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The Backcountry of Northwest Arkansas - Video

Aug 4, 2016
by Oz Trails  
The Backcountry of Northwest Arkansas - Mountain Biking in Oz Trails

by OzTrails
Views: 6,434    Faves: 71    Comments: 4

Joey Schusler and Rosara Joseph didn't know what to expect when they planned their visit to the Ozark mountains. Shortly after take off, it became crystal clear they were about to experience a backcountry mountain bike adventure of a lifetime which includes Cessnas and Piper Cubs, the Upper Buffalo wilderness and a beautiful network of IMBA Epic trails.

Video created by OzTrailsNWA in partnership with Wazee Motion Pictures. If you want to learn more, visit www.OzTrailsNWA.com.

MENTIONS: @OzTrails


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58 Comments
  • 11 1
 I got an offer to go ride NW Arkansas at the end of the month but I won't be able to go as I'm going to be camping in Glacier National Park. But damn... this makes me really want to go to Arkansas instead.
  • 12 1
 The Ozarks are pretty but Glacier is the right call. You'll have a great time.
  • 3 0
 If you're taking your bike, Whitefish/Spencer Mtn isn't far.
  • 5 0
 Glacier is amazing, you won't be disappointed.
  • 3 0
 Glacier definitely the right call. Hopefully you're exploring the Many Glacier side. If you can get a hike into Granite Park chalet. Whitefish and Big Fork areas have some great riding
  • 8 0
 if you haven't been to Arkansas you need to make the trip. If it has been a year since you have ridden in North West Arkansas then you will have 50 plus new miles to play on. And the trail growth will continue exponentially.. Rock tech hand cut, to double black jump action and all In between. You will not be disappointed.
  • 11 0
 I know it's bad but I was just waiting for them to make-out at any moment.
  • 6 0
 Right?
I also thought it was weird how the tone got super aggro right after the turtle fondling.
  • 5 0
 To All - As an avid rider in the Kansas City area, I frequently make the three hour drive to NW Arkansas to ride these trails. Sure, the terrain does not match any Appalachian or Rocky Mountain Riding out west, but for a short drive vs. 12 hours heading west to Colorado the trails are perfect for midwest riding. Everyone in Arkansas that I have had the pleasure of riding with and/or talking to is just beyond nice and welcoming. Comparing any midwest trails to western mountainous trails is silly as the terrain is night and day different. Keep it up @OzTrails @NWARider! Each trip down to your neck of the woods keeps getting better and better! Looking forward to the IMBA World Summit in November and exploring the new Back 40 Smile Ride On.
  • 18 14
 This video depicts what I hate about IMBA and their aproach to trail building. Here, in the middle of the Wilderness, with pump tracks, GIANT retaining walls for a switchback, and mile after mile of top soil and ground structure completely removed to create smooth- flow trails. This is not what it should be like. Instead creating trails with simple Hand tools and compacting them by just riding them.
  • 18 1
 That is several trails edited together, not all are truly backcountry. Several of the less groomed trails are in the Upper Buffalo trail system near the Buffalo River National forest and are raw and not groomed. The pump tracks and retaining rock wall are a different trail system and pretty much in the city. Trust me there is something for everyone here from flow tracks, to XC, to straight up rocky and raw trails in Fayetteville on Mt. Kessler, as well as DH and awesome dirt parks. It's like freaking Disney World for mountain bikers!
  • 5 2
 @likeittacky have you ever ridden in the area before man?
  • 7 2
 @NWARider: spoken like a true local. #ridenwa
  • 10 1
 @NWARider: Thank's for the insight on what it is really like, and not being Trolls about my comment regarding IMBA. NWA sounds Awesome and sure is beautiful. If the people their have attitudes as you guys I for sure will make it a destination. RIDE ON!!
  • 1 0
 The coolest thing about NWA is IMO then gnarly raw riding that can be found all over the place but no one knows about. Given a week and enough calories I could show people some rides that would have them peeing themselves daily. There really is some burly backcountry decents there.
  • 5 4
 @NWARider: it sounds pretty incredible, but can you get those all-day epics with 5,000+ vertical ft descent like in Utah and Colorado? Living in Utah, and having never been to Arkansas, I picture the Ozarks as Hills more than mountains.
  • 3 1
 Probably not unless you are shuttling in the truck like mad. Deff more of big hills. For pure vertical feet and bike park riding out west is the way to go. There is however some areas that are remote, rough, and burly enough to make a big bike hike well worth it along with some flow bike parky stuff too. AM style riding is fun there obviously.

If I had to pick a bike trip right now I'd go out west. (Probably angel fire) If I had to pick a new place to live everyday and ride every weekend though Arkansas would be high on the list.
  • 3 1
 @MetalMessiah: Well in terms of just vertical footage it's not likely gonna rival what you'll find in the Rockies, since the terrain just won't allow it. That said what we don't have in mountain size is made up for in the overwhelming number of trails we have and are continuing to get and they're all rideable year round. Also what you'll find is a community that has fully embraced the mountain biking scene so instead of resistance towards the sport, like you'll find in some places, it's been accepted with open arms and somewhat become an identity for the area. I just recently moved back to the state about 2 1/2 years ago and since that time there's been an incredible bike park and three new trail systems that have been put in totalling over 50 miles of single track as well as additions to what's already been put in with several more trails set to open later this year. I honestly can't keep up with everything being built and already here and it's not just miles for miles but legit trails built by professional crews and volunteers alike with a little bit of everything from easy access trails near cities to backcountry remote riding. I never thought I'd say this about NWA but it's become a mountain biking destination worth a trip, and an overall trail system I think can hold its own against anything in the country in terms of access, quality/quantity, and just plain ole fun on two wheels. Not to mention the actual cities are pretty rad themselves.
  • 4 1
 @MetalMessiah: yes you can easily grab 5,000 vertical ft my normal 20 mile ride usually is 1500-2000 feet. we have 4 or 5 IMBA Epic trails.
  • 1 1
 @cougar797: I'm moving to Fayetteville next week. How do I find these unknown trails you speak of? Is there a bike shop I can go to for that info? Thanks!
  • 2 1
 @MetalMessiah: hahaha, yes you can get 5000' vertical. Lots of the trails are 200'+ of climbing per mile. The Ozarks are more up and down than people in the Rockies ride, no true sustained climbs, generally a big climb would be 800-1000'.

Take the Womble for example, depending on what direction you ride it in, you will get 35ish miles and 4500' of climbing. It's an IMBA epic and it deserves that classification as much as any epic I've rode. Arkansas is dope!!
  • 2 0
 @vaedwards: check out Highroller in downtown Fayetteville or Rogers. Welcome to the area!
  • 1 0
 Nwa has plenty of hand cut very gnarly trail too. Here is a YouTube link of a new dh bike park that just opened up. 7 new trails and free shuttles for two months. It is RAD

youtu.be/47FrChqsWq0
  • 3 1
 I lived in this area for 35 years and I have lived in Albuquerque going on four years. I recently made the trip back at the beginning of the summer to do some riding on my Yeti 5.5. There are trails in Arkansas that are just as fun to ride out here in the west but the trails in AR just do not have the elevation to do a three plus mile decent. However, the trails that you do get are fantastic. The Upper Buffalo Trails system (40ish miles)is relatively new and its GREAT. There are other trail systems in Arkansas that are great as well. Syllamo Trail system (50ish) as well as Womble trail(37ish). If you are looking for a hidden gym to go for a week long car camping\mountain bike trip there are more than enough trails to make it happen. This is not counting all the trails in NWA that they are building. Those have been featured in the film Suit to Shred here on PB. Enjoy your riding in Arkansas and if you need some local places to eat I can give you those as well!!
  • 6 2
 I always love seeing what Joey comes out with. He sure knows how to get out on great adventures and he captures it on film so well. Behind the scenes vid?
  • 1 1
 Hey @jpwilbur9, we'll definitely be posting behind the scenes videos soon!
  • 3 1
 Place is incredible! It's a legitimate destination week/weekend amount of riding there. Gorgeous, affordable, and great trails and bike parks! Thankful to be close enough to make it out a few times a year!
  • 1 0
 This makes me proud to be from Northwest Arkansas. Look up these awesome trails if you come here to ride. Slaughter Pen Blowing Springs Mt. Kessler Lake Leatherwood Thunder Chicken Railyard Lake Fayettevile Lincoln Lake Buffalo River Headwaters Syllamo
  • 1 1
 I lived in Fayeteville for 2 years, and I loved mountain biking around there. It's not the epic climbing/descending of what we have in Oregon, but two great local trails were only 5 miles from my house and I could do an actual lunch ride at Sycamore or Mt. Sequoia. The greatest thing about NWA was that it was ride-able all year long! Wish I could have made it to Lake Leatherwood and Upper Buffalo :/.
  • 1 1
 To any haters and those misinformed: there are trails all over this state that will rival any trail system for vertical footage and technicality. The difference is that you'll do six climbs instead of two to get your two thousand feet. Expect 1000 feet for every hour of riding in most trail systems west of Little Rock whether that's in the ozarks or ouachitas. NWA has a much higher concentration of machine built trails because of their high concentration of money and dedication to the sport, but there is a backcountry ride close by from anywhere you are (west of little rock)
  • 1 1
 Arkansas is my go to for weekend getaways. The growth of the trails down there has been unbelievable. They are currently building 40+ miles of singletrack in Bella Vista to be completed by fall. Trails there have a little bit of everything, but a lot is flowy machine built trail but its really fun stuff. Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs is my favorite, 20 plus miles of rugged singletrack and a shuttleable DH run with some serious hits. Camping, cabins, showers, and a beautiful lake make it really special. Feels like backcountry but only a few miles from a town with bars and restaurants. The potential of the region is unreal, and that's not even including the Ouachita range further south. Is it a destination like Moab, Sedona or Pisgah yet? I wouldn't say that, but if you're going to be in the area definitely bring your bike.
  • 1 0
 Which airport would you fly into and best city/town to stay in to hit all those trails...I guess I could check out oztrailsnwa website!
  • 1 0
 Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) is the most convenient, but flights in and out of it are usually severely overpriced. Tulsa is usually much cheaper, but adds about a 2 hour drive to get to NW Arkansas.
  • 2 1
 just spent 4 months here riding and taking care of family. absolutely phenomenal. im an east coast new england dude, and wasnt expecting this!!
  • 3 2
 Wow, that sure looks like a nice way to spend a day! Do you have to fly in? I would imagine not.
  • 4 1
 No. The plane and air strip drop-off was strictly for dramatic effect. There are about 6 trails that are edited together to make it look like one. The flying scenes in the beginning most likely had I-49 just out of frame.
  • 4 1
 @downhil: It did make for a nice edit.
  • 1 1
 @downhil: downhil-shmownhil, I could get down on some of that dramatic effect. When are you coming to ride with me?
  • 2 2
 @travduant: I was just up there 2 weeks ago. You flaked.
  • 1 0
 What's the riding like in Bull Shoals\Mountain Home? Or Jasper? Is that considered NW AR?
  • 1 0
 Jasper to me is but Mountain Home not so much, at least in my view. That said though I grew up on Lake Norfork in Mountain Home and my folks have a lake house there. It's awesome and we love it! Also it's not too far from the Syllamo trail system which are good trails and I believe an IMBA epic. Jasper isn't far from the Upper Buffalo trail system which is featured in a lot of the above film and well worth checking out for sure. Most of the trails considered NWA are in the far upper left corner of the state but there are phenomenal trails all over the state as well worth checking out like the Womble and others.
  • 2 0
 yeti got a shot but whats up with Rosaras transition..
  • 3 3
 I've loved Yeti for over 20 years so maybe I'm biased. But the riding, filming, and music are always top notch.
  • 7 5
 The music ruined it for me personally
  • 1 1
 I'll be traveling to NWArkansas in a few months and am wondering what bike to bring.
NWA locals, what do you ride?
  • 2 1
 There is a good amount of people that ride FS 29ers as well as the 27.5s. A majority of the riders ride a XC setup. If you were riding a bike with more than 120mm of travel then you will be golden. Most of the terrain there is hard packed over rocky stuff.
  • 2 1
 I only have one bike and it's a prototype balance frame I built up that I bought straight from the guys at Canfield. It's got 142mm rear travel and 160mm front and perfect for a one bike quiver here with how I like to ride. Any AM type bike would be great since it'd allow you to ride everything in the area without feeling too over/under biked on any trail. Like most stuff it's how you ride, but I think 120-140ish would be good IMO. A lot of guys are riding Transition scouts as well as Bronson's and Tallboys and kind of everything in between. So a decent AM setup would be my pick if I had to choose just one to visit with. Hope that helps.
  • 3 1
 That looks like fun!
  • 3 1
 Makes me miss home...
  • 1 1
 That was an awesome edit! I would totally make a trip out there! How far out were they? Can you ride and camp??
  • 2 1
 I had no idea. Ozarks, here we come!
  • 1 0
 You won't be disappointed in our trails!
  • 2 2
 Take me next time please!
  • 1 1
 Is that Hawksbill Crag at the end?
  • 1 1
 Hi @Tshawn, yes, the last shot is at Hawksbill Crag! It's a beautiful place to hike!
  • 3 3
 Stunning cinematography!
  • 1 2
 so great
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