Great Bend River Trail

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This is a twisty-turny, out-and-back trail that uses the bank of the Arkansas River to create lots of short climbs and descents that will get your heart pumping if you ride it fast enough. The area is a free-for-all for ATV and MTB use. Unfortunately, the ATVs steal sections of trail that the MTB builders create when they find them and quickly turn them into sandy doubletrack.

As you get further from Main St., the sharing of trails diminishes greatly, but beware when the trails cross in a couple of areas. The ATVs have churned up the sand so bad it's hard to get through with a 2" tire. The rest of the trail is mostly packed and fast, but there are a few short sections that are soft and sandy.

It might be worthwhile to skip the first section of trail if you have a pickup and drive to the parking area indicated about 1/4 of the way into the trail. The first quarter of the trail is heavily shared with ATV trails that have taken over the singletrack. There were people target practicing that day in the area. Apparently, it's normal to shoot into the river banks; hopefully, they're not being stupid.

I've been told the best time to ride this trail is on a cold winter day at 8 am when the ATVs won't be out...I found a 75 degree day brings out all sorts of machines driving down the river.