Mount Nebo State Park Travel Guide: Camping, Van Camping & Mountain Biking in Arkansas
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele
About Mount Nebo State Park
The Mount Nebo State Park sign at the park entrance.
Perched atop a flat-topped mountain rising over the Arkansas River Valley, Mount Nebo State Park sits above Dardanelle in Yell County with long views over the river, Lake Dardanelle, and the surrounding ridgelines. From a distance, the mountain looks more like a broad mound than a jagged peak — wide, rounded, and almost flat on top — which becomes obvious once you’re up there.
The area was a popular mountain resort in the late 1800s before becoming one of Arkansas’s earliest state parks in 1928. Many of the stone steps, cabins, and structures you see today were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, giving the park its simple, durable, classic feel.
Today, Mount Nebo is best known for its Monument Trails mountain bike system — over 25 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails that wind through pine forest, along rocky ridges, and across sustained climbs and descents above the valley. The trails are part of Arkansas’s statewide Monument Trails initiative, created to bring professionally designed mountain biking into state parks in a way that’s sustainable, well-built, and integrated into the landscape.
Looking out over the Arkansas River Valley from the rim of Mount Nebo.
Getting to the top is part of the experience. The access road climbs steeply with tight switchbacks, and there are signs at the base warning you about the grade — and they’re not exaggerating. It’s one of the steepest paved climbs I’ve driven in a van. As you go up, the terrain shifts from lower forest to exposed rock, large boulders scattered through the trees, and glimpses of trail crossings and small parking pullouts before you finally reach the top.
Once you’re on top, the landscape opens into a mix of forest, cliff edges, and rolling terrain that feels very different from the valley below.
Camping at Mount Nebo State Park
My van set up at Mount Nebo State Park — level sites, paved pads, and a quiet forest setting made this an easy place to camp.
I camped inside Mount Nebo State Park, and it’s one of the easier and more comfortable state park campgrounds I’ve stayed in for a mix of van camping, hiking, and riding.
The campground sits right on top of the mountain, tucked into the trees, with occasional openings that look out over the edge. The sites are larger and more level than many state park campgrounds, and the layout makes it easy to get in, park, and settle in without much fuss.
In winter, there were plenty of open sites, but still a steady trickle of hikers and riders passing through. I saw quite a few vans like mine, which makes sense — the combination of paved access, level sites, and quiet nights works well for van travel.
Highlights: level, paved sites; forest setting with some edge-of-the-mountain views; easy access to trails from camp; quiet at night.
An open campsite at Mount Nebo State Park — winter made it easy to find a quiet, level site.
Layout: one main loop with a mix of electric and non-electric sites near restrooms and showers. Sites are clearly numbered and easy to navigate.
Reservations: reservable through Arkansas State Parks. Spring and fall weekends can fill; midweek and winter are usually quiet.
Why This Park Stands Out
The park is very clean and well managed, with a bit of a vintage feel from the older buildings and stone structures. The bathrooms aren’t modern, but they were very clean, which matters more to me than anything else.
One thing I noticed right away is how many small cabins there are around the top of the mountain, some looking straight out over the ridge. You can rent those, and there were also a few houses that made me wonder if people live up there full‑time.
Overall, Mount Nebo is one of the best state parks I’ve stayed in when it comes to how clean it is and how good it feels to be in — calm, quiet, and thoughtfully maintained.
Mountain Biking at Mount Nebo State Park
Mount Nebo State Park is one of the top destinations for Arkansas mountain biking, thanks to its Monument Trails network — over 25 miles of purpose‑built, sustainably designed singletrack built specifically for riding. The trails follow the natural shape of the mountain, with long climbs, bench‑cut traverses, and descents that run along rocky ridges and cliff edges above the Arkansas River Valley. A lot of the trail blends directly into the natural terrain, with rock gardens and features that feel like they’ve always been there rather than placed.
My bike parked at Sunrise Viewpoint on Mount Nebo — a quick stop at the rim before heading back to the trails.
I stopped here on my way out West to ski. Mountain biking is my first outdoor passion, and I’d heard Mount Nebo had rocky, technical riding carved into the terrain — enough to make it worth a stop.
Early January can be a great time to ride in the South, and that’s one of the big advantages of places like Arkansas — you can often ride year‑round, with temperatures staying above freezing most of the winter. This trip just happened to line up with a stretch of fog, drizzle, and damp weather. With so much exposed stone on these trails, wet rock isn’t a great mix for traction, and I rode more cautiously than usual.
The riding here is more about terrain and flow than speed — sustained climbs, controlled descents, and a steady mix of rock, roots, and dirt. It’s not a jump‑line or bike‑park system — it’s natural trail riding that feels closely tied to the mountain itself.
Trail highlights: rocky ridge riding with long views; bench‑cut singletrack that hugs the terrain; sustained climbs and descents; a mix of flow and technical features without feeling manufactured.
What I Rode and How It Rode
Because of the weather, I didn’t ride as much as I planned — but the one trail I did ride made the stop completely worth it.
Miller’s Goat was the standout for me, and I can’t wait to come back and ride it again. Like many of the trails here, it loops around the mountain's top, staying high and exposed to the terrain. It had a little bit of everything: rocky sections, tight singletrack weaving around massive boulders, what felt like the longest rock garden ever, and long open moments where you really feel how big the landscape is — even in January. I can only imagine how different it feels in summer when everything is green.
I also rode a short section of the Three C Trail, and for me it was just okay. Compared to the rest of the system, it felt more like a connector than a destination — not bad, just uneventful. That said, it’s still useful for linking parts of the network together.
On my next trip, I’ll definitely ride Miller’s Goat again. The other trails I’m most interested in are Chickalah Valley and Sunrise Loop. I’m curious about Lizard Trail too, but from what I’ve heard, it’s the kind of trail that a lot of people try and only a few clean, which makes me both interested and a little cautious.
Hiking the Rim Trail in the Fog
I ended up hiking the Rim Trail on one of the foggiest, mistiest days I was there — mostly because I couldn’t ride and still wanted to get out and explore.
The Rim Trail on a foggy, misting day — no views, but a quiet, atmospheric walk around the mountain.
I walked the full loop around the mountain, moving in and out of low cloud and light drizzle the entire time. You couldn’t see anything past the edge of the mountain — no valley, no distant ridgelines — just a white wall of fog that would open for a few seconds and then close back in again, with the cliffs appearing and disappearing as you walked. It wasn’t a “big views” kind of day — it was quiet, muted, and slow — but it made the Rim Trail feel more intimate and more about texture and atmosphere than scenery.
One of the Civilian Conservation Corps stone bridges and steps along the Rim Trail.
Even without clear views, the trail itself is worth walking. In places, it’s genuinely beautiful, with giant boulders, layered rock walls, and sections where the trail threads between stone and forest in a way that feels very specific to this mountain. It follows the edge of the mountain closely, with rock underfoot, short climbs and drops, and long stretches where you’re right up against the cliff edge or tucked back into the trees. It’s an easy, well-maintained trail, but it still feels like you’re moving through the shape of the mountain rather than just around it.
I didn’t plan to hike while I was here, but I’m glad I did — it turned out to be a good way to understand the park when riding wasn’t an option because of the weather.
The park is a very clean, well managed park. There is a vintage vibe to it with the older buildings. The bathroom are not modern per se but were very clean. One thing I did notice is that there are a lot of cute cabins around the top of the mountain looking out over the ridge you can rent. There were a few houses and I did not know if people lived up there too. But, overall, Nebo State Park is one of the best ones I have been to as far asl clean and aestheticlluy pleaseing too.
Use Trailforks Here
If you’re planning to ride at Mount Nebo, Trailforks is the easiest way to see the current trail map, check distances and elevation, and understand how the loops connect before you get there.
I like using Trailforks here because the system is spread out around the top of the mountain, and it’s helpful to see how trails like Miller’s Goat, Chickalah Valley, Sunrise Loop, and Lizard Trail relate to each other before choosing a route.
You can also see recent ride reports and trail conditions, which matters a lot here — wet rock changes how everything rides.
Plan Your Visit
If you’re planning a trip, the official park page has current trail conditions, campground availability, and any alerts or closures.
Find More of My Arkansas Travel Guides and Videos
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares gear she uses on real trips—from the Northwoods of Wisconsin to the Ozarks. She values quality and craftsmanship in everything she buys—from outdoor gear to everyday clothes and furniture. Her choices may seem expensive to some, but she believes in buying less and buying better. Longevity matters, both in terms of function and style. Her couch is five years old and still sold at Design Within Reach—that's the kind of timelessness she looks for. Some of the links in this review are affiliate links, which means she may earn a small commission if you buy through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps support her work. She only recommends gear she’d bring herself.
