Craighead Forest Park: Eastern Arkansas's Premier Mountain Biking Destination

Craighead Forest Park in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has emerged as a premier mountain biking destination in eastern Arkansas, despite the region's generally flat landscape. The park capitalizes on the distinctive topography of Crowley's Ridge, offering a diverse array of trails. A substantial $800,000 investment in 2024 has led to significant improvements and expansion of the trail network, drawing both local enthusiasts and visitors from other states. With ongoing plans for further development and a burgeoning cycling community, the park is set to enhance outdoor recreation and cultivate a strong bike-friendly environment in the Delta area.

Arkansas is widely recognized as a prominent destination for mountain biking, particularly in the rolling hills of Northwest Arkansas around Bentonville and the mountainous terrains within the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests. However, the eastern third of the state is predominantly flat. Nevertheless, mountain biking enthusiasts have successfully established a high-quality trail system at Craighead Forest Park, cleverly utilizing a distinctive geological formation known as Crowley’s Ridge.

Situated five miles south of downtown Jonesboro, Arkansas, the expansive 700-acre Craighead Forest Park is managed by the city. Mountain bikers have been enjoying the park's trails since at least 2015. A major renovation undertaken by Rock Solid Trail Contracting, which began in 2023 and concluded in 2024, involved the addition and refurbishment of approximately eight miles of trails. According to Craig Rickert, Executive Director of the Jonesboro Advertising & Promotion Commission, there are also future plans for an additional nine miles of new and upgraded trails.

Ammen Jordan, Director at studioDRIFT, a non-profit deeply involved in the Craighead trail-building initiative from its inception, stated that the goal was to enhance and enlarge the trails while honoring the contributions of past riders and builders. He described the project as a blend of retrofitting and expansion, where existing trails were evaluated, some abandoned or updated, and new opportunities identified, ensuring a respectful evolution of the park's biking legacy.

During a September visit with my friend Craig Durkin, we aimed to explore all the trails in Craighead Forest Park, a challenging endeavor given the park's extensive network. Although the maps and signage are excellent, and the Ferris Wheel trail generally encircles the park, there are 21 distinct trails, many of which are one-way routes.

Starting from the main trailhead, we ventured south onto the Ferris Wheel trail, which gets its name from its optional wooden features that riders encounter immediately. The Ferris Wheel trail is rated for beginners, making it an excellent choice for new and young riders as it loops around the park. Rickert noted that Craighead Forest Park recently hosted its inaugural NICA race in September 2025 and is scheduled to host another high school mountain bike race in the upcoming fall.

As we traversed the park, Durkin and I discovered remnants of older singletrack trails, likely hand-carved into the dry, crusted earth years ago. Today, the park boasts a compelling blend of contemporary bermed trails and classic, narrower singletrack. Area 51, an expert-rated trail zone, features gap jumps and drops with a distinct natural feel. In contrast, Zippin Pippin and Roller Derby offer beginner and intermediate experiences, respectively, with expertly machine-built flow that invites repetitive rides.

Despite the modernization of many older trails, plenty of challenges remain. Your Mom, a short, double-black-diamond jump trail, was a challenge neither Durkin nor I dared to attempt. Rickert proudly shared that anyone who visits to ride is consistently impressed by the quality of the trails. Craighead Forest provides extensive trailhead amenities, including a bike wash, picnic areas, and clean restrooms. Camping facilities are also available on-site, and visitors can rent kayaks from a self-serve kiosk to explore the park's central lake.

While the eastern part of Arkansas is largely defined by the flat lowlands of the Mississippi River Delta, Jonesboro and Craighead Forest Park are uniquely situated on Crowley's Ridge. This geological anomaly, ranging from 250 to 550 feet in height, stretches approximately 150 miles north to south, from the Missouri state line to Helena on the Mississippi River. The ridge formed millions of years ago when wind-blown dust from across the continent met Mississippi River fog, leading to deposits of loess soil.

Jordan highlighted that loess is a particularly challenging soil type for natural surface trail construction due to its high susceptibility to erosion. Therefore, a key priority in rebuilding the trails was ensuring their long-term sustainability. Following the initial construction of new and updated trails, the team carefully evaluated their performance, addressing any issues that arose from the disturbances in the first phase. Subsequently, they conducted a re-assessment and reconstructed any sections that showed a lack of integrity.

Despite the prevalence of vast fields and farmlands in the surrounding area, the region around Crowley's Ridge and Jonesboro is heavily wooded with a mix of pine and hardwood trees. Within Craighead Forest Park, there's over 100 feet of vertical elevation difference between its highest and lowest points, a feature expertly utilized by the trails. The park is not only popular among local riders seeking rolling descents but is also increasingly attracting visitors from out-of-state. Memphis, Tennessee, is just about an hour away, separated from Jonesboro by flat, fertile land. Jordan noted that Craighead Forest stands out as virtually the sole mountain biking destination within a 10,000-square-mile radius.

Crowley's Ridge is rapidly gaining popularity among gravel bikers, too. Events like The Skirmish both begin and end in Jonesboro, while newly established routes such as the Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail are drawing riders to discover the area. Though direct bike access from Craighead Forest Park to Jonesboro is not yet straightforward, Rickert confirmed that the city is rapidly investing in cycling infrastructure. Arkansas State University's campus is already linked to downtown Jonesboro via a combination of bike lanes and dedicated paths.

Downtown Jonesboro offers mountain bikers a variety of bars and restaurants, along with a significant Gearhead Outfitters bike shop. West of downtown, Native Brew Works provides a lunch and dinner menu featuring tacos and nachos, complemented by a rotating selection of craft beers and sodas. In 2025, the Jonesboro Composite boys mountain bike team, known as the Ridge Riders, secured the Arkansas State NICA Championship. This achievement underscores the growing prominence of cycling, particularly mountain biking, in a region not traditionally associated with the sport.

The Craighead Forest Park initiative aims to stimulate the outdoor recreation economy and foster a bicycle-friendly culture in the Delta region. It represents a strategic effort to transform the area into a vibrant hub for outdoor activities and cycling enthusiasts.