Intermediate

Featuring the popular Western Don and Wiggins Way trails, our ‘Western Ways’ route at the Lake Wedington Recreation Area trail system is a popular all-weather Intermediate option. The rocky, undulating terrain in this heavily wooded pocket of the Ozark National Forest drains nicely – making it a destination for year-round riding.

Beginning from the trailhead, the route jogs across State Hwy 16 and into the day use area of the park. A quick right turn follows a pedestrian and bicycle path deeper into the 424-acre Recreation Area, where a short pedal down the Lake Wedington Entry Road leads to the beginner-friendly Wiggins Way trail. The next few miles skirt the picturesque southern shoreline of Lake Wedington before a series of switchbacks descends to the spillway. Completed in 1938 and amidst the Great Depression, the spillway is known for its large and often active waterfall.

The route continues back across the highway, where lush hardwood forests create a constant canopy over the Western Don loop. A 6-mile loop by itself, the route follows Western Don in a clockwise direction where rolling elevation and sometimes loose terrain make for a mostly intermediate (blue) mountain bike experience. After completing the loop, a quick left onto the Twisted Pines trail takes users back to the trailhead to complete the route.

Where to Park

Located just 13 miles west of Fayetteville, the Lake Wedington Recreation Area offers a paved trailhead for hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers just north of State Hwy 16. While most Lake Wedington’s facilities have remained closed since the onset of the pandemic, the 102-acre lake and picnic areas are open for day-use and the area continues to be a popular destination for flatwater kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and shoreline fishing.

With the restrooms and running water currently unavailable at Lake Wedington, cyclists should plan to self-support - carrying with them the nutrition and hydration necessary to complete the experience.