ARKANSAS UNVEILS NEW ERA OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AT IPW 2025
Trail
innovation, inclusivity, and Olympic-level cycling highlight The Natural
State’s growing global impact
At IPW 2025, Arkansas Tourism
unveiled new infrastructure plans that reinforce the state’s growing reputation
as a national and global leader in outdoor recreation, sustainable
infrastructure and inclusive access to the outdoors.
Key initiatives include new trail
systems and access projects. Two gravity-oriented trail experiences are in the
works, one in Mena in the Ouachita Mountains and one in Bella Vista in the
Ozark Mountains.
The Trails at Mena will feature a
mountain bike lift—a gravity-fed system similar to ski lifts—bringing users to
the top of backcountry trails where the descent is the focus. When complete, it
will be the largest lift-served mountain bike park in the world, built from the
ground up exclusively for biking, with no ski infrastructure or legacy
constraints. The park will be designed entirely for two wheels and will operate
365 days a year. The project is a model for public-private collaboration among
federal, state, and local partners. The experience will open new possibilities
for riders and redefine access to backcountry experiences. With millions of
residents within a three- to six-hour drive, Mena offers significant potential
as a premier weekend destination for outdoor enthusiasts across the
South-Central U.S.
