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Ride along the creek over varied terrain with a little of everything, including limestone slabs, big berms, & nice flow.


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Map Key

2.0

Miles

3.2

KM

Singletrack

1,177' 359 m

High

1,057' 322 m

Low

133' 41 m

Up

209' 64 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

24%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Family Friendly A GREAT hiking trail with multiple creeks to explore, no steep or extended climbs, and interesting terrain.

Description

A great trail ridden in EITHER direction. Just reverse this description below for west to east. Neither direction is better than the other. I definitely recommend watching for "What the Chuck," which is an alternate trail that is just west of the Trafalgar Rd. crossing. If you enjoy technical terrain, take some time here, and ride it both directions. It's Arkansas limestone at its best. Cleaning it both ways on your first attempt is brag-worthy!

Pinyon Creek Trail branches off The Back 40 Loop - Complete Ride, and connects to the Lake Ann Parking lot. That makes it a very well-traveled connector trail, and it has a little of everything.

Once you enter the trail from the Back 40 Loop on the east end, you climb up a fairly sharp, short section, and cross over a dirt road. From here, you have a great, gradual descent over flowing terrain. You make a short climb, and then descend down a short section of very big, narrow-radius "S" berms, which lead you down to Pinyon Creek itself, on your right.

You'll go through a short, flowing section that runs along the creek and then cross Granshire Dr. Here, you'll encounter a short limestone rock garden. Be mindful of weighting and de-weighting your bike here, because even experienced riders have managed to go over the bars on a few of the square edge rocks!

Negotiate that, and then start the climb back up the hollow. If you choose, you can veer left and take the short spurt to Brittany Dam and lake, which is a very short out-and-back. Take a dip if you need to cool off!

Once back on Pinyon Trail (or you veered right and stayed on it), you'll descend down two very sharp switchbacks, hit a small rock jump (roll-able), and cross a rock-armored creek. Enjoy the nice flowing descent back down to Pinyon Creek, which will once again be on your right. Cross over Trafalgar Rd., and shortly after you'll see an alternate trail that splits off to the right, which is called "What the Chuck."

This is a short technical, alternate trail that meets back up with Pinyon Creek Trail. I would rate it high intermediate to advanced to clean this line, but it is VERY fun to ride. Moving west, you'll ride over some embedded limestone slabs with small rock gardens, cross through Pinyon Creek (which is typically dry), and then meander through the trees to the Lake Ann Lot, which ends the trail.

Contacts

Shared By:

Charles Williams

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 19 votes

#4

in The Back 40

#1485

Overall
  4.3 from 19 votes
5 Star
42%
4 Star
42%
3 Star
16%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#4

in The Back 40

#66

in Arkansas

#1,485

Overall
6 Views Last Month
1,727 Since Aug 30, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate

5%
5%
79%
5%
5%
0%

Photos

A neat limestone shelf with a touch of overhang near the bottom of Flo Ride.
May 3, 2017 near Bella V…, AR
There's lots of big limestone as the trail meets the road.
May 3, 2017 near Bella V…, AR
What the Chuck | Full Trail Ride
Oct 7, 2022 near Bella V…, AR
Pinyon Creek | Full Trail Ride
Oct 7, 2022 near Bella V…, AR
Watch the squeeze between this skinny tree and the rock shelf.
May 3, 2017 near Bella V…, AR
Early morning is a great time to ride the Back 40.
Feb 19, 2017 near Bella V…, AR
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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 20, 2024
Matt Hage
12mi — 1h 30m
Sep 6, 2024
Kenny Wieda
In and out pinyon creek trail
Sep 9, 2021
WJA III
Nice flow w a few inclines. Go to Taylors Homestead at end. Going N 2mi — 0h 20m
May 8, 2021
Taylor Ball
Mar 20, 2021
Kevin D.
3.2mi
Sep 20, 2020
Jeff Spain
May 24, 2020
Joe Johnson
1st ride 2mi — 11h 50m
Mar 29, 2019
Mark Larson
Cut a tire on ledges, tire at 15PSI so rode this gem and loved it! 2mi — 0h 13m
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