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Bentonville, Arkansas
Words by Chris Brosh
Slaughter Pen Hollow Multi-Use Trail System located in Bentonville, Arkansas is a must ride for any mountain biking enthusiast, whether you are a dedicated cross-country rider or and advanced free-rider. It boasts fourteen miles of single-track put together in four phases since its initial opening of the 5 mile track in April, 2007. Members of the Bentonville/Bella Vista Trail Blazers as well as the owners and friends of Phat Tire Bike Shop had a hand in the initial concept and volunteered time to help trail builders. It came together — built by professional trail builders with varying level of technicality and flow in mind — built by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers!
Slaughter Pen’s first phase identifies Arkansas with creative single track winding through luscious woods, hollows, and rolling hills. The park incorporates reused tree boards left over from the logging of nearby Crystal Bridges’ museum in its effort to construct elevated log rides for the more adventurous riders wishing to push their limits. Other technical elements such as rock gardens are also introduced to produce alternate “lines” which add to the character to the park. Another main component to the first phase is the “free ride” area which consists of a vast array of dirt jumps and wooden elements with beginner, intermediate and advanced options as well as a slalom style course intended for two or four cross racing.
Phase Two was intended to bring out the true beauty of Arkansas mountain biking — rock! They utilized an amazing amount of the natural beauty of the earth to accentuate the trail. Many sections feature the trail rolling over exposed bedrock, more rock gardens and even more alternate lines; all will test your limits with technical rock drops tied into the earth by heavy oak roots and the deep green mosses for which our Northwest Arkansas woodlands are famous.
Phase Three, known as “the playpen” is a stacked loop system with very unusual trail engineering comprised of eleven different trails gaining and loosing elevation much more rapidly than in either of the previous phases. This part of Slaughter Pen boasts technical rock climbs, pump track areas, a completely bermed ravine with over ten foot walls and rollers with rock ledge hits and smooth landings. This being the most progressive of the phases, phase three has something for every skill level of rider; its certainly a favorite of the free-riders.
Phase Four has been kicked off with the construction of the All-American Trail, a marvelous piece of workmanship with native stone rockwork acting as trail heads, elevated “skinnies”, waypoints and a berm foundation. This parallels the Crystal Bridges Trail connecting Slaughter Pen to the downtown Bentonville square. And this is where you can find the Phat Tire Bike Shop, an eclectic mix of staff from young to old, avid racer to commuting enthusiast.
Owned by two local entrepreneurs, Chris Brosh and Tim Robinson, Phat Tire has the laid back, down home feel combined with a professional approach to the customer and a no pressure sales atmosphere. With master wrenches and fit technicians on staff, we have built our business on service, knowledge and expertise as well as expert bicycle fitting. At Phat Tire, we are advocates of cycling but we are not bicycle ‘salespeople’. Our mission, “Helping people raise the quality of life, by meeting local cyclists’ needs and promoting a relaxing and healthy activity that anyone in the community can enjoy,” really speaks to our attitude towards cycling. Phat Tire supports the local Cycling Club, Boston Mountain Cyclists. Many members of staff are avid racers both on the mountain and the road side of things.
Boston Mountain Cyclists boasts great membership of all skill levels. Having race teams in Mountain, Road and Triathlon disciplines as well as informal group rides allows BMC to appeal to cyclists of all levels. Especially with the creation of the BIG ride! Leaving from the downtown Bentonville square every Saturday morning, the ride encourages cyclists of all levels to participate. Although geared as a group road ride, Phat Tire helps out the club that they sponsor by leading a “town” ride of less than ten miles at a casual, social pace.
Our other local cycling or trail maintenance organization, Friends at Slaughter Pen Trail is a collective of 40 active volunteers who maintain all 14 miles of Slaughter Pen as well as do fundraising for future projects and trail maintenance needs. They maintain a non-profit status and have trail work days with dozens of people showing up to work hard, ride hard and of course, enjoy a little food and friendship afterward. FAST members are the most excited trail advocates in the area, taking significant ownership of those trails. As a member, riding with other members, casual trail rides often end up as trash pickups and vine clearing ventures. Being great stewards of the trail is only a small reason Bentonville is very fortunate to have this organization which adds to the appeal of our growing community.
Friends at Slaughter Pen Trail is the entity that programs the Slaughter Pen Jam every year which brings in proceeds for growth and future trail maintenance needs. Over 300 entrants in multiple events compete at the Slaughter Pen Jam. From observed trials to a trail run race, 2x race, short track race, and of course, the cross country race, this event’s wild success exposes the park to new riders and competitors every year. The Jam also serves as the ninth in the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series’ of ten cross country events.
The future of Slaughter Pen shines bright with many land areas already identified for future phases. The Park Springs Park as well as some land butting up next to one of our local junior high schools will be utilized next in the expanding Slaughter Pen Hollow. The essence of Slaughter Pen is to expose new and otherwise unaware, potential cyclists to the access of this great park out right outside their front door. With accessibility key, we enjoy this urban location with its deep woods feel. It acts as a continuous greenbelt from the downtown square, our culture center of Bentonville, past Compton Gardens, through the grounds of The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art toward the rolling and mountainous hills to the north.
Slaughter Pen Hollow Multi-Use Trail System is a great opportunity that any and all cycling or hiking enthusiasts need to visit. Designed by professional mountain bike trail builders, engineered for sustainability and flow, you will not find a more unique trail system right in the middle of a culture rich community like Bentonville — anywhere else in the world. Drop by Phat Tire Bike Shop and say, “Hi.” We will take care of your needs – be it demo ride, trail guide, maintenance or more information on the local cycling scene.
www.phattirebicycles.com
www.slaughterpen.com
www.fasttrails.org
www.bostonmountaincyclists.com
