Hot Springs, Arkansas – For the sixth time, Hot Springs’ Northwoods/Cedar Glades Trails System has been recognized as the top mountain biking trail network in Arkansas, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The award comes from the state’s annual “March Madness Champion” competition, where 32 trail systems across Arkansas compete for recognition by the mountain biking community.
Joe Jacobs, founder of Arkansas Outdoors, said the trails’ victory reflects the sustained quality and popularity of the system. “To understand what Northwoods’ 2026 championship means,” Jacobs said, “you have to understand what came before. This is not a system that stumbled into recognition. Arkansas Outdoors readers have now voted Northwoods the top mountain biking trail system six times.”
The award highlights not only the trails themselves but also the people who maintain and promote them. Traci Berry, trail coordinator for Visit Hot Springs, praised the efforts behind the scenes. “Thank you to Arkansas Outside for continuing to champion the outdoors in the Natural State, to everyone that participated in the MTB Trail March Madness Fun, and to those who showed us the love,” Berry said. “I can’t overstate the role our maintenance staff has played in our winning this competition six out of the seven times it has been conducted.”
The roots of the Northwoods/Cedar Glades system date back to 2016, when Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison led the effort to transform the northern section of the city’s former waterworks area into a mountain biking destination. “In 2016, when we started thinking about creating a trail system in the city-owned area in the northern section of Hot Springs, we knew that the beautiful wooded hills embracing a series of small lakes would prove to be a wonderful amenity for our citizens and that it might also prove attractive to a segment of our millions of annual visitors,” Arrison said. “It didn’t occur to us then that the Northwoods Trail System would be combined with the existing Cedar Glades trails and become the favorite mountain biking destination among bikers from Arkansas and beyond.”
The trail system’s design weaves together wooded hills, scenic lakes, and varied terrain that appeals to bikers of all skill levels. Its popularity is evident not only from awards but from the constant influx of riders who travel to Hot Springs to experience the system. The trails’ combination of accessibility, natural beauty, and thoughtfully constructed paths has helped maintain their top ranking for six out of the seven competitions conducted so far.
While Northwoods/Cedar Glades claimed the top spot, other trail systems also earned recognition. Mount Nebo State Park’s trail in Dardanelle finished second, followed by Lakewoods Trails in Monticello at third place. Devil’s Den State Park’s trail near West Fork rounded out the top four. These rankings reflect a growing enthusiasm for mountain biking throughout Arkansas and the state’s increasing investment in outdoor recreation infrastructure.
The continued success of Hot Springs’ trails underscores the value of community engagement, thoughtful planning, and consistent maintenance. Local officials, trail coordinators, and volunteers have all contributed to creating a system that not only attracts competitive recognition but also draws residents and tourists alike.
For those looking to explore the Northwoods/Cedar Glades Trails System or to learn more about future events and trail updates, Traci Berry with Visit Hot Springs can be contacted at 501-321-2027. As mountain biking continues to grow in popularity across the Natural State, Hot Springs’ trails appear poised to remain at the forefront of the sport for years to come.
