Bear Creek Cycle Trail

Bear Creek Cycle Trail is a long, scenic trail that follows the shoreline of Lake Greeson in southwest Arkansas. Sources put it at about 31 miles through mixed pine and oak forest, with rocky stretches, steady climbs and descents, stream crossings, and the occasional mud puddle. Dirt bikes, ATVs, and UTVs are all welcome, and it is shared with mountain bikers and hikers. It is not a fast, open-throttle park; expect a marked, lightly maintained trail with lake views rather than a groomed course.

Difficulty changes along the route. The section at Daisy State Park has steep inclines and is described as expert-only, while the stretch between Kirby Landing and Bear Creek is rated easy to moderate. That makes Kirby Landing and Bear Creek the better places to start if you are new to the trail or riding with a mixed group. The trail is marked yellow over blue and ends on the west end of Rough Mountain.

The name causes some confusion: this is the Bear Creek on Lake Greeson, not the Bear Creek Lake recreation area near Marianna in eastern Arkansas.

Getting there

The trail runs on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land and Daisy State Park. There are three main places to access it: the Daisy State Park trailhead, Kirby Landing, and the designated ORV loading and unloading area inside the Bear Creek campground (300 Bear Creek Road, Amity). The nearest town is Kirby, with Murfreesboro to the north. Daisy State Park has a parking lot with room for trailers at the trailhead.

Fees, permits, and rules

We could not find a trail use fee. Camping at Bear Creek is first-come, first-served, with payment on site through the Recreation.gov app. Off-road vehicles are prohibited in recreation areas unless they are loaded on a trailer or in a vehicle, and loading and unloading is allowed only in designated areas. Do not ride your bike on the roads inside Daisy State Park. A spark arrestor is listed as required. Arkansas residents must register off-road vehicles with the state Department of Revenue. Trail maps are available at the Daisy State Park visitor center and the Corps of Engineers Lake Greeson office in Murfreesboro, (870) 285-2151.

When to ride

The trail is listed as open year-round, though services around the lake can be limited in winter. Summers in southwest Arkansas are hot and humid, and creek crossings are best after dry weather. Check with the Corps office for closures after heavy rain.