Bentonville ranks high on our top mountain bike towns in the U.S. But there’s more than bikes here. Our columnist Graham Averill takes us along to check out the public art, booming food scene, and more.
Is this the perfect town in America? It sure is close; it’s one of my top towns for mountain biking (ranked number 2 on my list)
Bentonville is known for its unique take on trail access, which it blends witha progressive approach to public art. On top of that, they throw in a dash of incredible food. It’s an enticing combination that you have to check out.
This town is all about bikes, and if you’re not traveling with your own, the first thing you need to do is head to Scott Adventure Lab for a rental. They’ll get you set up with a mountain bike or an electric mountain bike so you can hit the local trails, all of which are E-mountain bike friendly.
Ride the All-American Trail
The first trail every mountain biker should ride when they visit Bentonville is the All-American Trail. It’s a mile-long flowy piece of singletrack and connects to the Greater Slaughter Pen Trail System. One of the coolest things about All-American is that the trailhead is just off of Bentonville’s downtown square.
So when you’re done, you can go get an amazing brisket at Wright’s Barbecue, which is located right next to the trailhead. Grab a room at 21c Museum Hotel, which is right off the square. 21c blends modern art into every aspect of the hotel experience. They also have a bike concierge. But don’t get too comfortable because you have a lot of mountain biking to do.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve + Crystal Bridges Art
The next ride on your list is in Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, which has 20 miles of flow and technical single track, as well as a coffee shop that you can only reach by trail. And no trip to Bentonville is complete without doing laps at the new OZ Trails bike park, a lift-served bike park with more than 20 miles of single track.
Now that you’re worn out from riding your bike, it’s time to get cultured. Bentonville has a public arts program with murals and installations scattered throughout town. The centerpiece of the program is Crystal Bridges, a free museum with an astonishing collection of American art. You could spend a full day in this museum and not even scratch the surface of what’s available.
Where to Eat in Bentonville
Now let’s talk about food. Bentonville has a surprisingly good culinary scene, and there are a few spots that you have to hit. The first is Yeyo’s, a Mexican family-run restaurant with a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist chef. I like their food truck just off the square. You also have to check out Bentonville Food Theater, which has a rotating selection of pop-up kitchens. I walked in one night and had the best ramen I’ve ever ate in my entire life.
If you’re looking for a fun place to get a drink, you have to check out Danger Dave’s. This is an eclectic bar in an old house just a few blocks outside of downtown. I love it because it’s weird in all the right ways. And when you need to pick-me-up in the morning, I highly recommend Onyx Coffee Lab. It’s been recognized as the world’s best coffee shop.
Easy trail access, great food, public art. That’s Bentonville.
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