Arkansas has been known for years as a great destination for mountain biking. This is mostly due to the 5 IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) “EPIC” rides in the state. But Arkansas has lots of great MTB trails that don’t meet all the “EPIC” qualifications and are just as fun. Iron Mountain on Lake Degray is one of those. It’s been there a long time and is a popular trail system that’s helped make Arkansas a mountain biking hot spot. For anyone new to mountain biking, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which of the many options to start with. Mountain biking at Iron Mountain should be near the top of your list if you live in central or southwest Arkansas.
There has been a recent explosion of new trail construction happening all over the state. There are tons of incredible trails between Bentonville and Fayetteville. And more recently, professional trail-builders have been building new trails in Hot Springs, Mt. Nebo, and Pinnacle Mountain State Park. And even more trails on the way. So it’s easy to forget some of the older trail systems that have been around a while. But I’m telling you, don’t sleep on trails like Iron Mountain. They’re still really great.
Directions
Iron Mountain is a recreation area located on the southeast corner of Lake Degray. It’s only a few miles up Hwy 7 from Caddo Valley, which is right on I-30. From Hwy 7, follow the signs to the Spillway and Iron Mountain Marina. Drive past the road to the marina staying on Skyline Dr until you see a large gravel parking on the left with a big green sign. This is the parking area for the Iron Mountain Trail System. See the map below and the video further down.
What to Expect
There are a lot of options and it can be kind of tricky to figure out which trail is best for you and where to start. The trail system consists of seven trail loops that are interconnected. They range anywhere from 2.9 miles up to 5.4 miles each. Since most of the trails are connected, it’s easy to combine them to create longer rides if you want. The trails are well-marked with different colored blazes, so you always know which trail you’re on, even when they intersect. Mountain biking at Iron Mountain is fun because these are not just hiking trails that you can ride a bike on. No, these trails were made specifically for biking. They flow really well with lots of curves and switchbacks. And most of the uphill climbs are not that long or difficult.
Even though the trails are well-marked and there a couple of large map signs in the parking areas, it is still helpful to have the MTB Project mobile app. This app shows all the trails on a map and provides the distance for each one, as well as the total ascent and descent on every trail. This is helpful if you’re trying to pick a flatter trail or one with more hills. Here is a list of those trails and distances.
Iron Mountain Trails
- The White Zone – 4.7 mi.
- Jolly Green Giant – 5.4 mi.
- Clockwork Orange – 3.1 mi.
- Blue Bayou – 3 mi.
- Yellow Snow – 3.9 mi.
- New Loop – 3.2 mi.
- New Spur – 2.9 mi.
I have ridden two of the trails so far, The White Zone and Clockwork Orange. Both of these were pretty fast and flowing single track. Here is some video for each one:
Plan Your Trip
I’m not a big fan of mountain biking in the summer. It’s hard enough as it is, but doing it in the heat of the summer is brutal. But if you like to ride in the summer, you’ll want to take some bug spray when mountain biking at Iron Mountain. I could see the ticks and chiggers being bad in the summer. No matter what time of year you visit, bring plenty of water. And again, I highly recommend downloading the MTB Project mobile app. It’s extremely helpful. If you are new to mountain biking, be sure to check out our MTB page for cycling tips and our gear list.
Cell service is decent at Iron Mountain if you need it – and you will for the MTB Project app. There are restrooms available at the Iron Mountain campground. If you want to make a weekend of it, there is a campground there as well as condos for rent at Iron Mountain Recreation area. There is more camping and a lodge at Lake Degray State Park Resort across the lake. There are some dining options nearby at Caddo Valley after you’ve worked up an appetite. Please remember to leave no trace – take only pictures and leave only your tracks. Enjoy the ride!
