~ Joe
Iron Mountain is one of the great fun mountain bike rides in Arkadelphia, Arkansas (USA). Not too hard and not too easy with about 1600 feet (488 meters) in elevation. I had the opportunity to ride the Iron Mountain bike trails over Easter weekend while camping out at Lake DeGray campgrounds. May the following information enhance your ride experience and avoid the pitfalls I encountered navigating the trail routes.
Who would name their children this?
There are 6 trail loops (some named tongue-and-cheek). They are marked with painted swatches on tree trunks at riding height level. There is signage at trail intersections such as Yellow Snow, Jolly Green Giant, Clockwork Orange, Blue Bayou, Pink Cadillac and The White Zone. Along with the trail intersection signs are signs with letter designations to guide you along the trails to show your progress.

Iron Mountain loops
There are six trailheads to park and start at different colored loops with exception of the White Zone Trail. Spillway Trailhead starts you at the Yellow Snow. Lower Mountain Trailhead starts you either on the Yellow Snow or Jolly Green Giant. The popular Upper Mountain Trailhead starts you onto the Jolly Green Giant or Clockwork Orange. The Corp Trailhead starts you at Clockwork Orange. The Campground Trailhead starts you on Blue Bayou or Pink Cadillac. Iron Mountain Marina starts you at the Pink Cadillac. Stop by the Iron Mountain Visitor’s Center for a map and directions of the trailheads.
Taking a spin onto the Yellow Snow!
I started at the Spillway Trailhead to ride all the loops. You may opt to just do one loop or combination thereof. A half-day is ample time for an intermediate rider to cover the whole route of about 23 miles. The Pink Cadillac trail is just a short straight cut through to the Iron Mountain Marina comprising of camping area, cottages and marina. Unless you are camping or parked there I would skip that section.
Starting out from the Spillway Mountain Trailhead, you start the climb on the yellow trail with switchbacks. The climb is not brutal with the highest at 1609 feet elevation level to the dam, but has enough switchbacks and downhill sections to reward your climb to the Lower Mountain Trailhead. You may loop back on the yellow to the Spillway Trailhead, but as I’ll explain later you will need to travel the blacktop to get to the Yellow Snow trailhead return entry point.
Good Golly Jolly Green Giant
Going to the Jolly Green Giant Trailhead entry point, the combined elevation gain is about 900 feet along all the remaining loops. The clerk at the Iron Mountain Visitor’s Center told me I needed to cross the bridge. After the bridge, you will need to ride about 200 meters of blacktop following the road bend to the right, past two guardrail sections of the road. Then proceed to the left to a small open field, and the green trailhead sign will be to the left on a sloping hillside. I started counter clockwise and right into it I missed the rock ledge jump climbing the trail as part of the Jolly Green Giant Rock Gardens. Take the green trail on your return clockwise to get some big air on the rock ledge or counterclockwise for a fast and flowy ride with a couple of challenging rock gardens to maneuver through. I am glad I skipped the jump else I would have been cashing in early on a disability policy. Since I was riding solo there was no one to egg me on.

Jolly Green Giant Rock Gardens
The green trail has several degrees of difficulty in challenging rock garden terrain by riding counterclockwise or clockwise to pick a line to ride thru and challenge yourself to staying upright. The green trail on the return counterclockwise offers sweet fast flowing s-turns.
A lettered “H” checkpoint sign is placed in the intersection of green trail for a progress check or bailout back to Lower Mountain Trailhead. I continued on the green counterclockwise to the Upper Mountain Trailhead.
Counter Clockwise the Clockwork Orange
The Upper Mountain Trailhead connects to the fast flowing single track s-turns of Clockwork Orange Trail and forest canopies. By riding counterclockwise, I encountered a couple of cut thru shortcuts which may be tempting to take, but take the full route to the far right.
At the next intersection, checkpoint “K” routes you to Blue Bayou, The White Zone and finishes the Clockwork Orange Loop.
Wooo Hooo– the Blue Bayou
Entering the Blue Bayou counterclockwise offers stream crossings, peeks of the lake view through the trees, flowing trails and slight climbs. Checkpoint M parallels the blacktop road and provides access to the Pink Cadillac trail to Iron Mountain Marina. I skipped the marina and continued along Blue Bayou. Along the trail an intersection opportunity appears for either clockwise or counterclockwise to an outer loop. Finishing out the blue provides a challenging opportunity to ride a small uphill rock garden section. Pick a line and maintain momentum and balance to finish the Blue Bayou.
Don’t zone out on the White Zone
Enter the The White Zone and you will find numerous photo opportunities.

Gorgeous Lake DeGray, Arkansas
For a first run, take the time soak in the lake views and that trails that follow the contours of the lake as seen in the video.
After taking the downhill s-turns, the return loop will reward you with not to strenuous climbs. I bumped into a local area riding group who mentioned it was relatively flat compared to other Arkansas trails. As a flat terrain rider from Memphis, I would disagree but in the context of riding Arkansas EPIC rides in the Upper Buffalo and Syllamo, Iron Mountain trails are not as hilly (read Ride the EPIC-Rated Syllamo Mountain Bike Trails).
There is another checkpoint O to bailout or add miles and additional lake views. I continued counterclockwise to eliminate any route confusion on outer loop to the checkpoint O intersection.
Exiting out The White Zone you will return back to the intersection checkpoints N and L. Proceed to the Clockwork Orange loop with a short remaining uphill section to finish out to the Upper Mountain Trailhead.
Green with Envy
The return trip (counterclockwise on the Jolly Green Giant) offers awesome downhill runs and two sections for a challenging rock garden ride. I rode the rock garden green sections twice. For the first run I took a left onto the rock garden challenge and slow walked it as shown in video below.
Here is a glimpse of the second rock garden challenge that you encounter when turning right.
Finish out the Jolly Green Giant by riding back out to the blacktop. Ride pass the guardrails sections and bridge to take one last glance of the Lake Degray dam view.

Lower Mountain TrailHead Lake Degray Dam Bridge
Where is Checkpoint C in the Yellow Snow?
Ok, I have to admit I am a terrible navigator. Ask my family. Although the Lower Mountain Trailhead signs offer guide information, finding the checkpoint C entry point was challenging for me since it does not directly connect after the Jolly Green Giant Trail.
On the return ride to the Yellow Snow Trail, I glanced at the map at the Lower Mountain Trailhead. It wasn’t apparent to me where the entry point back to yellow was located. The first leg of the yellow trail exits at checkpoint B onto an blacktop intersection comprising of a restricted entry gated fire road, entry to the Jolly Green Giant across the dam bridge, an exit to the main road and a road entry to the a boat ramp and maintenance fire road. Taking the restricted gated fire road climbs towards the dam, but did not present a checkpoint C sign.
Going the opposite way towards the boat ramp and maintenance fire road appeared promising, but the fire road and a mile riding into it, did not offer the elusive checkpoint C sign either. Finally I decided to follow the exit towards the main road and at 200 meters was the elusive checkpoint C Trailhead entrance sign. Be on the lookout for checkpoint C on the left side of the road. While riding the second leg of the yellow trail it appeared to be under construction with old sections of the single track trail marked by yellow swatches on the tree trunks running parallel with a temporary maintenance fire road. I continued following the fire road to the right and the painted yellow markers to return along a valley between two ridges curving along the fire road.
If you have the opportunity to visit Hot Springs or camp at Lake DeGray, take the time to ride Iron Mountain and experience the fast and flowing trails, challenging rock garden sections, and natural beauty of Lake DeGray up close.
So are you a mountain biker? Please share by commenting below! Any questions? Please ask!
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Leah
April 26, 2017 8:24 amReally cool post and videos. It’s such an underrated area!
Leah
Pack Your Baguios
May 1, 2017 5:58 pmLeah thanks so much for your post! Arkansas has grown up to live up to its name as the “Natural State” with so many hiking, biking, lakes etc. with support by WalMart and local volunteers make the area a place to visit. Thanks for sharing your professional and off duty journey of nursing. Darn amazing and the antidote and balance is the travel. Thanks from packyourbaguios
Alice Chen
April 26, 2017 8:53 pmThese trails have such colorful names! It’s probably nice to keep them straight though. The Lake DeGray looks beautiful!!
Cat
April 27, 2017 8:40 pmGreat details! This sounds like an awesome time. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tracy
April 28, 2017 6:58 amNot a mountain biker ? but wow what amazing trails (love the names – yellow snow is my favourite lol) What great views too!!
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:31 amA lot of mountain bike trails are multi-use trails, so you can hike them, too!
jithin
April 28, 2017 8:59 amSounds like an interesting place. Iron mountains have many beautiful trails it seems. Definitely a great place for bikers. Wanna visit here when coming to the US. Very informative description.
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:35 amThanks! We hope you can get to that beautiful area in Arkansas.
Anna Sherchand
April 28, 2017 9:51 amI haven’t been to USA yet but the bike trails looks pretty fun. I will pass on to my friend’s over there. Keep exploring.
Pack Your Baguios
May 1, 2017 6:42 pmThanks Anna for your post. You will be amazed what bike trails are in your back yard of Australia as well as the U.S. Checkout mtbprojects.com which offers a trail directory. Would love to cycle internationally when I have the opportunity. Thanks from packyourbaguios.
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:38 amArkansas’s nickname is “The Natural State”. If you have friends who love the outdoors, send them that way!
Barry
April 28, 2017 4:40 pmGreat stuff – I love mountain biking and riding on off-road trails. Not visited Arkansas but it looks like a tidy spot with some nice outdoor places.
Pack Your Baguios
May 1, 2017 6:21 pmBarry thanks for the post. I was checking mtbproject.com and I was shocked that I have not ridden a dent into the 288 available trails in Arkansas! Great volunteer groups and support by local business provide pristine and well designed trails as well as the backcountry experience. Hope you get the opportunity to visit Arkansas and bring your bike! Thanks from packyourbaguios
Shona @ paraphernalia.co
April 29, 2017 7:28 amHow much fun were you having, Joe? Clearly, quite a lot! Someone was also having a bit of fun with the colour coded trail names. Great post!
Pack Your Baguios
May 1, 2017 6:36 pmThanks Shona. It was a darn rootin’ tootin’ adventure and ending the ride with the local microbrew beers of the area put makes the end of day. Thanks for sharing your corner of the world which we find there is not enough time and so much to see still! Thanks from packyourbaguios.
Angie (FeetDoTravel)
April 29, 2017 10:00 pmI love these trail names! So original! My husband would absolutely love this, when we lived in the UK he would toddle off with his bike and would be happy as a pig in poop cycling trails but I confess I am a little bit more of a scaredy-cat lol. Great video and loved the information, thanks for sharing. #feetdotravel
Paul and Carole
April 30, 2017 2:22 amThis looks a lot of fun! We have not visited a lot of the USA but this looks a great area, and your post is full of useful information. #feetdotravel
Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
May 1, 2017 9:04 amNow that is a fun adventure with some difficult trails for bike riding. Great trail information and videos. The views are amazing. Not sure if I could ride some of those trails through the rocks now that is crazy fun. I pinned this and thanks for sharing 🙂 #feetdotravel
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:45 amWe appreciate you sharing the post!
Lolo
May 1, 2017 12:26 pmLooks like a lovely place for some extreme biking! #feetdotravel
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:48 amIron Mountain draws mountain bikers from all over the country. We already have plans for a quick return!
Anna Schlaht
May 2, 2017 7:23 amWow, I love this! Looks like an amazing place to spend some time in nature. <3 We're huge hiking fans ourselves, but we're actually never considered riding bike trails. Definitely something we'll need to add to our bucket list. Especially here; that lake is breathtaking! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Pack Your Baguios
May 3, 2017 2:45 pmHi Anna. All the mountain bike trails are multi use too with signs prohibiting electric bikes and horses. So the trails are hiker friendly as well as the riders. I enjoy hiking, but took to mt bike to cover more ground and still enjoy the scenic view and experience. Hope you have the opportunity to hike or ride … from packyourbaguios
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:50 amA lot of mountain bike trails are multi-purpose trails. Great for either hiking or riding your bike!
Lisa
May 3, 2017 4:21 pmI agree, Arkansas is underrated as a great place to visit. Looks like you found some a beautiful spot here. We have been a couple of times and there are great hiking/biking places all over the state. Bull Shoals area is very scenic.
Kristof
May 4, 2017 2:39 pmLooks pretty challenging with the rocks! We don’t have so many rocks here in Belgium so have no experience riding them. Seems like a pretty fun track though! Thanks for the great overview!
Sandy N Vyjay
May 4, 2017 8:03 pmWell, that is some kind of trail that is hard to pronounce. what I like about the trail is how colorful and beautiful the view and the feel that it provides. That you may not even feel what time it is already.
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 9:55 amWe tend to lose track of time when we’re in the great outdoors. It’s hard to not keep going when you’re out on a trail. Each bend in the trail brings out the question of “What’s around that corner?”
Travel Lexx
May 6, 2017 5:31 amIt’s so cool that there are so many dedicated bike trails in the area and I would definitely love to check these out. I’ve never really tried mountain biking on tougher terrain but it’s something that I definitely want to get into especially as I also now have a GoPro! Arkansas is one of the states I haven’t been able to make it to on my previous visit so this is definitely on my list now!
Pack Your Baguios
May 9, 2017 10:47 amArkansas has sunk a lot of money into keeping its “Natural State” nickname. You have to come and experience it with the GoPro!
Siddharth and Shruti
May 12, 2017 1:27 amSo amazing! Looks like such an amazing place for bike trails. The Jolly Green Giant looks quite challenging. The white zone feels like a place to relax and reward yourself with photo ops after a hard day of biking. #feetdotravel
Agness of aTukTuk
May 13, 2017 9:02 amI would love to cycle this place. So breath-taking!