hawkhai

Just came back from Bentonville during spring break and want to do a quick write up. For 2 separate days, we rode SP with 2 other families with kids ranges from 9 to 14. Day#1. We rode the Black Apple Creek zone, which they have redone. (by the water treatment plant and Tiger Blvd tunnel) and it is easy zone for the kids and the un-initiated. Day#3. We checked out Choo Choo and Boo Boo, (only Choo Choo is open), and they opened another drop-in zone/ hub, it now has as a green DH run (Walter's Whistler) and black DH (Techgnar). Both runs are short and fun. I took one of the better skilled kid and rode Tristan trail, which they cleaned up since last year, super fun and flowy. All of us ended up at the jump line by SP phase 1 and everyone took turn hitting multiple times, and saw some local kids boosting big jumps and landing in a manual. We stopped by Masterpiece also and all the kids did a couple runs and photo-ops. There is a new zone near the east-end of SP phase 1 which they are still building (you can find in Trial fork). It is another drop-in zone/hub, it has 1 green, 2 blues and 1 black DH runs. The blues has 3 wooden bridges and perfectly manicured berm, the black is a rock garden DH run. I think they would build more DH runs given the size of the hub (it is pretty massive). Between day #1 and #3 was wet weather day. So me and my buddy headed to Hobbs SP, and this trail just magically shed water. Tractions are an unbelievable given how much rain it got. It is a fun flowy trail with a little tech section sprinkled by the shoreline. Sawtooth and Timberjack are both DH runs that has a nice return trail. For those who has ridden LGT/Goodwater loop, it is the complete opposite of that trail. On my last day before I headed out, I rode solo at the Handcut Hallow, which is the Northeast side of SP proper. Any Austin/Central TX area riders would LOVE THIS ZONE!! This reminds me of one of the unmentionable trail in Austin, it shed water well. (I rode 1 day after it has been raining all day) it has drop-in zone with multiple DH runs, and a Traverse loop about 7 miles that goes around the zone (which I didn't ride). I did all the blues and saved the black for another time (didn't want to ride blind on black run with no one around). It also has this crazy uphill tech climb called zone 4, it looks gnarly. I was only able to spend 1 1/2 hour here, but you can easily spend at least 1/2 day or more here. We also took a trip to Coler on one of the days, alot of blue/black DH run at the hub was closed. So we rode down Family flow and Thunderdome a few times, and only a portion of Oscar since the trail leading to the hub was closed. It seems Coler is more susceptible to closure due to rain. Overall, I was only there about 9 months ago, and there was already a bunch of new stuff and I could spend another full day or two just to ride the new stuff. There are also newer stuff in back 40 that I didn't get to ride (ie Huntley etc), or. Centennial park in Fayetteville, or Devil's Den. NON-BIKING RELATED: I was at the Wal-Mart neighborhood get some ciders (Hibiscus Cider by Black Apple Cider), we went through self-checked out and then a lady came and checked my ID, and then she asked for my wife's ID. She forgot hers, and she told us I can't buy them before of corporate policy (??!). In a separate occasion, my friend tried to buy a 6 pack around 11pm and they told him they stop selling after 10pm (at another. Wal-Mart). Anyone else has problem with buying alcohol in Bentonville??

Thanks for all suggestions, just got back from Bentonville and we were there for 3 full days and had a blast. We went with other family that also have young kids (age range from 11-5). All had a blast. Few observations from our experiences. - We hit all the major spots in Slaughter Pen and Coler. Given that we have young children and non-riding spouses. We (the dads) were able to dedicate about 3 hours in the morning to ride, spend the rest of the day to take kids to ride the Greens (mostly All American). We didn't expect to ride EVERY Trail and just rode all we could in the allotted time, we were able to turn in about 12-18 miles each day (we are not fast). - It is HOT and HUMID in the summer, we started our riding early (6:30am - 7am). It is still nice out until 10-11am and it will be in the high 80s-90s. - Most everyone I met on the trail are out of towners, from Texas, Ok, Kansas, other cities from AR. Every time I mentioned we are from Austin, the first thing they asked "Have you been to Spider Mountain?". I guess the YouTubers are blowing up that spot. - All the restaurants around Bentonville are great, didn't have 1 bad meal while we were there. - Yes, there are alot of eBiker, I think all the bike shops around there rent them. I saw this 1 kid on an eBike sessioning the jump line at the All American like 50 times, it looks like he had fun. - Bentonville is such of clean city, all the trails are manicured well marked and maintained. (I was at Walnut 2 weeks ago and there was this lady camping right in the middle of BMX park, I was like wtf) - If you family has young children, have them listen to audio book. We drove 9 hours in 1 day from Bentonville back to Austin while listening to Harry Potter audio books w/o them screaming for iPad.

Anyone know a local mtb guide at Bentonville that would give me a "best of" tour of the NW Arkansas riding? Normally, I would love to explore and don't mind getting lost, but I am going Bentonville with my family and I would only have a limited time to ride. Anyone knows somebody?

what's the weather like this time of the year... I know it doesn't really show in NWA but does it rain alot this time of the year?

guys and gal, I lost my Garmin 520+ at a unmentionable trail that frequent by riders when other trails are wet. I know it is a shot in the dark and if you come across it please let me know.

I have some vacation time in December and thinking about taking family up Bentonville / Bella Vista. Do they get much rain in the winter?? How are the trails condition for that time of the year?