FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville is beginning to look like a destination for 'bikepacking' thanks to a new trail network.
Experience Fayetteville and Bikepacking Roots partnered to launch the Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network, a suite of loops for bikepackers of all skill levels.
What is bikepacking? The activity is just like backpacking and includes multi-day trips through scenic wilderness carrying everything in just a backpack. However, instead of walking, you're on a bike.
Bikepacking Roots is an organization focused on growing opportunities for the activity and said in a release that Fayetteville is the perfect spot.
"Fayetteville, Arkansas is surrounded by a seemingly endless array of quiet gravel roads that meander through rural communities and a diverse landscape – the gently rolling hills of the Springfield Plateau, the steep ridges and valleys of the Boston Mountains, and the deeply-incised drainages of the Buffalo River headwaters country. This is a paradise for gravel cyclists, and Fayetteville is an ideal basecamp for outdoor adventures," Bikepacking Roots said, noting that the many amenities of Fayetteville are an added draw for adventurers from all over.
The new route network is a suite of loops of various difficulties that provide multi-day riding opportunities. Five different routes range from 60 to 190 miles, or two to four days, and the different loops can be paired for even longer journeys, the release said.
Bikepacking Roots explained that the network is great for riders of all skills and that new riders can gain experience and confidence for longer routes in different networks.
The Fayetteville network's loops include iconic parts of Fayetteville and the larger Northwest Arkansas area, including the Razorback Greenway, Lake Wedington, the Boston Mountains, and Devil's Den State Park.
“With more than a million acres of National Forest and hundreds of miles of gravel roads at our door, Fayetteville is a natural basecamp for outdoor adventure,” Experience Fayetteville CEO Molly Rawn said. “We’re excited to lead the way in launching the first curated set of bikepacking routes in our region from overnight to multi-day adventures.”
"All routes start in on the downtown square – stop by the Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center and get a handy, printed version of the Fayetteville Bikepacking Route Network guide before you roll out," the release said.
Kurt Refsnider, the Co-Founder of Bikepacking Routes, led the development of the network in collaboration with local experts and cyclists and said that the diverse terrain of the area makes Fayetteville perfect.
“This is the perfect place to host a suite of routes that cater to the full spectrum of bikepackers. The route network takes riders to some absolute gems along the way," Refsnider said.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.
