About Hand Cut Hollow

Hand Cut Hollow is a hand-built mountain bike system on the edge of Bentonville, Arkansas, and it rides differently than the polished flow trails in town. As the name says, it’s cut by hand, so the character is old-school and technical: tight switchbacks, roots, rock and a steep downhill hub. If you want quieter, techier riding, this is the one.

Trail details

Hand Cut Hollow has around 16 miles of purely hand-built trail. The centerpiece is the Traverse Loop, a roughly seven-mile circuit with about 75 tight switchbacks that wraps around a central downhill hub. Off that hub are seven descent lines with names like School House Rock and No More Kings, and there’s a Zone 4 section that’s brutally technical, plus dirt jumps added in 2025.

Difficulty runs from a few blue trails up to black diamond, but the overall feel is intermediate-to-advanced. Off-camber roots, rock gardens and hand-cut tech reward good bike handling. It’s not the best place for beginners or little kids.

The park / where it is

Hand Cut Hollow sits on the west side of the Bentonville area, part of the larger OZ Trails network. It has a couple of standout landmarks: the Valley View Schoolhouse, a historic building restored in 2023, and large-scale trail art including a giant axe sculpture.

There are several access points, including the J Street lot, the Beau Terre lot and the Grammercy Trailhead. The upper lot is home to the iconic hatchet sculpture. There’s also camping on site through HipCamp if you want to stay over.

Connected & nearby trails

Hand Cut Hollow pairs well with the bigger Bentonville systems when you want variety.

  • Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is close by and offers more machine-built flow and jump lines as a contrast to the hand-cut tech.
  • Slaughter Pen Trail downtown is a gentler, more beginner-friendly system if you’re riding with mixed abilities.
  • Little Sugar up in Bella Vista adds more long-mileage riding a short drive away.

Know before you go

Bring a fit body and good tech skills, or an e-bike, because the climbing and switchbacks add up. Finishing at the upper lot means a hefty climb back, so plan your loop. The hand-cut trails hold roots and rock that get slick when wet, so give them time to dry after rain. It’s usually less crowded than Slaughter Pen or Coler, which is part of the appeal, but that also means help is farther away, so ride prepared.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hand Cut Hollow good for beginners?

Not really. Hand Cut Hollow is best for intermediate and advanced riders. It has some blue trails, but the character is old-school hand-cut tech with tight switchbacks, roots and rock, plus a steep downhill hub. Beginners and kids will have a better time at Slaughter Pen or the greener trails at Coler first.

How many miles of trail are at Hand Cut Hollow?

Hand Cut Hollow has around 16 miles of trail, and it’s notable for being purely hand-built rather than machine-cut. That includes the roughly seven-mile Traverse Loop that wraps around the downhill hub.

What is the Traverse Loop?

The Traverse Loop is Hand Cut Hollow’s signature climbing circuit, about seven miles long with roughly 75 tight switchbacks that ring the downhill hub. It’s the main way to earn the descents in the middle of the system.

Where do I park at Hand Cut Hollow?

There are a few access points, including the J Street lot, the Beau Terre lot and the Grammercy Trailhead. The upper lot has the iconic hatchet sculpture, and finishing there means a decent climb back up.

Is Hand Cut Hollow hand-built?

Yes. That’s the whole point. The trails are hand-cut rather than machine-built, which gives them an old-school, technical feel with off-camber roots, rock gardens and tight switchbacks. There are also newer flow and jump lines and dirt jumps added in 2025.

What is the Valley View Schoolhouse?

The Valley View Schoolhouse is a historic structure on the property that was restored in 2023. It’s one of the landmarks that gives Hand Cut Hollow its own character, along with trail art like the large axe sculpture.