip to Northwest Arkansas in the near future.

Author: Shawn Donnelly is the managing editor of Terrain.

Top image: Courtesy of Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network.