Brian Lopes is a professional mountain biker, multiple mountain biking world champion, author and inductee into both the Mountain Bike and BMX Halls of Fame. Lopes started riding BMX in his childhood and turned pro at age 17. And, lucky for us, he recently spent some time in Northwest Arkansas riding the trails and exploring the food scene. Here, he gives us the run down on his entire Oz Trails experience.

On NWA

My initial impressions of Bentonville were immediately exceeded by quite a lot. The city has awesome restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bike spots all around town, and the impressive Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts. And when it comes to trails, there’s everything from singletrack to jump trails. To be honest, I haven’t stopped talking about the place since I left. When I’m talking about trails to friends, I always bring up Northwest Arkansas. I’ve even started looking at houses in Bentonville on Zillow. I used to have a house in Whistler and it was kind of hard to get there. NWA is much easier to get to.

The crew took me to The Railyard, an amazing bike park in nearby Rogers. We were going through a residential area and, all of a sudden, we arrived at this huge, impressive bike park. It was awesome.

One of the great things about Oz Trails is that there is something for every level of mountain biker and an amazing diversity of trails. I saw terrain for a wide variety of skill level and interest. Everyone from the pros to the beginners can ride in NWA.

On Oz Trails

The Oz Trails are so fun with tons of jumps and berms and really have something that appeals to every level of rider. The builders have created trail systems where a pro-level rider can have just as much fun as a novice. The trails allow the pros to get creative with all the features and obstacles and create their own lines to increase the challenge.

There are some trails around the U.S. that are made specifically for the pro rider and your buddies who aren’t as skilled won’t be able to ride it. But with the Oz Trails, there are lines for riders of all levels and skill sets so everyone can have a great time.

On Bentonville

I also loved hanging out in Bentonville. To me, that’s a big part of what made the destination so attractive. There are a lot of features about Bentonville that I’ve been bragging about – the restaurants, the breweries and the people. I’m really looking forward to coming back! I think fall would be the next time I’d be able to make it there. I just need to put together a group of people and make it happen.
In Bentonville, you’re never far away from a trail head, even in the middle of town. In my experience, if you have to drive a long way to get to a trail, you’re not going to ride as much. In Bentonville, its easy to go from trail to brewery in the same ride.
I was blown away by the restaurants we went to. I’m 98 percent gluten free and to go into a place and to learn that everything on the menu is gluten free was awesome. I would be a regular at all the restaurants! If I lived in Bentonville, I wouldn’t even need a kitchen because of all the amazing places to eat.
Another nice point of the area was flying in to the local airport. You can land and be on your bike within 45 minutes!

Why everyone should ride Oz Trails

Everyone should know that there are lot of options on the trails and a lot to do in the town. From a biking experience, you could easily spend three days and still not see everything. Each day is going to be different between the trails and terrains.

OZ Trails community,

When I think about where this started, trail builders like Dave Renko, Nathan Woodruff, and Don West from the early days come to mind. They strengthened my belief in the power of trails and in Arkansas becoming one of the great places in the world to ride. It started simply: a few hand-built trails, a lot of conviction, and a community willing to put in the effort to create something special.

OZ Trails was never just about bikes. It was about building a way of life around the outdoors — a place where families spend more time together, where people find clarity away from screens, and where visitors feel welcome. It proves that something world class can still feel local, personal, and rooted in the land.

For years, we dreamed about this park. We walked the land, studied what it could become, and kept coming back to the same idea: Northwest Arkansas deserved a bike park that matched the ambition of this community.

Now, we’ve built it.

OZ Trails Bike Park is where so much of that work comes together. It was created with trail builders who treat their work like a craft, supported by bike patrol so riders can feel confident, and shaped by a team that cares about the experience from the moment you arrive. I've been riding the park throughout development, and I finish every ride believing it will change how people progress and connect with each other.

Founding Membership is an invitation to the people who get it — the riders who know what time on trail does for you: clearing your head, building confidence, finding your people, and feeling a sense of pride in the place you ride. We want you here from day one. Membership is more than access. It helps set the tone for what this park becomes. The first members should be people who care about the culture, who welcome others in, and who believe this place can keep growing into something truly special.

As a father, I often think about watching my kids progress on these trails — starting on green, moving to blue, and then deciding they’re ready for black. It’s part of why we built this place the way we did — so families can show up, everyone has something to ride, and they can keep building the skills to take the next step.

Alongside Founding Membership, we’re also launching a Founding Family Membership for those who want to share this with the people they love.

Our Founding Memberships open today.

Come ride it. This place was built for you.

Upcoming Events

OZ, LOCAL, AND REGIONAL

Weekend Warm Up

March 7, 2025 - November 7, 2025

Level 2 Mountain Biking Fundamentals

11/1/2025, 11/22/2025

Mountain Biking: Intro to Drops

November 1, 2025

BVL Cyclocross Training Series

October 26, 2025 - November 16, 2025

Coler MTB Youth Class

September 10, 2025 - November 26, 2025

Purple Heart Gravel Ride

November 8, 2025

Arkansas Enduro Series presented by Monster Energy

November 21, 2025 - November 23, 2025

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