Mountain Biking Lake Wedington Trail

Lake Wedington Trail, 13 miles west of Fayetteville, Arkansas on Highway 16, is within a segment of the Ozark National Forest. The lake was dug and the rec area built by the WPA in the 1930s and then in the 1950s it became part of the national forest. This trail is advertised as a hiking/backpacking trail and is open to bikes, but the outstanding scenic value of this trail makes it a must either for hiking or biking. Short sections are relatively flat and free of loose rocks...



...but the trail continuously negotiates ravines, generally by going into them and up the other side, making this a strenuous and technical ride (double click to enlarge photos.)



The young and/or fit rider can bike the tougher terrain, but I admit that we 60-somethings did a bit of cross-training (walking the bikes.)



The uphills and downhills often were strewn with hundreds of large rocks and a fair number of tree roots, making traction iffy at times. Use caution!!



The trail is an out-and-back and travels 7+ miles to the banks of the Illinois River. The section alongside and then through a cut in the bluffs can be avoided by biking the gravel road, but don't miss at least walking this section as it is the most beautiful part fo the trail.