Update — 11/26/24: The Ouachita National Forest announced that it plans to approve a special use permit for the Trails at Mena project.
In a draft decision notice published Friday, after this week’s Arkansas Business went to press, Forest Supervisor Dan Olsen wrote that the project will improve the experience of Ouachita National Forest guests while avoiding and/or mitigating long-term adverse impacts to the forest.
“I concur with the majority of the commentors on the project that the creation of mountain biking-centric trails and infrastructure will fill a
much-needed deficit in recreation opportunities, improve the quality of life of many citizens, and benefit the economy of Mena and the surrounding area,” Olsen wrote.
A 45-day objection period opened Monday. Following the resolution of any objections, a final decision will be issued.
Original story: Two grand biking-hiking developments on opposite sides of the state have reached new stages.
Work on the 84.5-mile Delta Heritage Trail in east Arkansas has progressed quickly enough to keep a 2025 completion date realistic. Transforming the final 13.4 miles of an abandoned railway to accommodate pedaling and pedestrians will certainly keep workers busy.
About 200 miles to the west of the work in Desha County, outdoor enthusiasts will soon learn more about development plans for the Trails at Mena.
In addition to a new trail network, proposals include building five lift stations to ferry mountain bikers back uphill after making their runs down Rich Mountain.
The cost of the Trails at Mena project won’t be calculated until the details are finalized.
Planners expect the visionary proposal to require tens of millions of dollars in public and private funding. The work will need something similar to the partnership among state and local sources and the Walton Family Foundation that cleared the way for the Delta Heritage Trail.
The U.S. Forest Service will release its final environmental assessment and draft decision on the Trails at Mena after hearing from nature-loving constituents during a public comment period.
Notice of that decision was set for Nov. 22, which begins a 45-day period for participants in the public comment process to add objections.
Arkansas State Parks is asking the Forest Service for a special use permit for a piece of the 2.5 million-acre Ouachita National Forest to develop trail and recreation-related infrastructure between Mena and Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
The highlights of the proposed action (referred to as Alternative 2 in the draft environmental assessment), lie within select certain locations across 8,832 acres of national forest land. The proposed work includes:
- Construction of up to 100 miles of primarily natural surface trails.
- Development of a base portal for arrival and guest services.
- Construction of parking areas and improvements to existing pull-offs along Highway 88.
- Development of uplift infrastructure to transport users throughout the special use permit area.
- Construction of ancillary support facilities and amenities within the trail network.
- Improvement of existing road segments and creation of new access routes.
This proposal has support from state and local leaders and grassroots boosters, from the governor’s office to merchants in Mena.
Here’s a sampling of views from supporters who wrote in favor of Alternative 2.
“I have never seen our community so united around a project,” said state Rep. John Maddox, R-Mena. “I am asked almost every day about the status of the project and when construction will begin. Our community could not be more excited about this project.”
Maddox also noted the project’s drawing power could go beyond bringing in visitors.
“Many people now have the ability to work from home, and therefore they can live wherever they choose,” he said. “If this region has one of the premier mountain biking trail systems in all of North America, that will certainly help retain and attract talented people.”
Suzanne Grobmyer, chief of staff at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, said strong public support for this project underscores its potential.
“We are committed to making this area a premier multi-recreational destination that will serve future generations,” she said. “I fully endorse the implementation of Alternative 2, as outlined in the draft environmental assessment. This project stands as one of the most innovative and exciting developments in outdoor recreation today.”
Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison said the area has had few opportunities as exciting as the Trails at Mena.
“The local, state and federal governments, as well as private entities, are working well together, and I have confidence that this can be an enduring endeavor,” said Ellison, who grew up in Polk County.
Brad Carner, deputy director of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, offered his agency’s support to provide suggestions to help avoid or mitigate any potential impacts on the Rich Mountain ecosystem.
“Our agency is supportive of the Trails at Mena project recognizing the need to balance the conservation of the natural resources within the project area with sustainable outdoor recreational opportunities of varied user groups to enjoy these shared public resources,” Carner said.
He noted that rocky habitat in the proposed project area supports “Arkansas Species of Greatest Conservation Need” such as the tricolored bat, the Rich Mountain giant earthworm, the mountain cave amphipod and the Rich Mountain slitmouth snail.
“The proposed special use permit area on Rich Mountain is a very unique and biologically diverse area, supporting multiple local, state and regionally endemic species,” Carner said.
“There are 16 known species found in this area that are endemic to the state or region, while four of those are only found on Rich Mountain. As the site-specific planning for this project continues, AGFC recommends surveys of this area to fully identify and document the occurrence, distribution and status of the irreplaceable rare and sensitive animal, plant and vegetation communities that occur there.”
Other Opinions
What are the other alternatives in the environmental assessment draft?
- Alternative 1: Keep everything as is. No new development.
- Alternative 3: It contains nearly all the elements of the proposed action except it reduces the number of chairlifts from five to three and cuts back on facility development.
- Alternative 4: It calls for no lifts, and would also reduce facility development.
A few respondents favored versions of these less intensive development scenarios.
“We would like to explore ways to have great mountain biking trails at Mena, while also maintaining the wild and scenic elements of Rich Mountain and Queen Wilhelmina State Park,” said Brian Thompson, president of The Ozark Society. “We ask that project planners consider existing qualities that we don’t want to lose as this project moves forward.”
Thompson listed these important points: protecting scenic views of and from Rich Mountain, safeguarding water quality and flora and fauna and maintaining the area’s natural and scenic qualities, as well as the traditional uses, of Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
“Many Arkansans, as well as visitors from out-of-state, love the park just as it is,” he said. “They relish the opportunity to enjoy the views, the quiet, the hiking trails, the lodge and the star-filled night sky. Please keep these treasured aspects of this wonderful park in mind as the bike plan is developed.”
James Brandenburg, chairman of the Arkansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, expressed concerns about the reduction of hunting opportunities and impact on wildlife, notably the area’s black bear population. If development must occur, the group’s preference was Alternative 3.
“This option limits the areas of greatest development to portions of the mountain where development is already likely to occur,” Brandenburg said. “The Ward Lake Zone contains projects on City of Mena property, and the State Park Zone already has the Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
“Uplift infrastructure would be limited to either end of the proposed special use permit area, and the scenic views in between would mostly be preserved. Regular daily disturbance from the traffic associated with shuttles would still exist but would be reduced compared to Alternative 4.”
Jacque Alexander, a member of the Arkansas Back Country Horsemen, is concerned about the displacement of hikers and equestrians.
“These scenic natural areas are now proposed to see installation not only of natural surfaced trails, but also mechanical ‘Disney World’ like ski-lifts to accommodate bikers (motorized e-bikes) and their bikes to an area previously accommodating non-motorized users, installation of which would disrupt natural scenery and the quiet spaces so loved through the centuries,” she said.
Alexander favored no action to maintain the status quo or no lifts to minimize the impact of mountain bike trail development on the natural setting.
The Trails at Mena proposal represents a multiphased project that would be developed over several years. If approved, 2026 would be the target for completing pre-design work and design plans to launch construction on Forest Service land.
The first step in creating a trail network from Mena to Queen Wilhelmina State Park was completed this year at Ward Lake Park.
Bentonville’s Progressive Trail Design oversaw a $374,550 construction contract to build a 1.2-mile all-weather loop around the original lakeshore plus 1.9 miles of intermediate trail and a 5.7-acre trailhead parking area.
Located on a 160-acre city-owned tract a mile north of Mena, the small trail network celebrated its official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 24, with about 100 in attendance.
“The excitement is certainly brewing,” said Mena Mayor Seth Smith.
This opening phase of the Ward Lake trail network will provide jumping-off points for a trail to connect a mile south to Mena and future trail extensions to the east and west.
While checking on the progress of the trail work this summer, Smith came across some cyclists from the Houston area already test riding the incomplete course. The Texans liked the city’s contribution to expand the area’s biking options and offered encouraging words.
“They said, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing,’” Smith said. “‘You’re doing it right.’”
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