PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK -- For casual cyclists, the notion of tackling a mountain-bike trail can seem daunting. Won't there be rugged terrain and steep inclines, more rigorous than an off-road newbie could handle?
Not necessarily. That's the answer from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, which actively promotes recreational cycling of various kinds.
A case in point is Rabbit Ridge Mountain Bike Trail in Pinnacle Mountain State Park, not far beyond the western fringe of Little Rock.
Rabbit Ridge, as the sign at the trail head reports, "is designed for beginner off-road bicyclists" -- ideal for trying out with a rented or borrowed mountain bike before deciding whether to buy one of those more rugged models with the larger knobby tires.
Over its 0.7-mile, the trail "has some minor elevation changes and rocks to ride over, but is well-suited for novices. Pinnacle Mountain and the land forms you see around it result from some of the most chaotic geologic processes that have occurred in Arkansas."
The Parks and Tourism department's handy brochure "Bicycling in Arkansas" lays out a potpourri of 24 biking trails, half on and half off the road.
The brochure asserts that Arkansas "boasts some of the most biker-friendly roads in the country." It adds that "beginners are always welcome, and advanced cyclists can always find a challenge here in the Natural State, where the mild climate allows for year-round riding."
It's a real stretch to describe humid June-August days with temperatures in the 90s as "mild climate." But some of the trails, particularly those off-road, do offer a modicum of shade. A rider equipped with ample drinking water can enjoy a pedal even in the summer heat.
Here is a sampler of trails, on the road and off, from the "Bicycling in Arkansas" booklet:
Scott-England Harper's Loop. A 35- to 50-mile road route rated easy to moderate, "the Scott-England Loop offers a smooth, flat ride past cotton fields and pecan groves. The long version of this ride follows Harper's Loop, a signed bicycling route from the Arkansas River Trail in North Little Rock to U.S. 165."
• Monticello to Warren Loop. Listed as moderate, this 45-mile road ride "features smooth roads with good shoulders and some hills." It begins at the intersection of Arkansas 35 and Arkansas 4 in Monticello.
• Paragould-Piggott Loop. This northeast Arkansas road route is plenty long -- 89.5 miles -- but is rated as easy to moderate. Cyclists will find that "the hills of Crowley's Ridge Parkway give this Delta ride lots of character." Starting point is East Lake and U.S. 49 in Paragould.
• Fern Hollow Trail. Rated as easy, this 9.5-mile off-the-road route northwest of Camden offers "rolling hills and lake views. A trail map is available at the White Oak Lake State Park's visitor center.
• Cane Creek Lake Trail. Listed as moderate, this 15.5-mile off-road circuit "traverses gentle terrain along the lake and crosses three suspension bridges" near Star City south of Pine Bluff. There's a 2.5-mile multiuse trail for a much shorter adventure.
• Old Post Road. Along Lake Dardanelle near Russellville, this 8-mile off-road route is designated a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of Interior. Its 12 interconnecting loops "vary in difficulty, so there is something for everyone."
For more information, visit Arkansas.com/outdoors/biking.
Weekend on 06/30/2016