Day 1: Get Away From It All in Hobbs State Park

Kick off your Rogers itinerary at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, where War Eagle Creek is to the north and 22 miles of Beaver Lake shoreline is to the south. The 12,000-acre state park remains a beloved Northwest Arkansas destination. You will only spend one day here, but it would be easy to spend an entire long weekend. Hobbs is home to more than 30 miles of trails ranging in difficulty from easy to strenuous, offering views of Northwest Arkansas’ many ridge lines, sinkholes, creeks, and characteristic Ozark hardwood forest.

Start your weekend on the 24-mile Hidden Diversity Trail, which is divided into several more bite-sized chunks for a choose-your-own-adventure feel. The multi-use trail is open to cyclists and equestrians as well. Whatever your mode of transportation, you will get to check out limestone bluffs, caves, and other geological oddities.

When you are ready to make camp, head out onto the Pigeon Roost Trail, which features two double-stacked loops. The five campsites off the 4.3-mile Huckleberry Loop are free of charge, but you will need to check in at the park’s cutting-edge visitor center—it is more than 17,000 square feet and features interpretive exhibits about the park’s natural and human history.

Set up camp at one of the sites that provide views into Van Winkle Hollow, then explore the rest of Pigeon Roost, where, if you are lucky, you will spot a bald eagle or wild turkey. It is a short hike back to your vehicle in the morning, so these sites are the perfect balance of solitude and easy access.

Day 2: Check Out the Mountain Biking Scene

Why should the West have all the fun? Northwest Arkansas is home to an inspired (and relatively new) mountain biking scene, and it is chock-full of intermediate and advanced trails. A couple hundred miles of trail have sprung up since 2012, thanks in large part to organized groups like Progressive Trail Design and Friends of Arkansas Singletrack (FAST), plus a few local bike shops, who pitched in to design and build fun, flowy, mountain bike trails.

Spend the second day of your long weekend exploring the Slaughter Pen Trails, a largely intermediate system just north of Bentonville. There are beginner and intermediate-advanced trails, so it is appropriate for a range of skill levels. It is an IMBA Silver Level area with enormous berms, technical rocky sections, and serious downhill riding. You will also catch views of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which makes for a great photo backdrop.

Grab a refreshment at the Ozark Beer Company, then head to Eureka Springs, where you will find a couple of camping options, including a KOA and the Dam Site Lake Campground. If you are still feeling ambitious, check out the Lake Leatherwood Trails, but keep your wits about you—these trails are known for their long climbs, techy rock gardens, and fast switchback descents.

If your visit to northwest Arkansas falls in early April, it is worth making the drive to Devil’s Den State Park, less than an hour south of Rogers, for part of the three-day Ozark Mountain Bike Fest. Admission to the festival is free and the intermediate Fossil Flats trail is a blast.

Day 3: Paddle the Peaceful Ozark Region

Continue your Rogers itinerary in the Ozark region of Northwest Arkansas, packed with quiet lakes and flatwater, and perfect for paddling a canoe or kayak. Several small lakes in the region, including Leatherwood, Lincoln, and Sequoyah, offer excellent and secluded paddling and hiking opportunities, but the highlight is Beaver Lake. With nearly 500 miles of shoreline, this impoundment on the White River has several unique paddling options, with plenty of places to rent your vessel of choice.

The Eureka Springs area is home to several marinas, each of which offers various boat rentals. Near Eureka Springs West, Spider Creek Resort has the most human-powered options, with canoes, kayaks, rafts, and drift boats for fly-fishing, plus the option to include transportation to and/or from a boat launch. Boat rentals are also available farther south, and private boats are allowed on the lake. Many outfitters have tried-and-true paddling routes to share with visitors, so you will get an expert’s opinion on where to go.

If you are looking to strike out on your own, head back to Van Winkle Hollow in Hobbs State Park to see it from a new perspective. This is one of the quietest, most scenic spots on Beaver Lake. You will get views of low bluffs and paddle into hidden coves along the remote shoreline. Feeling ambitious? Make your way to Big Clifty Park, the launch point for Hogscald Hollow. This route is best done right after a rain, when the hollow’s waterfalls are truly spectacular. Paddle into the narrow channel, take a side trip up Penitentiary Hollow to the north, then park your boat and hike up the creek to explore.

Top off the weekend with a stop at Iron Horse Coffee Company to perk up when you are back in Rogers. Chances are three days will not be enough, but you have to start somewhere! Visitors are always welcome to make repeat visits—and many people charmed by the friendly community and exquisite natural beauty make Rogers an annual pilgrimage.