Blowing Springs Biking Trails offer 6.3 miles of natural-surface trails at Blowing Springs Park in Bella Vista, which may also be suitable for hiking. The rolling contour trails range from two to three feet wide. The trails are designed and constructed to be used by mountain bikers of all age and skill levels, although use of the trails for hiking is permitted. The trails have been designed to take advantage of the park’s natural beauty, including its many bluff lines, springs, caverns and established natural habitat. One of the trails’ highlights is a 30-foot bridge that leaves a rock shelf to connect to the trail below that winds around to a “natural air-conditioned cavern,” which releases 60 degree air. The trail system includes a total of eight bridges and 15 benches. Given the terrain, some of the trails are inherently more challenging; however, the trail was built with safety and sustainability in mind.
Directions (from Town Center on Arkansas 340/Lancashire Boulevard): Take U.S. 71 south. Turn left on Dartmoor Road.
The 1.5 mile paved walking and biking trail winds through the natural rolling hills of the Ozark with scenic bridges and benches. Open from sunup to sundown.
Directions (from Town Center on Arkansas 340/Lancashire Boulevard): Take Arkansas 340 west. Go through the Highlands Gate. Turn right on Glasgow Road. Travel 3.8 miles. The trail is on the right.
The nearly 3,300-foot walking trail sits on the community’s west side. The level trail, which is located below the Loch Lomond Dam, has a paved surface and available parking. The trail loops around a softball field. Open from sunup to sundown.
Directions (from Town Center on Arkansas 340/Lancashire Boulevard): Take Arkansas 340 west. Go through the Highlands Gate. Turn right on Glasgow Road. Travel about one mile. The trail is on the left.
Tanyard Creek Nature Trail, which was constructed by volunteers, is a two-part trail with parking. The first part of the paved walking trail is a relatively level 0.3-mile loop through open country. Meanwhile, the other portion of the trail is moderately hilly. The trail stretches through woods and along Tanyard and Sunshine creeks. This portion of the trail has a well-maintained natural surface. In addition, the 2-mile trail connects to the top of the Lake Windsor Dam, which takes hikers past a breathtaking waterfall. This section adds another half of a mile of level, paved walking. The total length of the trail is about two miles. Both portions have signs describing the plants and flowers hikers will see along the way. The Tanyard Creek Pavilion sits at the trail’s entrance.
Directions (from Town Center on Arkansas 340/Lancashire Boulevard): Take Arkansas 340 west. The trail, which is less than a mile from Town Center, is on the left.
The Back 40 is a 40 mile soft mountain biking trail system that is located on the east side of Bella Vista and is open to the public. This trail was designed and constructed primarily for mountain biking, but using the Back 40 to hike is permitted.
For more information go here.
Bella Vista’s new Little Sugar Trails will boast 50 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trail with varying degrees of difficulty. The first 12 miles of the Little Sugar trail opened in the central part of the city in late 2019.
