Expedition Series: Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

In this series, we will take a deeper dive into some of Northwest Arkansas's favorite parks and nature areas. These guides will cover everything from parking, our favorite trails and routes, different trail ratings at each location, and other activities to do outside of biking at these locations. Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville, Arkansas will be the focus of today's guide. 

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve's slogan, " A space for mountain bikers and nature lovers alike" rings true for this beautiful preserve. The beauty of Coler is how accessible it is to so many people; with ample parking, camping spots, a coffee shop, and premier mountain biking trails Coler is the perfect destination. This 300-acre park was opened in 2016 and is run and maintained at a world-class level by the nonprofit Peel Compton Foundation. Who also run other local favorites like The Quiver Archery Range, Compton Gardens & Arboretum, and Osage Park, which are great outdoor recreation areas and have even been featured in several of our blogs and guides. Coler is beautiful all seasons of the year but in the fall and spring Coler comes to life with beautiful colors everywhere. In the summer Coler holds lots of events and has airship coffee to keep you refreshed, and in the winter things do get quieter and there are regular events throughout the year.

Trails & Ratings

Coler is a premier mountain bike location for riders across the nation because of its abundance of trails. With over 17 miles of trails that cater to every discipline and rider's skill level. Coler Mountain Bike Preserve has trails for flow, cross country (XC), dual slalom, and downhill. Along these trails, riders will encounter various obstacles like jumps, ramps, flat corners, and rock gardens made of stone, wood, and metal. One of the most iconic obstacle features is called The Hub, a 20-foot structure made of steel and wood with narrow ramps that project riders into multiple trails. 

Easy/Beginner Trails: For beginner riders or those looking for a calm trail then we recommend Esthers Loop. This 4.5-mile trail winds along the park's west side and is excellent for general flow and riding. Access to Esthers Loop can be found either at Coler Grove or at "The Plaza" on the south side of Coler. If you want to continue your ride or access the campgrounds, you can connect to the Good Vibrations Trail (also a beginner-rated trail) from Esthers Loop. If you are looking for refreshments, exit Esthers Loop at the Applegate Trail crossing, head north to The Homestead, and stop at Airship Coffee. 

Difficult/Advanced: If you are looking for a little more excitement and challenge on your ride but aren't quite wanting to ride a black diamond then we recommend Oscars Loop. Each has its own unique qualities and which one you choose will be based on what experience you are looking for. Dual slalom is one of the shortest trails at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve but is an identical dual trail designed for you to race your friends or practice downhill racing. This trail starts at Coler Grove and ends at the Plaza where you can take Family Flow back up and re-ride the race. There are some cool obstacles on the trail with tight corners, ramps drops, and jumps to test your ability to navigate intermediate obstacles at fast speeds. Oscars Loop is the longest trail in the park and loops from near the Plaza and South Gateway to the Water Tower. Here you can ride a difficult or very difficult trail down to the Homestead or continue on the loop to the North Gateway and back. 

Very Difficult/Seasoned Riders: If you are an avid mountain biker and have experience riding difficult and very difficult trails then we recommend the short but very technical Here's Johnny and Copperhead Road trails. Here's Johnny is a rocky nightmare filled with constant obstacles ranging from elevated wood features down to straight bouldering Here's Johnny will give even the most experienced riders a scare much like its name origin the movie The Shining. Copperhead Road is 1.7 miles long and while still very difficult it has areas of good flow mixed with technical obstacles. We recommend warming up on Oscars Loop and then connecting from there into Copperhead Road for a more challenging route. Copperhead Road winds down the mountain with lots of rock gardens and switchbacks.

Extremely Difficult/Professional: Drop the Hammer is one of the most difficult and iconic trails at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. This quarter-mile extremely difficult trail is an alternate route for those riding Cease and Desist and connects back up to it. Drop the Hammer is a jump-centric trail with drops progressively stepping up until you reach the largest jump in the Bentonville area. A 12-foot drop sends you flying over a different trail, followed by multiple step-down 10-foot drops. 

More about the trails and their ratings can be found here.

Other Activities 

If you aren't a biker but want to get outside and enjoy the nature and beauty of the trails then Coler is perfect. Coler has multiple trails that allow hikers on them, and just be sure to follow all signs and rules as some areas of the trails are biking only. There is also new addition being added just north of the Homestead which is a massive staircase that will allow pedestrians and hikers to access The Hub without walking the trails. Coler Mountain bike Preserve is also one of the few mountain bike parks in the country that allow electric one-wheel skateboards on its trails which draws hundreds of "one-wheelers" to Northwest Arkansas each year. 

The other great park of Coler is there is a paved trail that acts like the spine of the trail network and is a great walk for families. This trail is called the Applegate trail. Applegate is a 2.6 mile long very easy trail that is designed to make Coler accessible to all people looking to enjoy nature whether you are a walker, runner or going for a stroll. This trail is very family and dog friendly and connects to all of the popular areas at Coler. 

Near the middle of Coler is the Homestead. The Homestead is a great place to relax after walking, hiking, or riding the trails. Located at the Homestead is another local favorite, Airship Cofee. Here you can get great coffee, smoothies, and even nachos while enjoying this uniquely designed open-air coffee shop. They have seasonal closures, so check their social media and website for hours. The grassy fields around Airship have a homestead barn and a smaller building with the iconic "Paradise Found" sign that makes for the perfect picture background. The Homestead is located about a mile from the North Gateway and only a little longer than that from the South Gateway if you take the paved Applegate trail. 

If you are from out of town or want to spend multiple nights exploring the reserve, then we recommend staying at the Coler Campground. The Coler Campground has 17 elevated wooden campsites and 5 van sites open year round. There are modern amenities located on-site with bathrooms and access to hot showers. This includes a bike washing station, water bottle refill stations, hammock areas, and purchasable firewood. Nightly rates can be found here.

Parking

Parking at Coler can be difficult especially if there is an ongoing event. The three main parking areas are Coler Grove (closed during most events), South Gateway, and the North Gateway. It is important to note that the South Gateway is divided into two areas by 3rd street. Google Maps does not have these locations well marked so we created a map with parking and popular locations throughout the reserve.