BELLA VISTA (KFSM) -- After nearly a year of construction, Arkansas mountain bikers and hikers can now enjoy The Back 40 Trail System in Bella Vista.
"It's an opportunity for people in the community to see parts of Bella Vista that they've never seen before," Bella Vista Director of Community Development and Services, Chris Suneson said.
Saturday's (Oct. 15) grand opening celebration attracted dozens of bikers and hikers of all ages, as well as bike shops and other local businesses.
City leaders said the new trail system is unlike anything Arkansas has ever seen and the experience is different depending on where you are.
"We have sections of the trail that are on top of a cliff, a cliff edge on one side and a 30-foot drop on the other," said Suneson, "You have trails going through open fields that are lush with vegetation and then a lot of it is forest and canopy with a trail going through it."
Mountain bikers said this new trail system will continue to add to the popularity of cycling.
"Just the quality and variety of trails we have around here is increasing all the time. Almost every weekend you can go out and find something you've never ridden before," GPP Cycling Manager Seth Jacobs said. "We're going to see everything from a wooded setting to bluffs, streams and lakes. Some of the terrain is easy and some of the terrain is difficult, so it's a little bit of everything for everyone."
To take a look at The Back 40 trails, along with all the trails in Northwest Arkansas, visit the Northwest Arkansas Trails and Bikeways map.