Bentonville – Mountain biking and world-class museums in northwest Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas offers world-class museums and mountain biking.
Bentonville
Travel to the northwest corner of Arkansas to arrive to Bentonville, a thriving and expanding community that offers plenty of entertainment amid the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and around its downtown. Its main draw is mountain biking, with an extensive network of routes catering to all skill levels snaking from the city area through the forested, mountainous countryside. Travelers from all over the world come to the city to discover the interactive Scott Family Amazeum, the Museum of Native American History, The Momentary, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Not to be overlooked are the vibrant collection of public art pieces dotted across the town and the Walmart Museum, housed in the original five-and-dime store.
Mountain Bike Capital of the World™
Unlike the trails in some other mountain biking destinations, Bentonville’s trails are rideable year-round thanks to the city’s moderate climate. Rent a bike from a local shop or hop on your own and tackle the 225-plus kilometers of bike trails in a network that extends into the entire region. Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, about 2 kilometers west of downtown, is home to 27 kilometers of well-maintained trails in two areas – one for beginning and intermediate riders, and another for advanced and expert riders. The preserve also features a campground and cafe.
The Slaughter Pen trails cater to beginning and intermediate riders with a mix of single-track and paved surfaces, as well as a jump park that incorporates both natural and manmade obstacles in forested surroundings. These trails link to the Blowing Springs Loop Trail, which varies from fast and flowy to rocky and difficult, with more technical sections on alternate paths off the main trails. The nearby Bella Vista Back 40 Loop features 34 kilometers of single track through limestone rock gardens, lake views and pine tree groves.
Outdoor Adventure Hub
Beyond mountain biking, you’ll find plenty of other opportunities for outdoor adventure in Bentonville. Home to the Bentonville Municipal Airport, Thaden Field is where backcountry aviation blends with public park. Enjoy a sightseeing flight or take a flying lesson, or rent a canoe and explore Lake Bentonville. Afterward, dine on authentic comfort foods like meatloaf or chicken fried steak while you watch small planes taking off and landing at on-site, all-day cafe Louise.
Right in downtown, Compton Gardens is a conference center set on 4.5 hectares of native forest laced with walking trails and sculptures. Learn about local plants as you wander along the scenic paths, which connect to the Crystal Bridges network of trails and lead to the grounds of the famous museum.
World-class Bentonville Museums
With artwork representing the colonial era to the present, the world-class Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art houses a permanent collection with works by Norman Rockwell, John Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol, among others. The dramatic Moshe Safdie-designed museum shares its sprawling grounds with the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Bachman-Wilson House, as well as a network of forest trails, sculpture gardens and waterside pavilions. The museum’s satellite facility, the Momentary, focuses on visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, festivals and hosting artists-in-residence. Both museums offer free admission. In addition to these collections, Bentonville is home to more than 100 pieces of public art scattered across the city. Check out the online map and start exploring.
Another free museum, The Museum of Native American History invites visitors to take a 14,000-year journey through America’s past, from the early paleo period through the pre-Columbian period, weaving the past and present together to educate future generations about the diversity of cultures of the First People. The museum houses over 10,000 Native American artifacts.
The Walmart Museum celebrates the history of the retail giant and its founder, Sam Walton, in the chain’s original five-and-dime store on the town square. An interactive children’s museum, the Scott Family Amazeum features hands-on activities that incorporate science, technology, engineering and art.