The Railyard Bike Park in Rogers

If you like to bike, number one on your list of things to do should be visiting The Railyard Bike Park in downtown Rogers. It’s an exciting off-road offering for Northwest Arkansas, an excellent cycling destination.

It’s named “The Railyard” because it is located only blocks from the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad and some obstacles are made from recycled trains. Its signature piece is a full-scale rail car set on real railroad tracks that bikers ride through.

This dirt jump bike park features wall rides, whale tales, and concrete lips. The park is designed to accommodate riders of all different skill-levels, beginner to expert, and different types of bicycles, striders to full suspension bikes to dirt jumpers to BMX. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., has lights, a pavilion, restrooms, water fountains, bike wash station, observation decks, dog park, and a large parking lot.

Funded in part by The Walton Family Foundation and connected to the Lake Atalanta trail system, The Railyard opened Nov. 7, 2015. While it is definitely a treat for local residents, the park also draws people from outside the region. There’s no doubt bikers will be headed to Northwest Arkansas in the future to take part in events held at bike parks such as The Railyard and to ride the region’s trails.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s 2015 Model Trails recognition included the Northwest Arkansas Regional Ride Center. With the Bentonville (silver-level) and Fayetteville (bronze-level) Ride Centers located less than 30 miles apart, the two towns have formed the first and only region-wide Ride Center designation. Mountain bikers visiting the Ozarks can double-down with a wide range of riding to choose from and two cycling-crazed communities hosting some of the Nation’s finest trails.

CONTACT: 299 E. Cherry St., 479-621-1117; http://rogersar.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/The-Railyard-57