How to start hiking in Northwest Arkansas.
Route
Back 40 · Bella Vista
Bella Vista Museum to Buckingham
Challenging
The hardest part of this route is one Challenging section, 0.3 mi long.
A section is the stretch of trail between two junctions. Each section is rated by its hardest spot, so a Challenging section may be mostly easy walking with only a few feet of steep or rocky ground.
Point to a color in the bar, or tap it, to see its sections on the trail map.
The route
- Trail system
- Back 40
- Trailhead
- Bella Vista Museum
- Distance
- 3.77 miles
- Elevation gain
- 300 feet (80 feet per mile)
- Shape
- Out and back. You turn around at the far end and return the same way.
- Surface
- Natural surface the whole way
- Difficulty
- Challenging. A route is rated by its most difficult section. Routes marked CHALLENGING have at least one section with rocks or roots packed so closely, or set at such an angle, that there's no flat place to set your foot; rocks a foot high or more that take a big step up to climb over; obstacles so frequent that you have to watch every step; or very steep stretches of trail. These sections are often short, but they call for steady footing and close attention. See examples of challenging trails
Start hiking
Navigate with Komoot
Prefer a different app?
Komoot shows the turn-by-turn route, the elevation profile, and your spot on the trail. A free account is all you need, and you can download the route to use without cell service. New to Komoot? See how it works.
- Open the route in Komoot.
- Tap the three dots at the top right, then Download GPX file.
- Open the file in your favorite hiking app, like Trailforks, AllTrails, Gaia GPS, or Garmin Connect.
Where to park
Where to park
Bella Vista Museum
Parking Note
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 1–5 p.m. Please park somewhere else during those hours.
Address
Bella Vista Historical Museum, 1885 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, AR 72714Google code is FQ64+J9P Bella Vista, AR
Open trailhead in Google MapsParking Area
medium, paved
Amenities
full restrooms available inside the museum when it's open.
Trails You’ll Hike
- It'll Bluff Out High Water Bypass
- It'll Bluff Out
- It'll Bluff Out Shortcut (North)
- Back 40 Loop
- Back 40 Alt
Tap a trail to see a photo preview of the whole trail.
0–2 miles (2)
2–4 miles (3)
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to It’ll Bluff Out & Lake Rayburn Waterfall2.01 mi · 150 ft gain · 75 ft/mi · Lollipop
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to It’ll Bluff Out South & Dalton Dr.2.79 mi · 100 ft gain · 36 ft/mi · Out & Back
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to Pinion Creek Falls3.22 mi · 175 ft gain · 54 ft/mi · Lollipop6–8 miles (4)
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to Cooper Chapel6.04 mi · 450 ft gain · 75 ft/mi · Lollipop
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to It’ll Bluff Out South6.18 mi · 450 ft gain · 73 ft/mi · Out & Back
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to Lancashire on It’ll Bluff Out6.44 mi · 475 ft gain · 74 ft/mi · Lollipop
ChallengingBella Vista Museum to Tip of the Spear6.56 mi · 575 ft gain · 88 ft/mi · Lollipop