Kessler Mountain Regional Park is Fayetteville’s flagship outdoor playground on the city’s southwest side — a roughly 620-acre park wrapped around the highest point in Fayetteville, with a big athletic complex, a 24-hole disc golf course, and, most famously, some of the rockiest, most technical mountain-bike trails in Arkansas. It’s also the officially marked “Mile 0” of the Razorback Regional Greenway, so it doubles as the launch point for the region’s 40-plus-mile paved spine.
Mountain Biking & Trails
Kessler is a cornerstone of the OZ Trails network. Its natural-surface singletrack runs roughly a dozen-plus miles (you’ll see it marketed as close to 20 once you count every connector and stacked loop), and it covers the full range from beginner-friendly loops to steep, chunky, old-school tech that Arkansas riders use to test themselves. Flight Training is the mountain’s lone directional, downhill-only flow trail, dropping the steep north slope for advanced riders; other named lines like Chinkapin Oak, Spellbound, and Terrapin Station stack into the epic 17-plus-mile “Crown Jewel” loop. Trails are shared-use — hikers, trail runners, and bikers all welcome — and a standout for accessibility is Saddle Up, built to an adaptive-mountain-bike standard with extra width, boardwalks, and low bridges. Please let the dirt dry after rain, and note that Rock City Trail is closed to the public (it crosses private land) despite appearing in some route maps. For maps, difficulty ratings, and current conditions, see our sister site NWA Bike Trails. If you’d rather stay on pavement, the 12-foot-wide Cato Springs Trail runs through the park and ties into the Greenway — a great warm-up or stroller-friendly option.
The Athletic Complex & Disc Golf
The developed side of the park along Judge Cummings Road is a full sports destination: six lighted soccer fields and eight lighted baseball fields, two restroom-and-concession buildings, a large playground funded by the local Rotary Club, a bike repair station, water fountains, and ample parking. The 24-hole disc golf course is rated moderate, draws strong reviews, and hosts the annual Ice Bowl tournament — note that, unusually for a city park, there is a small fee to play the disc golf course, so check current rates before you go.
A Rare Ozark Landscape
Beyond the recreation, Kessler Mountain is ecologically special. It sits on the border between the Ozark Highlands and Boston Mountains and divides two watersheds, with oak-hickory forest, springs, bluff lines, and a rare open shale-barren glade. A roughly 380-acre nature preserve was protected in 2015 through a partnership of the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, the City of Fayetteville, and local cycling and heritage groups — growing out of the grassroots Mount Kessler Greenways effort. The summit tops 1,800 feet and rewards climbers with big year-round views, especially in fall.
Cost, Parking & Hours
- Cost: Free (the disc golf course is the one paid exception).
- Hours: Dawn to dusk.
- Parking / main trailhead: 2600 W Judge Cummings Rd (lots by the playground and ballfields); a secondary trail access is off Cato Springs Road on the south side.
- Dogs: Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails and in the park.
- Managed by: City of Fayetteville Parks & Recreation, (479) 444-3471.
Location & Directions
📍 Get directions on Google Maps
- Address: 2600 W Judge Cummings Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701
- Trails: A dozen-plus miles of natural-surface singletrack + the paved Cato Springs Trail
- Cost: Free (disc golf fee applies)
- Website: fayetteville-ar.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kessler Mountain have mountain biking?
Yes — it’s one of Arkansas’s premier mountain-bike destinations, with a dozen-plus miles of singletrack on the OZ Trails network ranging from beginner loops to steep, technical advanced lines, including the downhill-only Flight Training trail.
Is Kessler Mountain Regional Park free?
Yes, the park and its trails are free and open dawn to dusk. The only paid exception is a small fee to play the 24-hole disc golf course.
Are the trails good for beginners?
There are easier loops suitable for beginners, but Kessler is best known for rocky, technical terrain. Newer riders should stick to the marked easy trails and the paved Cato Springs Trail. Check trail ratings on NWA Bike Trails first.
More: all parks & outdoor recreation in Fayetteville or the full Things to Do in Fayetteville guide.