Conway is an incredible place for cycling. The city has earned the prestigious Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation by The League of American Bicyclists, making it the most bike-friendly community in Central Arkansas and only 1 of 79 communities nationwide. The city boasts more than 60 miles of paved, shared-use paths, shared-lane markings, and bike lanes.
12
Routes (Gravel, Mountain, Road, and Trail)
125+
Miles of Bike Trails
40+
Dedicated Miles of Sharrowed Lanes
Community Routes
Downtown-Old Town Route
Downtown Conway is one of the city’s best destinations for cycling, and the Downtown-Old Town Route takes in some of the area’s best sights. Starting at St. Joseph, head up Front Street to Main, cross the tracks, and pick up Robinson Avenue. With light traffic and new bike lanes, this stretch offers views of picturesque historic homes and churches. The route wraps up with a short climb back to the top of Front Street, coasting past a mix of new and historic development on your way back to St. Joe’s. At just 3 miles, it’s the perfect sampler of everything Downtown and Old Town Conway have to offer.
Tucker Creek Trail
Conway’s first trail is also its most popular, offering both a short 3-mile ride and a longer 6-mile route, making it a great option for new cyclists or anyone easing into longer rides. Start at the Salem Road trailhead for the shorter option, or begin at Gatlin Park off Tyler Street for the full 6-mile route. To build confidence, try riding down to Hogan Lane and back first, then work up to the entire length of the trail. Mountain bike trails also run alongside Tucker Creek for most of the route, and the Pompe Park Pump Track sits right off the trail. Tucker Creek Trail ends at Walmart, near the Bunny Slope mountain bike route.
Stone Dam Creek Trail
South Conway is one of the fastest-growing residential areas in the city, so there’s a good chance your home is within a couple of miles of this trail. Starting at the trailhead on South German Road, Stone Dam Creek Trail runs to UCA and measures approximately 4 miles round trip. A highlight of the route is the pedestrian bridge over Dave Ward Drive, along with easy access to nearby retail and restaurants, including custard, tacos, sandwiches, pizza, and more.
Road Routes
CAB’s Ride South Loop
This Conway Advocates for Bicycling route is hands-down the most popular road bike route in Conway, a 38-mile ride best suited to intermediate riders. You can turn early at Rocky Gap for a shorter ride with more climbing, or cut out the loop behind Mayflower High School to shorten it. Most of the route runs on roads with very little traffic and stays largely flat, with a couple of climbs along the way.
Rocky Saltillo East Loop
The Rocky Saltillo East Loop features some of the best views of Conway and Faulkner County you’ll find on a bike. This 35-mile route begins at the McGee Center on College, climbs a few hills on Tucker Creek Trail, then continues down Bruce Street and over the new interstate bridge near Conway Commons. From there, the route heads out into Faulkner County and on toward Saltillo. Expect undulating terrain along the way, with good stretches for coasting and high-gear pedaling on smooth pavement.
South Hill Repeat Loop
Looking for an elevation challenge? The South Hill Repeat Loop is a great route for climbing, climbing, and more climbing, do it once, twice, or as many times as you can handle. The full route is approximately 20 miles, but the repeatable loop portion is 8 miles. Empy Hill, the route’s “local legend” climb, sits right at the start of the loop. It’s followed by the route’s longest stretch of relatively flat terrain, giving you a chance to rest up before starting another climb.
Mountain Bike Routes
Cadron Settlement Park
Don’t let the short distance fool you. This 5-mile trail network at Cadron Settlement Park packs in plenty of fun and a great workout. Cadron consists of an “Outside Loop” that encircles the park and runs a bit flowier and faster, and an “Inside Loop” that snakes through the interior and gets technical and challenging. Be aware that hikers have worn in paths between trails, which can lead to some confusion, so follow the orange arrows to stay on the full trail. There’s also a purpose-built hiking trail at Cadron marked with yellow arrows; it’s rideable by mountain bike too and runs on a pea gravel surface.
Enders Fault
Located at Woolly Hollow State Park, Enders Fault is a great mountain bike trail with two loops. Choose between the North and South routes, or ride both. The North Loop is more technical, while the South Loop features a long climb followed by a fun, fast descent. Both loops measure approximately 5 miles and can be ridden in either direction.
Bunny Slope//Pump Track
This short trail is located directly behind Walmart on Dave Ward Drive. You can access the trail from Pompe Park and Veterans Park. The entrance to the trail is just past the red bridge. The trail has a loop on either side of a creek/ditch that runs right down the middle and is spanned by a single bridge. The total length is 1 mile, and it’s a great ride. Do not ride or attempt to ride this trail if there has been recent rain. The mud will make it slippery and impossible to ride.
Meadows Tech Park Trail
This trail combines woods and open meadows, with mostly green, easy-flowing singletrack that includes a few berms and rollers for some added progression. Expect very few rocks, with some roots near one of the ponds. Eventually, the trail will include jumps with alternate lines. No motorcycles or ATVs allowed. Park on the north side of 355 Ledgelawn Drive, in the lot near the roundabout. The trail is multidirectional; clockwise is preferred, but it flows well counterclockwise too.
Gravel Routes
North Gravel Brewer Lake Loop
At approximately 50 miles, the North Gravel Brewer Lake Loop offers plenty of saddle time for gravel riders. After a short lead-in on road, the route is almost entirely gravel. Expect one or two fairly long climbs and not much flat road, so be ready for a workout. The town of Springfield is a great spot to catch your breath and refill water. Plan to ride a gravel bike or mountain bike for this one.
North Gravel Union Chapel Loop
Give the North Gravel Union Chapel Loop a go for a solid mid-level gravel ride at 35 miles, with a bit of pavement mixed in for some reprieve. The route offers a great mix of hills and coasting. It also runs through Springfield, a great spot to catch your breath and refill water. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are plenty of off-shoot roads to connect to longer gravel adventures. Plan to ride a gravel bike or mountain bike for this one.
South Easterwood Mixed Gravel
If you’re unsure whether you’d enjoy gravel riding, the South Easterwood Mixed Gravel route is your pick. At about 40 miles, this “mixed” ride consists mostly of roads with a few gravel sections mixed in. It shares many of the same segments as its “sister” road route, CAB’s Ride South Loop, so you can skip the gravel in favor of road if it turns out to be an overly wet or chunky gravel day.
Click HERE for Strava Route Maps
#ConwayRegionalBiketoberfest