Hardtails on Hard Trails - A Tour of the Slaughter Pen Trail System in Bentonville, AR

In this episode we head to Bentonville, AR to check out the famous Slaughter Pen Trails. It's amazing what they've built here, and the building continues every month! Did you learn something valuable? If so, show your appreciation and support this channel by becoming a Patron today: / hardtailparty
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Trails (in order of appearance):
www.trailforks.com/trails/all...
www.trailforks.com/trails/pea...
www.trailforks.com/trails/cry...
www.trailforks.com/trails/tig...
www.trailforks.com/trails/app...
www.trailforks.com/trails/ang...
www.trailforks.com/trails/sch...
www.trailforks.com/trails/nor...
www.trailforks.com/trails/med...
www.trailforks.com/trails/tat...
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[@50mtb44]

Cool trail system. Amazing what they did with flat land and a few rolling hills. Love the feeder trail from the center of town.

[@ellyguitarchic5069]

What an amazing place. Thanks for sharing with us

[@JimCockerham]

Thanks for sharing Steve! Very cool place, love the trails.

[@ericthatcher]

Love the trails in Bentonville, need to get back down there to ride.

[@michaelbell390]

Those trails are a blast to ride I live 20 minutes away from there I go on the weekends.

[@JMb1kes]

Hardtail for life!! 🤘🏼

[@RyanMarcyesOutdoors]

So Rad and very Impressive!!! Can’t wait to take my Stache there!!! Keep these great videos coming and always remember to Live-Life-Loud🤘🏽🤙🏽

[@cameronlesley2428]

I have just started enjoying this channel it’s fun and well done, it’s real. I don’t even own a hardtail but watching this makes me want to get rid of my softail Xc bike and lash out and get hardtail. Thanks for the great content I’m going rabbit hole this channel for a while. Cheers from Australia

[@spacecalander]

Wow super clean trail.

[@sheepboi1823]

Looks Super Fun

[@8milestogo]

Man this trail system is amazing. Where I live in Bulgaria there is nothing like it! This boy was hitting some insane lines with 100% confidence! He ejected from that step up with some serious speed! God! What a nice place to ride. There is a party indeed!

[@JimmyRadloff]

Dang man, that looked super fun!

[@smithfamily710]

That place looks so cool.

[@craigaguilar3932]

Definitely on my stoke list. Good stuff!

[@brentcollins9727]

We just booked our trip for April 2024!!

[@KrazEKing]

Will be spending Christmas and new years in bentonville, will be riding these trails all week

[@WoodCoxfurniture]

Been waiting on this video! Loved it!

[@teagunwells434]

Sick! I know what video is coming next!

[@jronnei81]

I am out in Little Rock for work and went out to Bentonville to check out the mountain biking. Rented a bike from Phat Tire (highly recommend that bike shop!) and rode for about 4 hours. There was still a whole lot more to the area that I didn't get to check out. Very well-built trails, super nice little city - had a blast!

[@GrahamDavenport]

Went there and rented an e bike, it's really amazing

[@chuckwood8020]

lol - i had just built my hardtail - with rekons and lined up my Trip to NWA, then stumbled onto this great video. I only had issues on the loose stuff but in general they hooked up okay. My core was shattered after a few days there tho. Great place and great video

[@henryhester1897]

I like what you’re doing with Hardtail Party. Viewed all of your Airstream Videos. Looks like three channels now with Betty, TMWT and not HP. I like your style Steve.

[@kingdomcome1617]

16:26 You should see that little area now, it looks like 'helltrack' lol. Absolutely amazing what they have done/continue to do in Bentonville. You ought to make another trip. Since your visit they have added a bunch of new features/trails.

[@nickcortez5655]

I can't believe that this is in my backyard. I only rode road bikes until I moved here. I have had a Scott scale 940 for years but never really used it. Then, my neighbor moved in next to me and he is all about that dirt life. He started taking me to ride the trails and I'm hooked. I just rode Centennial for the first time last week. It's amazing.

[@hardtailparty]

Congrats on having such an amazing trail network in your backyard. Its a super fun sport. Welcome to the party.

[@lukemonroe8303]

I'm going there this July. 😆🤗

[@okayatbikes1909]

I found a big rock garden on tatamagouche while I was riding counterclockwise on the far side of the loop.

[@graysonrides6746]

Aye, I love bentonville

[@JMb1kes]

Hey for real, if you’re local to or ever back in the area you should ride lake atalanta in Rogers. A good number of the blue trails there will give you tons of black techy feel while climbing and descending. It’s a super gnarly trail system where you can expect loads of roots rocks and very well built up natural features, and they’re adding connectors and features all the time. I think we’re up to 4-5 black rated trails that are impressive but short, and not all on the maps.

[@azdirtlife4280]

Bentonville looks so awesome 🤘🤘. Hopefully you will have another group ride in Arizona soon 😁.

[@huntstyle]

Take a road trip out this way, let's go to Bentonville & Hot Springs!

[@ethanm6415]

the downhill trail that you were looking at is finally opened! it’s absolutely incredible and you can fly down it at some ridiculous speeds, i think at one point i clocked 37

[@hardtailparty]

Dang, that's crazy fast. I'm too scared to go that fast.

[@themilktrader969]

Also ChooChoo just reopened this week. And now it’s an asphalt-ish berm party. Watch out for the tree!

[@ganymeade5151]

Kyle is a pro biker. Amazing.

[@ianthompson9653]

Planning a cross country road trip and am going to have to hit Bentonville!

[@rustnevrsleeps]

just got my byob pass for Outerbike Bentonville this year. made camping reservations too, super psyched, hope its as nice as ive heard and seen!! meet you at Sedona mtb fest in march, thanks for the info and vid.

[@hardtailparty]

Awesome, have a blast. I'll be in Moab next week for outerbike again.

[@chameleonpogono]

Those look like really fun trails! Reminds me, a bit, of Bidwell Park in Chico, California. I don't know if trails are still there as I haven't been there in 20 years. I don't blame you for not wanting to break your arm and not ride for six months. It sucks! Nice riding as always.👍

[@huntstyle]

Ahhh Bentonville rocks! I haven't been up there in a while, I need to go back! I'm with you on Apple Turnover, I think single black is more appropriate. I suppose the drop at the end is double black, but that's an optional line.

[@jessewarren7954]

Huntstyle its officially marked as a single black. I live here in Bentonville you definitely need to come back and visit the town. We are around 200 miles of trails now all within an hour of each other. Also Coler Mountain is opened and it’s only a few minutes ride from the square and has several black and double black trails

[@AirsoftPOW2]

love this channel! If you ever need some footie in Richmond, VA let me know! Would love to show you all the stellar single track in the area!

[@hardtailparty]

It's been a few years since I rode Richmond. It would be fun to get back, but I don't think it's in the cards for the near future.

[@jjr1314]

Two more weeks and we will be shredding the trails in Bentonville! Well Justin will be shredding, I will be doing my best to keep up!

[@hardtailparty]

You'll be shredding. It's a really fun place.

[@rabrumf]

Looks like that was a few months ago. A lot of what was under construction is finished now. That is a tiny fraction of the trails in Bentonville. Expand to within 30 miles of Bentonville there are nearly 200 miles of trails. @HardtailParty would probably really enjoy Coler Creek and Lake Leatherwood.

[@hardtailparty]

I have some videos of Coler coming up. I wasn't able to make it to Lake Leatherwood or Passion Play sadly, but I'm excited to go back and explore those areas in the future. We only had 2 weeks here. In-between work, watching the kid, and giving my wife a chance to ride all these great trails too, I was only able to visit a small (but amazing) section of what this area has to offer.

[@slofax1251]

Awesome 👏🏼 Thanks for NOT breaking your arm Steve ;)

[@hardtailparty]

I do it for you. ;) or maybe I'm just a big chicken.

[@slofax1251]

@@hardtailparty hehe right there with you. hope all is well!

[@dozza7946]

I have been riding the trails here for exactly 5 weeks on my 1st and a locally bought Hard-tail(due to budget restraints and lack of choice due to COVID) for $599+tax I’m having a blast, I’ve changed the seat, grips & pedals for comfort for under $70......I stumbled onto this channel and it’s one of my favourites by far - thank you Steve & Dusty Betty for the work u put in..... As a local to this area I can tell you that there’s been so much opened up here at Slaughter Pen & Coler it’s crazy 🚲 👍🏻👍🏻 - Some unbelievably well built single track trails and some challenging tech stuff my personal favourite being “Ozone” - certainly worth a revisit in 2021.

[@hardtailparty]

I hope to be able to afford to return someday. It's sure a fun place.

[@slowridemtb4712]

What kind of bike did you get?

[@dozza7946]

@@slowridemtb4712 Jamis Durango a1 in Red 19” 29er - changed the grips, headset & pedals then I’ve been crashing it like a boss ever since! 😂 - Hopefully will get a full suspension next year to slow this down 😉

[@slowridemtb4712]

@@dozza7946 Jamis is a GREAT bike, it should last you forever. Rock it!

[@TrailBreaker]

Dude! I can’t go there and NOT hit boo boo and choo choo tons! Shroen trail is always next (right by the sewage plant). 😁

[@themilktrader969]

HTP, I come here 4x per month for work and rent a Roscoe ($40) for the day. Seems a little under equipped for the table tops but I’m getting closer to clearing the table tops on All American. I’m 180# and set the Fox Rhythm to 65 psi, just below bottom out. I rented a Scout last week for $60 and it was much better handling tabletops, especially at adjacent Coler Park Fireline Trail. But I’m cheep and would like to get the Roscoe to make these tabletops. Usually I cannot clear the gap and just goof off with a landing to manual which is fun I guess. Thanks for the HT video of my vacation spot!

[@philphish1643]

Was literally just hoping you were going to do a bentonville video.

[@hardtailparty]

Nice!

[@Plexus37]

10:58 you can see the snake on the trail to the riders left, you will have to pause and step through. Rat snake maybe?

[@Guineson]

As I have started exploring more places I have learned to go with no expectations. Often trails will be a single or double black rating , but In My personal rating I would typically give them a blue Instead. I also don't know how trail systems are rated professionally so I just adapt expectations to zero and down grade what trail forks says by 1.

[@oklahotb3217]

I've seen those wooden features at 11:30ish in person. They are serious features and the Camera doesn't do them justice

[@donjohnston5473]

Just found this today, great video. What are you riding for bikes?

[@hardtailparty]

I ride an rsd middle child

[@stevenrainey5746]

Your Video quality is nice. What's your set-up? Also what mount are you using for your element?

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks. It's a hero7 black. I use a barfly mount for my wahoo

[@TheEnzochester]

Fantastic video!! What digital device are you using (attached to your handle bars)

[@hardtailparty]

Its called a wahoo element

[@TheEnzochester]

Brilliant thank you

[@peterides9568]

Oh man. That looks amazing, I hope Canberra ends up something like Bentonville! Do the trails get snowed in for winter, or is it year round riding?

[@nwavideotours3202]

Pete Rides It doesn’t snow that much here. They’re open year round.

[@Petermanchannel9]

We haven’t had over an inch of snow in almost 2000 days. It rains a lot but you can generally ride here year round

[@paddyterhune]

What is the helmet you wear? Dig the style/shape and need a new lid for the trails.Thanks in advance.

[@hardtailparty]

It's a specialized ambush pro. It's my favorite helmet.

[@ABFPV584]

Next time you come to town you should bring the single speed.

[@hardtailparty]

Seems like the perfect place to singlespeed

[@ABFPV584]

@@hardtailparty indeed it is! Hobbs is a really fun area

[@tallpeartv]

Would you happen to have a recorded bike ride you could share?

[@hardtailparty]

no, sorry. See the links in the description

[@ThomasVMan]

Hi Steve. Can you recommend a good budget friendly bike computer?

[@hardtailparty]

I'd recommend using your phone. Trailforks and strava track good info. I use a wahoo element, but it's not very cheap.

[@bigrod359]

Wow i live in bentonville and haven't gone.

[@hardtailparty]

What? Wow, you're in for a treat. You have one of the best trail networks in the world.

[@bigrod359]

@@hardtailparty I really want to go but don't have a bike I'm looking at the Roscoe 8 do you recommend it looking for the something 2k and under. Thanks brother

[@hardtailparty]

@@bigrod359 i recommend a salsa timberjack instead for the price.

[@hardtailparty]

But the rsd middle child aluminum would be far better for those trails. I have a 5% off discount code for you in the link above.

[@bigrod359]

@@hardtailparty Thanks for the help brother ill check them out and use your link

[@rustnevrsleeps]

met you at Sedona I meant.

[@BearBrosMTB]

Bro, you gotta get some Hardtail Party stickers or t-shirts for sale.

[@hardtailparty]

I have shirts and hats for sale. Shop.spreadshirt.com/hardtailparty

[@BearBrosMTB]

Nice. Thank you. I will be checking it out on payday.

[@Chicagoway37]

10:58 snek sightin

[@DW-dl7bk]

I have Rekon Plus 2.8's on my Roscoe and I 100% agree with you, they're absolute trash for techy climbs.

[@seasonalobsession8550]

Why are you recording in 4:3 and not the other one that fits the screen correctly

[@hardtailparty]

Because I bumped my gopro on accident and it changed the settings. I dont watch every shot back when I'm riding. Accidents happen, and I dont usually catch them till a few days later.

[@seasonalobsession8550]

Yo I hate when that happens😂😂😂 GoPros have that prob😂

[@hoghead_181]

Are the trails in bentonville good for beginners? I am a seasoned mtb'er but my wife and 9 year old daughter are complete noobs. My wife doesn't even have a bike, she would have to rent one. Are the trails close to the bike shops good for anybody to ride on? I am thinking of going in march on vacation to check it out. I just want to make sure there is something to do for everyone.

[@hardtailparty]

Almost all of the trails there have rollers/jumps. So if they'd be comfortable doing a lap on a pump track, they'd be good. There are some easier trails as well up near Medusa. There's very little technical riding here, but lots of berms, rollers, and optional jumps. It's a pretty friendly place to ride, but complete noobs might be a little intimidated.

[@genecarlsonii3115]

Are you still there? Would love to meet your family Steve. Go to Crystal Bridges art museum while you are here. It's free. The snake was probably a black racer. They can be aggressive, but are not venomous.

[@hardtailparty]

That would have been fun. We have moved on sadly. I post my meetups on Instagram whenever I'm in a new area.

[@genecarlsonii3115]

Maybe next time. Thanks for all the camping and biking content. Especially your Airstream videos...I've watched your lift and hub replacement videos several times. I'm building a boon docking Airstream from a salvaged 2015 Flying Cloud. Keep up the good work.

[@alexmcclellan8420]

I live there

[@bass-player.22]

I love your channel I love my hardtail but I have lost all my confadence I have crashed my last three times out the last time I cracked my strenum I have no desire to ride again

[@hardtailparty]

Michael Dieter man,that sucks. Sorry to hear it.

[@chipandpete]

Your mind is telling you no, but yet, your heart is watching MTB videos. Follow your heart.

[@chipandpete]

If only every community had "WalMart money".

[@hardtailparty]

Right? Props to Walmart for putting so much into their community. Bentonville is now an attractive place to move.

[@juinalcones28]

What happened to the video?

[@hardtailparty]

It's working fine for me. What issues are you seeing on your end?

[@juinalcones28]

@@hardtailparty i'm seeing squarey type video or it was supposed to be like that?

[@hardtailparty]

@@juinalcones28 oh, I bumped a setting on the gopro and it wasn't filming in wide screen mode.

[@hardtailparty]

Do you need help deciding which bike to purchase next? I offer a one-on-one bike consultation service through patreon. It's how I put food on the table for my family, and how I'm able to provide custom bike advice for my vieewrs. Become a patron today for access: sign up for the monthly bike consultation tier, and cancel at any time. Most people sign up for a month or two, and we work together to discuss their needs, riding style, etc. to narrow down the list of all the great hardtails out there. When they get the info they need and they no longer have any questions, they cancel. Become a patron today: patreon.com/hardtailparty. If my videos have saved you time or money, consider supporting this channel for as little as $5/month. Support individual content creators over garbage tv or sponsored content disguised as reviews.

[@TVids4]

Dude, as an editor, I know your pain. If you were to take this video and split it up into videos showing each individual trail/loop, I would watch each one twice over. Feel free to throw that idea in the trash, and I still love this longer overview. Thanks for everything you do. Super informative!

[@porschephiliac4356]

Might be time to move…