New paths with soft surfaces for cyclists and hikers

Jonesboro, Arkansas – Craighead Forest Park already has over 13 miles of new soft surface paths, and work is anticipated to be finished by next week.

Workers are finishing up a new park extension. The soft surface trails will be formally opened by the city of Jonesboro on Tuesday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Pavilion 1.

The trail project received $800,000 from the city.

According to Danny Kapales, director of parks and recreation, mountain bikers and hikers would find the pathways ideal.

“They’re not made just for bikers,” Kapales said. “They are made for people who want to come out, hike, and enjoy nature in the park.”

Most of the trails, according to Kapales, are suitable for beginners.

“A little over 9 miles of those trails are green trails,” Kapales said.

The color-coding system for difficulty is similar to that of snow skiing. According to Kapales, green trails are the simplest, followed by blue and black. The hardest trails, according to him, are designated as double black diamonds. One DBD trail is only suitable for experts due to a 20-foot drop-off.
John Terrell, a seasoned mountain biker, has been coming to Craighead since 2010. The improved trails, he claimed, make riding quickly much more pleasurable.

“The old school trails had lots of roots and rocks, and now you can cruise and coast a lot faster,” Terrell said.

Even though large jumps and drops are among his favorite types of rides, Terrell claimed that the new trails are accessible to all skill levels.

“That jump is very hard to make but if you have all the things in between to get there, that’s what makes it kind of special,” Terrell said. “Anyone can ride there and learn to ride very well.”