In 2016, the city of Fayetteville became the first city in Arkansas to earn silver status as a Bicycle Friendly Community awarded by the League of American Bicyclists. The designation is only awarded to about 100 communities scattered across the country and signifies that the community encourages people to bike for 
transportation and recreation. The city of Fayetteville has more than 40 miles of paved, shared-use trails and 30 miles of mountain biking trails. Keep reading to learn more about the four best bike trails you should try while in the city.
- Gregory Park Trail
A natural surface trail, Gregory Park Trail runs through a heavily wooded area just off North College Avenue on Sycamore Street. The trail spans almost a mile loop and features benches and a gazebo near the parking area. The Ozark Off-Road Cyclists, which is a Northwest Arkansas mountain bicycle advocacy group, helped establish the park as a bike park. It also includes a concrete pump track, skills course, and gravity-flow downhill bicycle trails. School teams that participate in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association mountain biking program can use the practice course.
- Kessler Mountain Trails
Situated on the southwestern part of Fayetteville, the area surrounding Kessler Mountain consists of rock-covered woodlands and steep bluffs. There are miles of nature trails that meander through the nearby forest. Take your mountain bike and ride through approximately 13 miles of natural-surface trails, which range from easy to very difficult. The city recently finished the Cato Springs Trail, which is a 12-foot-wide concrete trail that connects the Razorback Regional Greenway to the Kessler Mountain Regional Park.
- Lake Fayetteville
This 4.5-mile loop trail surrounds Lake Fayetteville, which is one of the city’s most popular outdoor spots. While riding this trail, enjoy the natural scenery and a pedestrian bridge that overlooks a stream and waterfall. This park has two skills biking courses, one for beginners and another for intermediate riders. These courses have low-lying wooden bike ramps, so you can practice balancing. The beginner’s course ramps are ideal for children learning to ride balance bikes. The intermediate course has larger features, including stone obstacles and ramps.
- Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway
Spanning 36 miles, the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway features mainly off-road and paved trails that run north/south through northwestern Arkansas. The Greenway connects Walker Park in Fayetteville to Lake Bella Vista, which is north of Bentonville. Since it runs through the heart of the city, you can jump on the trail almost anywhere. You can also stop at one of the four Fayetteville microbreweries found on the Ale Trail. These include West Mountain, Columbus House, Fossil Cove, and Apple Blossom.
According to the City of Fayetteville, during the warmer months, bicyclists outnumber pedestrians, with 52% of trail users riding a bike. Whether you’re a novice bike rider who rarely takes your bicycle out or someone who enjoys hitting the trail often, this city has four key trails for you to conquer. Just remember to wear a helmet while riding during your scenic excursion.
Image via Pixabay
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