Hiking Trails in Bella Vista
Bella Vista is home to 120+ miles of some of the friendliest trails in Northwest Arkansas. Spread across four distinct trail systems—Little Sugar, Back 40, Blowing Springs, and Wonderland—the city offers everything from easy paved paths to challenging hand-cut single-track. Whether you’re new to hiking or a seasoned trail runner, Bella Vista’s trail network has something for everyone.
Trails in Bella Vista at a glance
Explore the trail systems
Bella Vista (west side)
Little Sugar
~57 miles · Paved + Natural Surface · Owned & Operated by the City of Bella Vista
Bella Vista’s largest network and the friendliest place to start—nearly 60 miles of mostly beginner-to-intermediate terrain. Little Sugar is perfect if you want variety: wide paved paths, rolling natural surface trails, and some of the area’s most scenic forest hikes. Popular trails include Tweety, Bluebird, Tanyard Creek Nature Trail, Tunnel Vision, “Sugar Vision,” Danger Will Robinson, and Sick-A-More.
Bella Vista (east side)
Back 40
~47 miles · Paved + Natural Surface · Owned & Operated by the City of Bella Vista
The system that put Bella Vista on the map—around 47 miles of hand-cut trail winding through ridges and creeks. Back 40 is where you’ll find more technical terrain and serious elevation gain. Expect scenic overlooks, creek crossings, and trails for all levels, from the famous Back 40 Loop to more challenging routes like The Ledges and Go Ride. The Razorback Greenway connection makes it accessible from other areas too.
Blowing Springs
~10 miles · Natural + Paved Greenway · Owned & Operated by the Bella Vista Property Owners Association
A compact, scenic system built around Blowing Springs Park—where a natural spring and cool rock formations make this a favorite for a quick afternoon hike. About 10 miles total, with trails like Gear Garden, Blowing Springs North and South, Bomb Diggity, Mighty Pine, and Low Ride. Great for families and anyone looking for a shorter outing with scenic payoff.
Wonderland
~6 miles (5 hike-friendly) · Paved Greenway + Natural Surface · Owned & Operated by the Trailblazers
Small but mighty—about 6 miles of trail, 5 of them ideal for hikers. Wonderland is one of the area’s best-kept secrets and one of the most beginner-friendly systems around. Perfect for families or anyone new to hiking. Popular trails include Flash Flood, All American, Smugglers, and Sally.
Start your Bella Vista hike here
Hiking Bella Vista — what to know
Trails for every season
Bella Vista trails are hikeable no matter the temperature, and most are even good to hike right after a rain—or even during one. In summer, vegetation can crowd the trail edges and ticks are more of a hazard; in fall, the trails are often covered in inches of leaves—sometimes slippery, but still very hikeable; and in winter, with the leaves down, the trails look completely different.
Parking & access
Bella Vista’s trailheads range from big, official lots—often with a trail-map kiosk and sometimes a restroom—to small, unofficial pull-offs like the end of a cul-de-sac or a gravel turnaround with no sign or facilities. Popular spots can fill up by mid-morning, so arrive early and have a backup in mind if a small lot is full.
Why Bella Vista trails stand out
Bella Vista’s 120+ miles of engineered, multi-use trails are maintained largely by dedicated volunteers. The trail system has varying widths and elevations—you’ll find everything from smooth paved greenways to technical single-track, with each route designed to serve hikers, runners, and bikers.
A note on trail etiquette
Nearly every Bella Vista trail is multi-use, shared with hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. As a general rule, bikes are supposed to yield to people on foot—but in practice they don’t always, so it’s best that whoever can step aside most easily does, usually the hiker or trail runner.
Ready to explore?
Find your route
Browse every Bella Vista hike and filter by distance, difficulty, and trail system to find the one that fits your preferences.
Browse All RoutesFind a trailhead
See every Bella Vista trailhead on an interactive map, with parking details and directions so you know exactly where to start.
View Trailhead MapExplore the trail systems
Get to know each of NWA’s trail systems, including what their trails are like and who maintains them.
See All Trail SystemsConnect with the community
Join the Bella Vista Walks & Hikes Facebook group to find hiking partners, hear about trail workdays, or help lead hikes.
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