Bella Vista Trails - Back 40 & Little Sugar

02/25/2026

11/19/2025

Winter is coming ... The water hydrants maintained by the city at the Lake Ann, Bear Hollow, and Buckingham trailheads along the Back 40 trails are scheduled to be winterized next week (the last week of November) until spring returns in 2026.

11/14/2025

Last weekend was the 10th running of the Back 40 Trail Race, powered this year by On, with the largest field of runners yet. Today, Rush Running Co. presented a donation check for $8,000 to the City of Bella Vista, Arkansas — the proceeds from this event that each year are donated to the city and earmarked for trails. This year, they wanted to tackle the erosion at the Lake Ann bridge. You can thank them for other projects that resulted from their donations, like trash cans at trailheads and water on the trails. We appreciate your generosity and your love of our trails!

11/07/2025

ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION ALERT: Starting MONDAY, NOV. 10, Carroll Electric will be setting new poles and stringing conductors in the area where the Back 40 Loop trail crosses Grosvenor Road and west to its intersection with The Ledges trail. During this project, anticipated to last around 3 weeks, there may be a need to temporarily stop trail users for safety. Flaggers will be present during the project. Please use caution in this area, obey signage and be patient during temporary stops.

11/05/2025

TRAIL EVENT SATURDAY: Runners will be taking to the trails this Saturday, Nov. 8, for the annual Back 40 Trail Race. This event happens on the Back 40 trails and some of the Wonderlands trails above Lake Bella Vista. Expect to see runners in groups early in the day starting at 7:30 a.m., and then sporadically throughout the rest of the afternoon as the toughest of the tough conquer the 40 mile distance. If you feel like cheering these folks on, find the course map here: https://www.rushrunning.com/back-40-courses.

11/04/2025

Northwest Arkansas trails (but especially the ones in Bella Vista) are the coolest.

A sprawling network of world-class trails is only the start in Northwest Arkansas

10/10/2025

It's almost go time... 🚴‍♀️🚴🚴‍♂️

10/08/2025

Here's a super fun volunteer opportunity that can make your organization some 💲💲💲! Check it out below - Little Sugar MTB race is this Sunday, Oct. 12!

Big Sugar week is almost here—and we need YOU to help make it unforgettable! 🙌

From packet pickup to after-party setup, there’s a special spot for everyone.

🔒 Bonus: Put in 10+ hours and you’ll lock in a guaranteed entry for next year’s race! Friends and family can even donate their hours to help you hit the mark.

Don’t wait—claim your spot and be part of the Big Sugar magic!

Volunteer With Us👇
bigsugarclassic.com/volunteer

10/06/2025

EVENT ALERT (and long post w/info): The Little Sugar MTB race is this Sunday, Oct. 12. Get ready for some really amazing riders coming through our city! Things you need to know:

📍 Members of FAST News & Events - Friends of Arkansas Singletrack will begin marking the race courses (50k and 100k) on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The event is fully permitted by the city and they have permission to mark the course. They will be using pin flags and signs. Please leave them in place if you see them.

👀 Participants will start at Coler and ride on both the Back 40 and Little Sugar trails. Find course info at the link below to snag a cool spot to spectate. (Side note: One of the most widely heard comments from participants last year was about how awesome the spectators were in Bella Vista - like whole neighborhoods gathering to cheer them on. That is so cool.)

🚓 Bella Vista Police officers will be working at road crossings to keep everyone safe during the event. High five them when you see them.

🏍 Motos will lead the first elite male and first elite female during the race. They are allowed on the course during events and a couple days prior to the event to scout the course, but that doesn't mean your motorbike is allowed on the trails. Sorry.

🗑 Over the 3 days following the event, the FAST group will be out cleaning up the markings they put out. They are allowed 3 days to get it cleaned up, so give them a break if you still see a flag the following day. If you see an area that looks like it needs a little more help cleaning up, let them know!

Find all the event info here: https://www.bigsugarclassic.com/mtb/.

October 12, 2025 Shred the best MTB trails NWA has to offer! Choose between 100K, 50K or 20K courses that will leave those legs burning and hearts pumping. 50K

09/26/2025

The City of Bella Vista, Arkansas, in coordination with We Are Trailblazers, is hosting a trail work day from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Work will be focused on the Lago Vista West trail, and tailored toward those in the community who are newly interested in learning about trail maintenance, which can be a little intimidating at first. Join us to get hands on training in trail and tool knowledge.

📆 Saturday, Oct. 4
🕑 2-4 p.m.
📍 Lake Avalon Pavilion: 105 Lancaster Drive, Bella Vista AR 72715
❓ Contact [email protected] for any questions

Event registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lago-vista-west-tickets-1716740520109?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

09/03/2025

This unseasonably cool weather has inspired lots of people to explorer the trails in our beautiful city. Whether you’re on the Back 40, Little Sugar, or anywhere in between, BVPD bike officers are happy to help anyone out enjoying the scenery on the trail systems.