Mountain Biking Near Lake DeGray: Iron Mountain, Northwoods and Cedar Glades
Most people book with us for the lake. But as a mountain biker myself, I say there's a case to be made that this is one of the better places in Arkansas to base a riding trip. You've got three trail systems within half an hour, and unlike the more famous trails up north, you can usually ride these without waiting behind anybody.
Here's what I'd tell a friend who asked.
Iron Mountain — 20 minutes away
Iron Mountain sits on the south shore of Lake DeGray, just outside Arkadelphia. It's the closest system to the cabins and the one I send people to first.
There are over 24 miles of trail out there, and it's some of the best-groomed riding in this part of the state. Mostly smooth and flowy with a few short technical sections mixed in, the kind of trail where you can settle into a rhythm rather than fight it.
The orange and blue loops are wide open and run along the hillsides above the lake. The green and yellow routes on the south side of Skyline Drive are newer, and they've got some genuinely fun descents. The climbs to get up there are strenuous, but they pay off.
Northwoods, Hot Springs — 30 minutes away
Northwoods is my favorite of the three, and if you only have one day, this is where I'd spend it. I consider this my "home trail." Start at the Waterworks trailhead.
If you're newer or just warming up, take the right side of the trailhead. Go halfway up Bees Knees, cut across on Dewdropper, then take Pumphouse back down to where you started. That's a good loop to get your feet under you.
On that loop, you have to give "The Pumphouse Challenge" a try. The goal is to ride the entire way down Pumphouse without pedaling once. You can coast the whole thing if you carry your speed right. There's a hairpin switchback near the bottom that kills most people's momentum, and that's where it falls apart. My personal best is two pedals. Beat it and tell me about it.
For a fun flow track, climb back up to Cats Meow on the same side of the trailhead. And my all-time favorite is Blue Jay, on the left side of the Waterworks trailhead. The climb up is rough if you're out of shape. The ride down makes up for it.
Cedar Glades, Hot Springs — 30 minutes away
Cedar Glades is in the same area as Northwoods, so you can do both in a trip. If I only had one day I'd pick Northwoods. But Cedar Glades has something Northwoods doesn't.
If you have kids, this is the one. There's a skills park and a pump track that'll keep them busy for a whole afternoon, plus a small playground and a treehouse. That combination makes Cedar Glades the better family stop by a mile.
For an easy loop with kids, take Let's Roll out and come back on Evergreen. For something longer, take Waffles and Coffee. It's a blue with some technical sections.
Where to rent, and who to ask
Parkside Cycle on Whittington Road is the best bike shop in Hot Springs, and it's right before you make it to the trails. They rent bikes, and Jann and Bruce own it and are always there. 501-623-6188. If you're coming without bikes, or you want a local read on trail conditions before you head out, that's your first call.
Where to eat and drink
Before the ride, grab coffee and a snack at Kollective Coffee, at the end of downtown nearest the trails. I love their "Healthy-ish Bowl" before a ride.
After the ride, head to Superior Bathhouse Brewery downtown. It's one of the first places you hit coming back from the trails, and it's built for exactly this. They welcome bikers and dogs, and the outdoor patio is the place to be if the weather's decent. They brew with Hot Springs mineral water and you can order a flight of sixteen. Bees Knees is our hands-down favorite, and yes, it shares a name with the Northwoods trail. Have one on the patio, and then get a growler to go. For food at Superior, stick to the burgers, hot dogs, pretzels, cheese dip and tacos. Those are the sure things. Get the Bavarian pretzel. There's often a wait, but you can put your name on the list and go walk downtown. They'll text when your table's ready.
For a bigger meal, Deluca's Pizza downtown is our favorite. Real New York style, brick oven, dough made fresh daily. It gets slammed on weekends, so call ahead and reserve your pizza before you arrive, even if you haven't decided what you want yet. If you like heat, order the Patsy Searcy and ask them to dial it back if you need to.
For quick Mexican, Colorado Grill downtown. The jalapeño margaritas and white queso are the reason to go.
One day, or three
One day: Northwoods. Ride Bees Knees to Dewdropper to Pumphouse to warm up, then Blue Jay. Eat at Superior after.
Two days: add Iron Mountain, since it's twenty minutes from the cabin instead of thirty in the other direction. Ride it the morning you leave.
Three days with kids: Iron Mountain, Northwoods, and a half day at Cedar Glades for the skills park and pump track.
Why riders end up staying out here
Every cabin has space to park a truck, and a covered back porch where you can work on a bike without standing in the weather. There's a washer and dryer in every cabin, which after a muddy ride matters more than it sounds like it should. You're between everything, Iron Mountain twenty minutes one way and Hot Springs thirty the other, so you're not committing to one trail system for the whole trip.
Riding trips tend to be four or six people, not two. We have six cabins on one lot, so you can book two or three and keep everyone together. Pet friendly, if the dog comes along, and Superior lets dogs on the patio too.
And when you're done riding, the lake is right there. The Arlie Moore boat ramp is less than a mile away, with a swim beach and a hiking trail at the same recreation area.
Best time to come
Spring and fall. Arkansas summers are hot enough that most people ride early or not at all. April, May, October and November are the sweet spot, which happens to be when the lake is quiet and the cabins are easier to book.
If you're planning a riding trip and need somewhere to put four people and six bikes, get in touch and we'll help you sort out which cabins make sense.
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