Little Rock Rolls Out New Cycling Product
Capital city features 1,200+ miles of road, gravel, mountain biking trails in one comprehensive site, creating central Arkansas’s largest trails website and database
Little Rock, Ark.—The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) has launched its new, first-ever dedicated cycling website. The site showcases 97 trails covering 1,233 miles in and around Little Rock and central Arkansas, including road cycling routes, mountain biking trail systems, gravel grinds, and specialty-themed touring routes. The site represents the most extensive single database of biking trails in the state’s central region.
The site makes it easier than ever for cyclists of all ages and skillsets to find the trails that fit them. Using individually mapped routes, riders can browse each trail and explore highlighted local points of interest. They can also search for local outfitters, find cycling laws, and locate cycling clubs and rides. Each route can be accessed via the Ride with GPS mobile app for free turn-by-turn voice navigation and offline maps. Garmin and Wahoo users can sync routes to their device for on-screen, turn-by-turn navigation. Rides can also be synced with other ride and fitness-tracking mobile apps.
With its location at the meeting of the Ouachita Mountains and the Arkansas River Delta, Little Rock is perfectly suited to offer riders incredibly diverse trails. Road cyclists can choose from rides that explore the pastoral delta landscape or leg-burning treks through the Ouachita foothills. For mountain bikers, six unique trail systems provide heart-pounding excitement. Gravel routes offer fans of "fat tire" biking the chance to explore Arkansas's most scenic wilderness, while a newly created series of self-guided tours gives visitors and locals alike the opportunity to cycle through chapters of Little Rock's history and culture.
Cycling's popularity has never been greater, as it provides people exciting outdoor adventure opportunities. "People are starting to think about travel again, and research shows that they are looking for things to do outdoors and in nature for safe, relaxing, stress-free experiences," said LRCVB President & CEO Gretchen Hall. "Now is the perfect time for people to discover Little Rock's hidden gems of more than 1,230 miles of biking trails right here in the state's capital city," she added.
Among some of Arkansas's oldest mountain biking systems is the 40 miles of trails located on the grounds of Camp Robinson on the north banks of the Arkansas River. Biking here requires very little planning ahead, so it’s a favorite among cyclists. A great "MTB 101" beginner trail, the Yucca Trail is one of the best ways to enter the larger trail system. Two rock gardens offer a chance for beginners to hone their skills before advancing to other trails.
The newest trail additions are the Monument Trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. They are world-class, specifically designed, and built mountain bike trails that are deliberately constructed as sustainable trails that allow for multiple user groups to experience the beauty and uniqueness of an Arkansas State Park. Monument Trails are a partnership between Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation. These trails are crafted into the landscape encouraging all levels of riders, hikers, and trail runners to engage with the park's natural, cultural, and historical resources. This new, 18-mile trail network allows visitors to discover areas of the park that were never accessible before, giving them a glimpse into an unexplored side of one of central Arkansas's most iconic spots.
“Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation is pleased to be investing in the Little Rock community through systems like the Monument Trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park,” said foundation executive director Suzanne Grobmyer. “Our work highlights some of Little Rock's most unique and beautiful areas in a way that brings new adventures for residents and visitors to enjoy. Little Rock is Arkansas's newest mountain bike destination,” she added.
The site’s trails can be viewed in multiple categories, including:
66 Mountain Biking Trails within Six Mountain Biking Trail Systems – The brand-new Arkansas State Park Monument Trail system has created a destination for all outdoor adventure seekers and welcomes everyone to experience the best trail system in the nation. A bonus is that it is minutes from the heart of downtown Little Rock.
24 Road Routes - The longest ride is "Little Rock to Memphis" through the eastern delta region. (164 miles)
19 Beginner Rides – A popular route is the "Arkansas River Trail," a 15-mile loop along the Arkansas River connected by multiple pedestrian bridges including the Big Dam Bridge, North America's longest pedestrian- and bike-intended bridge.
Eight Self-Guided Tours - These curated self-guided rides allow one to see some of Little Rock's greatest attractions by bike. Route themes include civil rights history, sites related to President Bill Clinton, downtown murals and sculptures, local craft breweries and distillery, signature local desserts, military history, and historic churches.
Five Gravel Trails – Trails through the Flatside Wilderness offer riders the chance to see Arkansas's pristine natural beauty by bike.