BELLA VISTA -- There was no ribbon-cutting ceremony or local dignitaries to greet riders over the weekend as the city opened a portion of its trails system, but there was plenty of fanfare.
Fast facts
The trail is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are four areas available for parking:
• Bear Hollow Trailhead — Gosforth Drive and Derwent Lane
• Buckingham Trailhead — Trafalgar Road and Buckingham Drive
• Lake Ann Trailhead — Castleford Drive and Wem Lane
• Blowing Springs Park — Blowing Springs Road
Source: Staff report
Web watch
There is currently not a printed version of a trail map. For an updated map of open trails, see the online version at NWA Trails, https://trails.cast….
Source: Staff report
Saturday marked the opening of a 15-mile section of Bella Vista's Back 40 Loop, a 40-mile segment that eventually will circle the east side of the city. The rest of the loop is under construction and scheduled to open this fall, according to a city news release.
Despite a brief downpour, a handful of riders gathered Sunday afternoon at the Lake Ann trail head off Castleford Drive. Pumping up the tires on his bike and strapping on knee pads, Dallas Doty said riders wouldn't be deterred by the bad weather, only delayed.
Doty said the trail is rugged and isolated, but that's part of its appeal.
"[I] absolutely love it," he said. "This community has really grabbed on to it."
Near Lake Ann, the trail blends easily into the heavily wooded areas of Bella Vista. Aside from crosswalks and traffic signals to mark where it crosses a road, the trail winds seamlessly through dense trees and hugs the large bluffs that define Bella Vista's hilly landscape.
The seclusion has its drawbacks, Doty said, especially when it comes to cellphone service. But the benefits, like seeing wildlife up close and the "friendly people everywhere," make the ride worth it.
Doty jokes that he has come close to "petting the deer" several times.
For Tim Stolt, being able to access a trails system has appeal.
"That's what's special about Bella Vista," said Stolt, who added that mountain biking is an inclusive sport. "We all have a connection, and it's life on two wheels."
While there was some apprehension about the integrity of the trail after heavy rainfall, Stolt and others agreed that the trail should drain easily because of its topography.
For Kelly Williams, a director with the National Mountain Bike Patrol, that's crucial information. Sanctioned by the International Mountain Biking Association, the patrol is a volunteer organization with a mission to assist, educate and inform trail users to enhance their experience, according to its website.
Members of the patrol are trained in first aid and CPR and can perform minor bike repairs, Williams said. They also work with communities to help facilitate access to the trails and assist in medical emergencies.
Williams, who described the 15-mile section of the Back 40 Loop as "incredible," said he was out Sunday to see how the trail held up after a storm.
For Bella Vista, the Back 40 Loop is only the beginning.
The segment is part of a larger, multiphase project that will encompass 150 miles of natural-surface trail through all of Bella Vista's 45 square miles, according to city officials. Developing the system has been a two-pronged approach, with the NWA Trailblazers building the trails and the Walton Family Foundation giving a $3 million grant toward the project.
Officials hope that the trails, once complete, will become a major attraction for Bella Vista.
"The opening of the trails is an invitation to everyone in the region and farther to come see these new trails in Bella Vista," said Cassi Lapp, Bella Vista communications manager. "[We] have bluffs, creeks and waterfalls that some people who live here have never even seen because they are deep in the woods. These trails allow access to those unique features."
Metro on 08/08/2016