Bella Vista’s newest bike park delivers gravity-fed thrills for riders of every skill level.
Just when you thought mountain biking in the Natural State couldn’t get any better, OZ Trails Bike Park (OTBP) kicks things up a gear with a whole new way to enjoy the sport.
Everyone is familiar with how snow skiing resorts work. The lifts haul skiers to the top of the mountain for fun-filled, exhilarating, gravity-fed runs down to the base. Well, the new OTBP does the same for mountain bikers. Without snow, that is.
“Northwest Arkansas already had one of the most passionate mountain biking communities in the country and a top-tier trail network,” said Gary Vernon, general manager of OZ Trails Bike Park. “What it didn’t have was pure gravity trails and a chairlift to service them. Now it does.”
The state-of-the-art Leitner-Poma high-speed detachable quad chairlift ferries four cyclists and their bikes up the 2,600-foot incline in just over three minutes. For adaptive cyclists, it also includes bike trays for three- and four-wheeled bikes.
Once you roll your bike off the lift, the 200-acre park offers more than 30 different downhill runs on 20 miles of trails. They were designed and built by Dave Kelly, co-founder of Gravity Logic, who is renowned for designing and constructing A-Line at British Columbia’s Whistler Mountain Bike Park, arguably the most famous flow trail in the world.
Catering to the experienced thrill-seeking junkies at OTBP, Kelly included plenty of challenging trails comparable to those at Whistler. High Voltage, for example, sends riders through tight, high-banked dirt berms, off a wooden drop that sails riders over another trail below, then down sloped descents that generate the high speeds needed to clear the monster gaps of the jumps ahead.
That may sound intimidating to many cyclists. However, with seventy-five percent of the network rated beginner/intermediate and twenty-five percent advanced/expert, there’s something for nearly every skill level. With an emphasis on progression, Vernon’s plan has been to build the best mix of beginner-to-pro trails of any park in the country.
Newbies should begin with Fire Starter. The smooth chip-and-seal surface of this 2.3-mile trail is approachable for even the greenest riders. It is a fun introduction to small rollers, dips, banked turns and a dash of gravity-fed speed.
Once you’re comfortable with Fire Starter, roll into First Flight. The rollers are a little rollier, the dips dippier, the berms bermier, and mo’ speed equals mo’ thrill! It’s just a step up from Fire Starter.
Continue to progress through the trails at your own pace and at whatever level of challenge you are comfortable with. If you’d like a little help, OTBP also offers coaching services.
Four-time world champion mountain bike racer Anneke Beerten helped create the Bike School program at the park. Its coaches are certified Professional Mountain Bike Instructors, equipped to train riders from beginners to super-advanced skill levels. The team teaches riders the skills needed to safely enjoy the trails.
Along with trails, the 15,000-square-foot OZ Trails headquarters building sits at the base of the lift. Here you’ll find Ozzy’s Ride + Dine restaurant and bar, a bike gear shop, a bike repair shop, bike rentals, restrooms and an event space for rent in the lower and upper plazas.
Ozzy’s includes an inviting balcony lounge area, a welcome setting for family and friends to enjoy food and drinks with a view of the chairlift and bike jumps. It’s reminiscent of the warming huts at ski resorts.
For added ambiance, Vernon brought in Bella Vista’s own Stevie Stevens to create a 640-plus-square-foot mosaic mural for the entryway of the OZ HQ building.
The summit of the lift also features a larger-than-life artwork by renowned sculptors Gillie and Marc. The monumental bronze Majestic Black Bear was created in collaboration with OZ Art and has become a popular selfie destination. This is all part of Vernon’s goal to make OTBP “the ultimate gathering spot, where locals can come and see their friends, and visitors can come and enjoy this space.”
And his plan is working. The trails have attracted cyclists from across the country. OTBP will also host the Life Time Little Sugar MTB race on October 11. Life Time, the same crew behind Colorado’s famous Leadville Trail 100 MTB, will stage the event.
In keeping with the goal of making OTBP the ultimate gathering spot, they plan to build a family-friendly trick-or-treat town at the bike park for Halloween. They’ll hand out candy, set up themed booths and offer fun games for the kids. Maybe even a spooky trail to hike. In November and December, the park will gear up for a Christmas light experience, with the plaza and lift providing the setting for a striking holiday display.
The bike park has also contributed to the Bella Vista community’s economy. Allen’s Food Market, just across Highway 71 from the park, has already seen increased business from cyclists. Vagabond Coffee Bar, a favorite stop for cyclists at the Tanyard Creek Trailhead, has branched out with a brick-and-mortar shop at Sugar Creek Center across the street from OTBP. Adam Garza, store manager at Phat Tire Bike Shop just down the road from the park, said, “It’s the best thing that’s happened in Bella Vista in a while now.”
For more information or to purchase lift passes, visit oztrailsbikepark.com.
