Exploring Northwest Arkansas on Two Wheels with Oz Cycling Tours
The first thing many riders notice about Northwest Arkansas isn’t the trails. It’s how quickly they appear. You can wake up in a downtown hotel in Bentonville, grab a coffee on the square, clip into your pedals and within minutes disappear into winding ribbons of dirt threading through hardwood forest.
No shuttle.
No long drive to a remote trailhead.
No logistics puzzle before the ride even begins.
Just tires rolling straight from town into the woods.
In most mountain biking destinations, reaching the trailhead is part of the effort. In Northwest Arkansas, the trailhead might be outside your front door. From Bentonville, riders can access an interconnected network stretching south through Rogers, Fayetteville, and beyond, featuring hundreds of miles of purpose-built single track winding through the ancient oak and hickory forests of the Ozark Mountains.
What began quietly nearly two decades ago has grown into one of the most remarkable transformations in American cycling culture.
Helping visitors experience it all are the co-founders of Oz Cycling Tours, brothers Ryan West and Adam West.
A Homegrown Riding Destination
Mountain biking in Bentonville began gaining traction in 2006 when the first purpose built trails started appearing around the city. At the time, few imagined the area would become a global riding destination.
But the potential was there.
“Back in 2006 they started building mountain bike trails in Bentonville,” Ryan says. “About ten years later, we started Oz Cycling Tours.”
For Ryan and Adam, building a business around cycling in the Ozarks wasn’t just an opportunity, it was personal.
“I’m a Bentonville native. I was born here,” Ryan explains. “The Ozarks are home.”
That local knowledge shapes every tour they offer. Riders aren’t just following a guide, they’re riding with someone who watched the region’s cycling culture grow from the ground up.
Trails Right Outside the Door
What makes Northwest Arkansas unique isn’t just the number of trails. It’s how seamlessly they connect with the communities around them.
In many mountain biking destinations, riders load bikes into a vehicle and drive to reach the trailhead. Here, the ride often starts where you’re staying.
“Trails right out our front door at most hotels and Airbnbs,” Ryan says. “That’s what sets Northwest Arkansas apart from every other destination in the country.”
Many Oz Cycling Tours rides begin just steps from Bentonville’s historic downtown square. From there, riders roll directly into the expanding OZ Trails system, which now spans hundreds of miles across the region.
A Destination Built for Every Rider
Northwest Arkansas didn’t build its trail system solely for elite athletes. The network was intentionally designed to welcome everyone from first time riders to seasoned mountain bikers searching for technical terrain.
“We offer tours to riders of all experience levels,” Ryan says. “Every ride is customized for the client.”
Oz Cycling Tours focuses on private experiences tailored to each group’s pace, fitness level, and interests.
“No group is too big or too small,” Ryan explains. “We customize the ride to what people want to experience.”
Guests bring their own bikes and gear, but along the ride Ryan often shares tips on bike handling and trail technique to help riders feel more comfortable on the trail.
Riding Through the Ozarks
The trails themselves are only part of what makes riding in Northwest Arkansas special. The landscape of the Ozarks adds a sense of immersion that few riding destinations can match. Rolling ridge lines, dense hardwood forests, limestone bluffs, and clear creeks create a backdrop that changes dramatically with the seasons. Spring fills the forest with wildflowers and blooming dogwoods. Fall transforms the hills into waves of crimson, gold, and burnt orange.
“Spring and fall are definitely the prime seasons,” Ryan says. “Summer can be a little hot, but early morning rides are still great.”
Those early morning rides bring a quiet stillness to the forest cool air, birds overhead, and trails that seem to belong entirely to the rider.
A Global Riding Destination
Today, Northwest Arkansas is often mentioned alongside iconic mountain biking destinations like Moab, Whistler, and Sedona. But the culture here feels different. Rather than focusing only on extreme terrain, the region built a trail system meant to be approachable and welcoming.
“People come from all over the world to ride here,” Ryan says. “And I think what surprises them most is how accessible everything is.”
Oz Cycling Tours also holds a unique distinction within the region. “We’re the only touring company in Northwest Arkansas licensed by OZ Trails,” Ryan says.
That connection links the company directly to the organizations responsible for building and maintaining the trail network that has reshaped the region.
Looking Ahead
As the cycling culture in Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, Oz Cycling Tours is expanding its offerings. One of their newest experiences is a five-day luxury gravel adventure through the Ozarks,combining scenic backroad riding with high end accommodations and exceptional local food.
For riders interested in guided tours, custom rides, or upcoming adventure packages, more information can be found on the company’s website: https://ozcyclingtours.com/#BikeToursAndPackages
The Ozarks Are Waiting
For riders visiting Northwest Arkansas for the first time, the experience can feel almost unexpected. Not just because the trails are world class, but because the entire region seems built around the idea that riding a bike should be simple, welcoming, and woven into everyday life.
“If you’re looking to experience the Ozarks on two wheels for the first time,” Ryan says, “you’ve picked a world class spot.”
In Northwest Arkansas, the trail doesn’t start miles away. It starts right outside your door.
Meredith Mashburn
Contributor
Meredith Mashburn is an acclaimed photographer based in Northwest Arkansas whose lens turns everyday moments into compelling visual stories. From her bio:
With over 25 years of experience in editorial, commercial, fashion, and lifestyle photography, Meredith brings an intuitive eye, vibrant creativity, and deep respect for her subjects to every project. Her work spans industry and emotion — from magazine editorials and brand campaigns to evocative portraits — always grounded in authenticity and connection. Meredith’s projects go beyond stunning imagery; they reflect her belief that photography can spark conversation, foster empathy, and elevate the human experience.
