e-Mountain Bike Paradise Opens at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
20-Mile Hand-Cut Trail Network Joins OZ Trails™ System
Jasper, Arkansas – May 23, 2025 – Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, long known as a premier rock climbing destination in Arkansas, has transformed into an e-mountain bike paradise with the official opening of its extensive trail network and upgraded camping facilities.
The ranch now features a 20-mile network of hand-cut mountain bike trails that take full advantage of the property’s extraordinary natural features. The trail system offers options for all skill levels, with four green beginner trails, nine blue intermediate trails, and four black advanced downhill routes.
“What makes Horseshoe Canyon Ranch unique is the terrain,” says Alberto Santiago, head of trail maintenance. “In just 10 miles, riders can experience up to 2,000 feet of climbing, making it perfect for e-mountain bikes.”
What sets these trails apart is their hand-cut construction. Unlike machine-built trails that use heavy excavators, hand-cut trails are primarily created using manual labor with minimal mechanized equipment. The design and construction were done by Rock Solid Trail Contracting, one of the premier trail-building groups in the world.
“It creates a different ride feel,” explains Santiago. “Hand-cut trails preserve the natural contours of the landscape and are more ecologically sensitive to what’s already grown naturally there.”
“Our design and build teams absolutely knocked it out of the park. There’s nothing in Northwest Arkansas that’s similar to Horseshoe Canyon. It’s a must visit for sure.” — Mike Carpenter, Rock Solid
This approach allows trail builders to make moment-to-moment decisions about the trail’s path, working around existing trees and root systems rather than removing them, resulting in trails that feel integrated with rather than imposed upon the landscape.
“It’s the most gorgeous property I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of,” says Mike Carpenter, construction project manager for Rock Solid. “Our design and build teams absolutely knocked it out of the park. There’s nothing in Northwest Arkansas that’s similar to Horseshoe Canyon. It’s a must visit for sure.”
To complement the challenging terrain, the ranch has assembled a fleet of 60 Specialized Levo full-suspension e-mountain bikes available for rental. The bikes feature 160mm front travel and 150mm rear travel, with sizes ranging from extra-small to extra-large to accommodate riders of all heights. Children’s e-bikes are also available.
“E-bikes allow more riders to enjoy our trails more readily,” explains Rudy Chalmers, facilities manager. “Our topography is quite pitchy, and the e-bikes make it accessible to a wider range of visitors.”
The ranch’s standout trail is “Electric Cowboy,” a blue flow jump line that staff describe as “one of the best jump trails in Northwest Arkansas,” featuring big tables, a shark fin feature, high-speed straight sections, and swooping berms. A new skills progression area has also been added, giving riders a chance to practice before tackling the more challenging routes.
Enhancing the outdoor experience, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch has added 25 new reservable campsites in a stunning setting surrounded by massive boulders with a creek running nearby. The upgraded camping area includes a bath house with four showers and six toilets, along with amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings at each site. While there are no electrical hookups, the campground will offer WiFi service via Starlink.
“These sites are designed with van campers in mind,” says Chalmers. “We’ve created an elevated camping experience in one of the coolest settings I’ve seen for a campground.”
Daily passes to the ranch cost $14 and provide access to numerous facilities including the lodge, climbing walls in the bike barn, and volleyball courts. Bike rentals are $50 (adult) and $40 (child) for a half day, or $90 (adult) and $60 (child) for a full day, plus the day-pass fee. Reservations are recommended but not required.
Beyond mountain biking, the ranch continues to offer its popular adventure activities including rock climbing, a Via Ferrata climbing route ($115), and zipline tours ($50 for adults, $40 for children). Overnight accommodations include 13 cabins that can house between three and seven guests each. Food service includes grab-and-go options during the day, with restaurant dinner service Thursday through Saturday and breakfast daily for overnight guests.
The ranch has completed these improvements while maintaining its commitment to the natural environment, with trail construction methods that preserve the landscape’s natural contours and are ecologically sensitive to the surrounding ecosystem.
For more information or to make reservations, visit the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch website (https://www.horseshoecanyon.com) or call (800) 480-9635.
About Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Located in the heart of the Arkansas Ozarks, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch has a long-established history as a classic western dude ranch and rock climbing destination. With the recent family acquisition, the ranch has expanded to become a premiere mountain biking destination while continuing to offer world-class rock climbing, zip lining, and adventure activities in a stunning natural setting.
About OZ Trails™
OZ Trails is Northwest Arkansas’s signature trail system, a world-class network that showcases the distinctive terrain of the Ozarks while connecting communities throughout the region. The system features purpose-built trails that integrate with the natural landscape, offering experiences for cyclists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels. Through strategic trail development and maintenance, OZ Trails has established Northwest Arkansas as a premier destination for outdoor recreation, combining natural beauty with accessible infrastructure to create unique outdoor experiences that reflect the region’s character.
About Rock Solid Trail Contracting
Rock Solid Trail Contracting is an LLC based out of Copper Harbor, Michigan and Bentonville, Arkansas, dedicated to creating the best trails in the industry. Since 2014, Rock Solid has built thousands of miles of trail in the United States; from California to Virginia, Minnesota to Arizona, Rock Solid Trails are holding up against the test of time and building lasting communities. Rock Solid is recognized as one of the largest and highest quality mountain bike trail building companies in the world that can create destination worthy trail systems and elevate hometown trail systems into regionally recognized status.
