Bella Vista Arkansas

Bella Vista is an outdoor recreation destination with 100+ miles of public, purpose-built trails for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. The city’s major systems include the OZ  Bike Park with chair lift for downhill mountain biking or scenic rides to the top, the 21+mile Back 40, the nearly 40-mile Little Sugar network, and the six-mile Blowing Springs Trails, which connect toward Bentonville and the Razorback Greenway. Routes range from beginner-friendly paths to demanding technical terrain, with Ozark bluffs, caves, creeks, waterfalls, and wooded overlooks along the way. For a quieter outing, Tanyard Creek Nature Trail offers a short, partly paved walk through a scenic natural area.

For a more leisurely day, Bella Vista’s seven scenic lakes offer opportunities for fishing, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and relaxing by the water. The lakes and many other recreational amenities are operated by the Bella Vista Property Owners Association, so members should carry the appropriate POA identification and guests may need a guest pass or permit before using certain facilities.

City Resources

Here is a list of common city resources we think you might need if you are thinking of moving to Bella Vista.

Things to Do in Bella Vista

No matter where you are driving in Bella Vista, it is impossible to miss the beautifully maintained greens of the SIX golf courses scattered throughout the area. For those who want to get tips on improving their stroke game at the practice facility, you can schedule some time with one of the on-staff golf pros. As with most things in Northwest Arkansas, you are never far from any art or culture you may be looking for. Each year Bella Vista hosts a popular arts and crafts festival that brings in thousands each year eager for homemade goods. Not to mention the  154 miles of trails when this blog was written in March 2022, with more being created weekly. There are 3 major trail systems that you can use in Bella Vista all with varying skill levels. Don't be intimidated if you aren't the outdoor type. Not all of the available activities require a helmet or a bucket of sunscreen. One of our favorite suggestions, check out the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel. This E. Fay Jones masterpiece is one of the beautiful arch and glass chapels that you will find scattered around Northwest Arkansas

Places To Eat in Bella Vista

Bella Vista's focus on the outdoors doesn't mean that there isn't great food as well. For a quick breakfast check out Love Donuts for a variety of homemade donuts. for some traditional Southern comfort food, look no further than Papa Mike's. Duffer's Cafe is a hometown favorite that has been around for more than 25 years. They are open from 6 am until 3 pm. Check out the Discover Bella Vista page to find more options for food and dining in Bella Vista.

Outdoor Activities

There are an INSANE amount of mountain bike trails. 154 miles of trails when this was written in March 2022, with more being created weekly. There are 3 major trail systems that you can use in Bella Vista all with varying skill levels from the easy greens to the double black jump lines. First up, we have Blowing Springs Trails. This starts as a 6-mile loop that skirts cliffsides and has caves and waterfalls to explore. It links to Slaughter Pen Trails, the Razorback Greenway, and acts as a gateway to our next trail system, the Back 40. The Back 40 system boasts over 40 miles of trails that include a 21-mile loop creatively named " The Back 40 Loop". This trail system has a wide range of singletrack, again varying in skill level and length. Tanyard Creek is a 2.2 mile loop has all sorts of different natural landmarks and is partially paved for all skill levels.

If you are looking for something more leisurely to do instead of getting down and dirty on the trails, try out one of Bella Vistas 7 lakes. These can be used for fishing, boating, or outdoor recreation like swimming or paddle boarding. Note that lake users must have all credentials for the POA or obtain a guest permit.