No family vacation in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas would be complete without a visit to a mountain bike preserve, right? After all, it's the Mountain Biking Capital of the World!
...Wait, a preserve for mountain bikes? Yep, there's a preserve for that. Coler is a special location carved out specifically for those who prefer to enjoy the forest on two wheels.
Heads up: This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click and buy—we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read more about it here.
If you’re more comfortable on your feet though, Coler isn’t just for bikers—hikers and nature lovers who happen to drink coffee in the woods will also feel welcome here! Plus, there’s much more to this mountain bike preserve than trails.
Find out what Coler has to offer—and, what makes it so special. Watch the teaser video for a quick preview and then read the details below.
What is a Mountain Bike Preserve?
Honestly, we're not real sure either. But if we had to make an educated guess, it’s a nature park that’s dedicated to providing miles of high-quality, well-maintained trails for mountain bikers (and hikers) to enjoy.
Something to consider—when we looked up mountain bike preserves, Coler was the only one that came up. So, this place might be onto something really special and unique.
Where is Coler Mountain Bike Preserve?
As the Mountain Biking Capital of the World, NWA has a natural draw for bikers. So of course, they have a preserve just for this sport! Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is located on the outskirts of Bentonville, just off NW 3rd Street (less than a mile West of Walton Blvd).
Address: 2500 NW 3rd St, Bentonville, AR 72712
Find it on the map below.
The Trails at Coler
Coler offers the Ozarks 17 miles of trails for all skill levels. That’s a lot to cover! Make the most of your time by checking out a trail map. You can decide which trails you want to explore before you head out.
Keep in mind that the park is divided into two halves based on difficulty level. Less experienced riders (as well as pedestrians) will want to stick with the West side of the preserve for trails labeled as easy or intermediate.
Here are some family-friendly off-road trails at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve:
Family Flow Trail: .5 mile
Good Vibrations Trail: 1.4 mile
Esther’s Loop: 4.5 miles
Applegate Trail also runs the length of the park and provides a paved, accessible path that leads to something pretty cool!
Walkers, runners, and hikers are welcome to check out these trails at the preserve by foot:
Esther’s Loop
Here’s Johnny
Oscar’s Loop
Copperhead Road
If you discover a love for mountain biking while at the preserve and are looking to explore more trails in the area without getting lost, book a half-day private guided bike tour around Bentonville.
Book your 3-hour tour with Ozark Bike Guides for $120 per rider (ages 10+) on Trip Advisor.
More Things to Do at Coler
There’s more to do at Coler than riding or walking the trails.
Camping at Coler
Check out all that Coler Mountain Bike Preserve has to offer by staying a night or two at the on-site campground. There are several hike-in sites, a few camper van sites, and 1 ADA site. Reserve your spot for between $17 and $30 per night. It provides clean, modern restrooms with hot showers for your camping pleasure.
This unique camping experience also comes with nearby bike washing and repair stations, a water bottle refill station, and wagons you can borrow to trek your gear to your site. Get to know other campers around the community campfire—you’ll love the good vibes!
If you’d rather stay in a more temperature controlled environment, find a nearby vacation rental in Bentonville, there’s some super neat ones out there!
Get Coffee in the Woods
We’ve hinted at it a couple of times now. If you’re wondering why we keep mentioning coffee plus nature, it’s because there’s an open-air cafe inside Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. You can only access the java via trail (about a mile from any parking lot). Grab a cup of joe at Airship Coffee’s open-air cafe.
In addition to the traditional coffee, here’s some of what’s on the menu:
Smoothies
Shroom Brew Coffee
Hot Chocolate
Kombucha
Beer
Tea
Nachos
Tacos
Baked goods
See the full menu here. Once you’ve re-charged at Airship, you might be ready to join in on a program offered inside the preserve.
Learn at Coler
When you plan your vacation to the Ozarks, don’t forget to check the calendar to see if there is a learning opportunity happening during your stay! Peel Compton Foundation provides lots of classes for kids and families right inside the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve.
Some of the helpful courses including the following:
Essentials of Mountain Biking - for newbies (2 hours) $25
Firebuilding 101 (1 hour) $15
Campfire Cooking 101 (1.5 hours) $25
Nocturnal Animals (1 hour) $15
There are also some super affordable guided tour rides available inside the park, including:
Birding on Bikes (2 hours) $20
Nature Tour (2 hours) $15
Ready to Plan Your Trip to Coler Mountain Bike Preserve?
If you’re ready to start planning your trip to Coler, let us help give you a few helpful resources to get you pointed in the right direction.
Bike Rentals: Get rental bikes delivered to Coler Mountain Bike Preserve by calling Encore Bike Rentals at 479-341-6500. If you’ve never rented a bike before, be sure to check out our guide on how to rent a bike in Bentonville.
Reserve a Campsite: Make your reservation here for Coler Campground for a unique camping experience among good company.
