{"id":2057479,"date":"2026-07-23T09:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T06:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2057479"},"modified":"2026-07-23T09:26:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T06:26:00","slug":"i-rode-oz-trails-bike-park-on-opening-day-and-heres-what-i-learned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2057479","title":{"rendered":"I rode Oz Trails Bike Park on opening day, and here\u2019s what I learned"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n

On June 12, 2026, the Oz Trails Bike Park of Bella Vista, Arkansas, became the state\u2019s first \u201clift-served\u201d bike park. The occasion was accompanied by fanfare befitting such a momentous event, with a WWII P-51 Mustang fighter plane streaking across the sky. It dipped its wing in salute, as Tom Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders snipped the ribbon for the Grand Opening.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bike park is opening a new chapter for mountain biking in the state,\u201d stated Gary Vernon, the park\u2019s General Manager. He should know; he has been involved since the opening chapter some twenty years earlier.<\/p>\n

At that time, Vernon maintained MTB trails as a volunteer with Friends of Arkansas Singletrack<\/a> (FAST). Tom Walton approached him with the idea of constructing a five-mile trail within the city limits of nearby Bentonville.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Tom Walton\u2019s vision has evolved into five amazing trail systems and over 550 miles of connected purpose-built trails in Northwest Arkansas. In the process, that vision has led to the creation of countless jobs, helped recruit and retain talent for businesses throughout the region, attracted visitors from around the world, and improved the quality of life for residents in truly immeasurable ways.<\/p>\n

And now, the Oz Trails Bike Park<\/a> is \u201cthe cherry on top\u201d of this sweet mountain biker treat.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s ride<\/h2>\n

The opening ceremonies delayed the lift operation by more than 30 minutes. During that time, the line of cyclists filled the rows of switchback fencing at the chairlift entrance, stretched across the pavestone courtyard, and into the parking area. Although the wait for riders to make their initial run was over fifteen minutes, for the remainder of the day it was no more than two to three minutes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was the result of the park\u2019s decision to go \u201cfirst class\u201d when shopping for chairlifts. Rather than purchasing a used, outdated, slow lift from a ski resort, they opted for a state-of-the-art Poma-Leitner lift. This high-speed detachable quad chairlift ferries four cyclists and their bikes up the 2,600-foot incline in just over three minutes. It also includes adaptive bike trays for three- and four-wheeled bikes.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n

As cyclists roll their bikes off the lift to begin their downhill Oz adventure, they quickly discover the lift is not the only area where Vernon and others involved in planning the park opted to go \u201cfirst class.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

When selecting the crew to design and construct the network of trails, they chose the team that built arguably the most well-known flow line trail in the world. Dave Kelly, Co-Founder of Gravity Logic, is renowned for designing and constructing the famous A-line Trail at British Columbia\u2019s Whistler Mountain Bike Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kelly immediately shared Vernon\u2019s excitement about the project.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMost places we work are ski areas, full of ski runs, full of snowmaking, full of infrastructure,\u201d Kelly explained. \u201cAnd here we essentially have 200 acres of a blank canvas, on which we can design from scratch, trails for all capabilities,\u201d Kelly enthusiastically exclaimed.<\/p>\n

For all capabilities. This fits in line with Vernon\u2019s primary goal of the park, which is \u201cto build the best mix of beginner-to-pro trails of any park in the country, with the emphasis on progression.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Map<\/a><\/figure>\n

Offering over 30 different runs packed into some 20 miles of purpose-built downhill trails, and over 300 feet of elevation to work with, the Bike Park is the best learn-to-ride network in this part of the country.<\/p>\n

Begin with Fire Starter. The smooth chip-and-seal surface is safe for even the greenest riders. On my first visit to the park, as I rolled off the lift onto Fire Starter, I came upon a toddler and his dad. The dad told me his son had just graduated from a Strider to a pedal bike. As he told me this, the youth was approaching a slight incline in the trail.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cOk, start pedaling,\u201d Dad encouraged. \u201cNow, stand up and pedal harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the crest of the grade, the dad instructed the kiddo to pull over so I could pass. As I rolled by, I gave him a \u201cGreat job, Big Guy.\u201d\u00a0 He flashed me a smile that filled the opening of his full-face helmet.<\/p>\n

With 75 percent of the network rated beginner\/intermediate\u00a0and 25 percent advanced\/expert, there is gradual progression available for riders to fine-tune their skill set and prepare them for the more challenging trails. And for highly skilled downhillers, there are trails like High Voltage.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Right out of the gate, High Voltage rolls riders around two tight, high-banked berms. It then sends the rider off a wooden drop, sailing over another trail below. The landing on the other side was designed to build on the higher speeds required for the upcoming doubles.<\/p>\n

High Voltage parallels the lift, providing spectacular entertainment for its seated passengers. As riders\u2019 speeds approach 40mph, the monster jumps send cyclists to heights even with the lift chairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The landing of the second jump drops into a steep ravine, then whips riders up the opposite hillside\u2019s steep face for a giant step-up jump. Riders are launched some twenty-five to thirty feet in the air to reach the sweet soft landing at the top of the rise.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the younger riders who would like to experience the type of bike paths their parents used to ride, there are even a few raw-rake-and-ride trails. The park plans to allow these trails to weather naturally, exposing roots and rocks beneath the soil, which add to the challenge. It was a trip down memory lane as I sliced through the forest on these retro flow lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m certain that for everyone who visits the bike park, the response to Vernon and Kelly\u2019s goal of creating a network of trails for all capabilities will be a resounding, \u201cOh yeah, mission accomplished!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n
\"Interior<\/a><\/figure>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

And there is more<\/h2>\n

The 15,000-square-foot Oz Trails headquarters building is located at the base of the lift. The structure includes Ozzy\u2019s Ride + Dine restaurant\/bar, a retail store, a bike repair shop, bike rentals, restrooms, and event space for rent in the lower and upper plazas.<\/p>\n

Like the trail system, all areas of the facility are \u201cfirst class.\u201d Ozzy\u2019s includes an inviting balcony lounge area. It\u2019s a welcoming setting for family and friends to enjoy food and drinks with a view of the chairlift and bike jumps, reminiscent of the warming huts located at ski resorts.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Vernon recruited the best technicians to work at the bike shop. And for riders wanting to progress their mountain biking skills, four-time World Champion Mountain Bike Racer Anneke Beerten helped create a Bike School program at the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For \u201cadded atmosphere\u201d, Vernon brought in larger-than-life art from renowned sculptors Claes Oldenburg and Gillie & Marc. The monumental bronze Majestic Bear was created in collaboration with Oz Art to greet visitors at the lift\u2019s crest. It has become a popular \u2018selfie\u2019 destination.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Gary Vernon leading a group of riders from the USA Cycling Team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A great beginning<\/h2>\n

After two months of operation, Vernon states, \u201cWe have exceeded our goals, and we are really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

During their research and visits to other bike parks across the country, they found that many parks drew about 500 riders on a busy day. Thus far, the Oz Trails Bike Park attracts over 600 riders on a slow day. On their busier days, the park hosts over 1,000 unique passholders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even with these high visitor numbers, the Bike Park does not feel crowded. The facility was designed from the ground up to be a gathering place for more than just riders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ultimate gathering spot,\u201d as Vernon described it. \u201cWhere locals who just want to come and see their friends, and visitors who want to come and enjoy this space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Note: A monthly membership pass, which includes unlimited lift access and additional benefits, is $129. A one-day lift pass is $59.99. A half-day pass is $34.99. A single month is $149. A pedal day pass is $19.99. A single lift ride is $9.99. The park is currently open from 10a to 7p Thursday through Monday, and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!–<\/p>\n

\n

Related articles<\/h4>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n

\t\t\t\tjQuery(function() {
\n\t\t\t\t\tpostpayloads._9408ed932dcdb2e614490d44d19b94e2 = {“ids”:”692441,713692,722349,666660″,”posts_per_page”:null,”offset”:0,”style”:”4up”};
\n\t\t\t\t\tpostcounter._9408ed932dcdb2e614490d44d19b94e2 = {start: 0, step: 0, end: 0};
\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A<\/a><\/p>\n
Arkansas<\/a><\/div>\n
More details have been revealed about the new lift-served bike park coming to Northwest Arkansas<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A<\/a><\/p>\n
Arkansas<\/a><\/div>\n
Mulberry Mountain Gravity Park opens in the Ozarks with 600 vertical feet of downhill trails<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A<\/a><\/p>\n
Quebec<\/a><\/div>\n
This new bike park features some of the most spectacular rock work we\u2019ve seen<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n
Arkansas<\/a><\/div>\n
Waltons purchase 2,700 acres of land so Bella Vista doesn’t get left out of MTB development.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On June 12, 2026, the Oz Trails Bike Park of Bella Vista, Arkansas, became the state\u2019s first \u201clift-served\u201d bike park. The occasion was accompanied by fanfare befitting such a momentous event, with a WWII P-51 Mustang fighter plane streaking across the sky. It dipped its wing in salute, as Tom Walton, grandson of Walmart founder […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,274],"class_list":["post-2057479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-singletracks-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2057479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2057479\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2057479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2057479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2057479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}