Yes, you can ride Bentonville in winter. Plenty of riders keep going through December and January. Cool, dry days ride well, the trails are quieter, and a warm hotel to come back to makes the cold part easy. This guide covers what to wear, how to plan around short days, how to treat wet or frozen trails, and how to turn a winter ride trip into a gift.
Planning a winter ride weekend? Check dates and book direct at TheBikeInn.com, or give the trip as a Bike Inn gift card.
Dress in layers
- Base layer: something that pulls sweat away from your skin. Skip cotton.
- Mid layer: a light fleece or insulated top for colder days.
- Shell: a wind-blocking jacket you can unzip or stash as you warm up.
- Hands, feet and ears: full-finger gloves, warm socks, and a thin cap or headband under your helmet.
Start a little cold. You’ll warm up fast on the first climb.
Plan around shorter days
Winter days are short. Start once the morning has warmed up a bit, pick a ride you can finish in daylight, and leave a buffer for flats or wrong turns. Pack a light anyway in case a ride runs long.
Treat wet and frozen trails with care
Cold nights and sunny days can leave trails frozen in the morning and soft by afternoon. Riding soft, muddy trails damages them.
- Check each trail system’s rules and any closures before you go. OZ Trails has maps for the Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas trail systems.
- Check the National Weather Service Tulsa forecast, which covers Northwest Arkansas, for overnight lows and rain.
- If a trail is muddy enough to leave ruts, turn around and save it for another day.
- Watch for slick roots, rocks and bridges on cold mornings.
Our guide to Bentonville trail conditions has more on checking before you ride.
Bringing a fat bike?
Some riders bring a fat bike or plus-size tires for winter trips. Big, low-pressure tires add grip and comfort on cold, loose or rough ground, but they don’t make a soft trail OK to ride. If a trail is wet or thawing, wait, whatever tires you have. Pack a gauge so you can adjust pressure as the temperature changes.
Where to warm up after a cold ride
The Bike Inn is a veteran-owned boutique cycling hotel close to downtown Bentonville and the trails. Five things make a winter stay here work:
- Hot tub: soak off the chill after the ride.
- Cold plunge: a quick dip if you want the contrast, then back to the heat.
- Free sauna for all guests: warm up from the inside out before dinner.
- Bike wash: rinse winter grit off at our Muc-Off bike wash station before it dries on your chain and gears.
- Secure in-room bike storage: our rooms include a vertical wall-mounted rack, so your bike stays inside with you, not on a car rack overnight.
Rooms have A/C and heat, a coffee bar and a mini-fridge, and all four Glamping Cabins (14 through 17) have heating and air conditioning. Check-in is 24-hour contactless self check-in from 2 p.m.
A winter ride weekend from the hotel
- Morning: coffee in your room, check trail status, and let the day warm up a bit.
- Midday: ride during the warmest part of the day, with an extra layer in your pack.
- After the ride: wash the bike, bring it inside to the rack in your room, then move between the hot tub, the sauna and the cold plunge.
- Evening: dinner downtown, then the backyard fire pit. See our Bentonville restaurants after riding list.
When it’s too wet or cold to ride
Plan a backup day. Crystal Bridges is close to the hotel and makes an easy indoor afternoon. See our Crystal Bridges weekend itinerary and our list of Bentonville rainy day activities. Coming in December? Our holiday lights guide has this year’s dates for the lights around town.
Give a winter ride trip this Christmas
Know a rider who has everything? Give them the trip. A Bike Inn gift card fits in a stocking and covers a stay with all of the above: the hot tub, the cold plunge, the free sauna for all guests, the bike wash and secure in-room bike storage. Pick an amount on the gift card page, and the code arrives by email. They enter it at checkout when they book their dates on TheBikeInn.com. Gift cards don’t apply to full-property takeovers.
It works for New Year’s too: a gift card is an easy way to put a first ride of the year on someone’s calendar.
Winter riding FAQ
Can you mountain bike in Bentonville in winter?
Yes. Many riders ride through the winter. Check trail status before every ride and skip trails that are wet, soft or thawing.
What should I wear for winter mountain biking?
Layers: a wicking base layer, a light insulating mid layer and a wind-blocking shell, plus full-finger gloves, warm socks and a thin cap under your helmet.
Where can I wash and store my bike?
Guests at The Bike Inn can use the Muc-Off bike wash station, and our rooms include secure in-room bike storage.
Does The Bike Inn have a sauna?
Yes. There’s a free sauna for all guests, plus a hot tub and a cold plunge.
Can I give a stay as a gift?
Yes. Bike Inn gift cards are redeemed at checkout on TheBikeInn.com. They don’t apply to full-property takeovers.
Book your winter ride trip
Pick your dates and book direct at TheBikeInn.com, or send a gift card to the rider on your list. Questions? Contact us. Bike. Sleep. Repeat.