The Trail
Nearest Town with Accommodations: Rogers / Eureka Springs
Location: From I-540 in Rogers exit 85 onto W. Walnut Street and follow it going east. When you come to N. 2nd Street turn left and follow it for a few blocks until you reach E. Locust Street. Turn right onto E. Locust Street and follow it for about 12 miles until you come to Hobbs State Park. Watch to your right for Townsend Ridge Road. Turn right on to Townsend Ridge Road (dirt road) and follow it for about two miles you will see the parking area to your right. There is designated parking there for mountain bikers. The trail head is next to the restrooms.
Type: Single track / loops.
Distance: About 15 miles doing all loops.
Summary: A friend had told us about this trail and how wonderful it was, so I got on the Internet and started doing some research on this trail. Everything I read confirmed what my friend was saying but I still had my doubts because this was a shared trail with horses. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against shared use trails or equestrians but I have had a less then satisfied experience on these kind of trails. So to say the least we headed up to Hobbs State Park with a lot of skepticism. When we pulled into the parking lot I was impressed with the facilities, they had special parking for the bikers and hikers and the parking area was really nice and clean compared to what I expected to find. Once we got on the trail I was equally impressed with the condition of the trail. The trail is all single track and and in good shape. If a person did not know better you could hardly tell that this was a shared trail with horses other then the occasional hitching post areas and horse land mines left along the trail. The people who made this trail took some time and designed it well. There are three loops out here the Little Clifty Creek Loop (9 miles) which we rode, then there's the Dutton Hollow Loop (3 miles) and the Bashore Ridge Loop (3 miles). I would have liked to have ridden all three loops but time did not permit it. From the parking lot you take some nice swooping trail along the ridge to the spot where the loop comes together. Here you can go straight and do the loop clockwise or turn right and to it in a counter clockwise fashion. We choose to go straight. From the Y the trail traverses the side of a some hills and then plunges down into the valley below until it comes to a nice bridge going over the creek. After the bridge you have a climb back up but it is a real gentle climb. Eventually you come to where the trail runs along side of Piney Road, this was my favorite part. The trail here goes up and down and around numerous ridges and coves all the time hanging on the edge of the steep sides of the hills. You do have to watch for areas of loose rock that can wash your front tire out really fast. After this section you have a little climb and then a really fun downhill as the trail takes you back down into the valley and back across the creek. Once over the creek the trail starts climbing back out of the valley again. This climb is not as gentle as the first and some riders may end up pushing or at the least going to visit Granny for part of the trip up. Once at the top of the hill you will cross Townsend Ridge Road. The trail in this section is really nice with some gentle rolling hills and smooth turns. You will cross Townsend Ridge Road again and in no time you are back where you started. Overall this trail was a real pleasure to ride and I will be returning sometime soon to do the entire trail system. Don't let the fact that this is a shared use trail scare you off, it is well worth the trip out to the park. The trail is a mixture of different soil, some places its is fast and hard packed, others have thick loose rock but no matter the section it is all fun. There are no large rocks or eroded spots in the middle of the trail like what you would expect on a horse trail. The trail is well laid out and flows very nicely. The area is near Beaver Lake which is very scenic so be prepared to stop and take lots of pictures.
Recommended Route: We did the Little Clifty Creek Loop only and did it in a clockwise direction. I talked to one of the locals who was riding the trail for the second time that day and he said that most people ride in a clockwise direction but I think any way you went would be good.
When to ride: From talking with others I have been told that this trail is always well maintained and is a thrill to ride anytime of the year. They do close the trails when there has been a lot of rain in the area so you might want to call before going out there.
Rating: Most riders I think are going to like this trail. Some of the climbs might be a bit much to someone who is not well conditioned and the ridge riding near Piney Road might be a little unnerving for some less experienced riders. There is really nothing technical out there that would require advanced handling skills. If a person is in fairly good shape they will probably enjoy this trail.
Other recommended trails in the area: Fossil Flats, Lake Leatherwood