more stats
1.4 miles
Distance
160 ft
Climb
-201 ft
Descent
00:12:22
Avg time
-43 ft
Altitude change
1,142 ft
Altitude min
1,215 ft
Altitude max
1,190 ft
Altitude start
1,148 ft
Altitude end
-0.6%
Grade
-33.8%
Grade max
22%
Grade min
1,949 ft
Distance climb
3,202 ft
Distance down
2,195 ft
Distance flat
00:12:22
Avg time

Medusa Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Slaughter Pen Trails
    Bentonville, Arkansas
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (4 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in E-Biking
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 70 in Hiking
    • 65 in Gravel Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #75060 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #116230 in E-Biking
    • #135615 in Trail Running
    • #130715 in Hiking
    • #13154 in Gravel Biking
  • State Ranking
    #481 in Mountain Biking · Arkansas [+]
    • #729 in E-Biking
    • #579 in Trail Running
    • #555 in Hiking
    • #123 in Gravel Biking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat, CX, Gravel
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    • Both Directions for E-Biking
    • Both Directions for Trail Running
    • Both Directions for Hiking
    • Both Directions for Gravel Biking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Jan - Dec
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge, Jump, Ladder Bridge, Log Ride, Rock Garden, Skinny

Medusa is part of the Slaughter Pen Trail system and is the highest on the hill so climbing is required to access the trail. The trails are wide and well marked.

Most of the trail is cross country type riding and many of the more difficult features have an alternate line. The trail starts at the the SE end with an optional elevated catwalk that is about 18-24" wide. The trail traverses the length of the hill and does merge briefly with Tatamagouche (stay on the uphill side to continue Medusa). A right turn at the northern end of the trail leads to the the Slaughter Pen DH Flow trail.

A "less experienced rider" hitting all the major features of Medusa would probably consider the trail a difficult black diamond, but seasoned riders will find it to be a good intermediate challenge. It is a great place to gain confidence and experience.

Tags
BoardwalkBridgesJumpsRock gardensSkinnies
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 10 rides
  • 14 miles average
6 Months
  • 207 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 1,738 rides
  • Last: Oct 19, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Status:
on Apr 1, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.08 (18 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (11,575)
close
      Directions to medusa trailhead (36.410910, -94.214630)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      42 more »
      mtb
      61 |
      Mar 15, 2026 @ 1:16pm
      Mar 15, 2026
      mtb
      79 |
      Mar 15, 2026 @ 1:14pm
      Mar 15, 2026
      mtb
      76 |
      May 27, 2025 @ 7:28am
      May 27, 2025
      mtb
      169 |
      Nov 4, 2023 @ 8:38pm
      Nov 4, 2023
      Boardwalk 2Bridges 1

      Videos

      3 more »
      Medusa - Slaughter Pen
      mtb
      10:59 | 445 | May 31, 2024 , Bentonville
      Snaky Skinny Fail
      mtb
      0:09 | 617 | Apr 29, 2021 , Bentonville
      A little bit of Slaughter Pen
      mtb
      3:11 | 1019 | Nov 8, 2017 , Bentonville

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      236
      Tour de SlaughterPen - BWTH
      ★ 5.0 • 17 miles • 1,986 ft • 36 • Loop •
      This route hits most of my Slaughter Pen favorites.
      1215
      Wildebeest Route
      ★ 5.0 • 154 miles • 16,667 ft • 120 •
      This is my plan for the 2021 Bentonville Trail Challenge.
      938
      Payson's Bentonville Trail Challenge
      ★ 3.5 • 138 miles • 12,933 ft • 95 •
      This is the route Payson McElveen posted on his strava for the Bentonville trail challenge 2021.
      4.1 ★★★★★
      18 Ratings
      5 ★ 33%
      4 ★ 50%
      3 ★ 11%
      2 ★ 6%
      1 ★

      7 Reviews & Comments

      PaulR13
      I thought this was the most fun trail in this section of Slaughter Pen. Flows well, lots of up and down but no real momentum crushing, leg burning climbs.
      scyra
      Don't waste your time up here. Ride Jesse's last stand and the all-american jump line, then ride the gravel path to Medieval, etc.
      zstover
      I did not enjoy this trail. Made a poor choice with so many better choices available.

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      Nearby Trails

      Slaughter Pen Trails

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Medusa located?
      Medusa is located in Slaughter Pen Trails, Bentonville, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Slaughter Pen Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 36.41091, -94.21463.
      ▼ How hard is Medusa?
      Medusa is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 0.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Medusa?
      Medusa has 160 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 201 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,142 ft to 1,215 ft.
      ▼ Is Medusa a point to point trail?
      Medusa is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Medusa?
      Medusa is 1.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Medusa?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Medusa. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Medusa?
      Medusa is best visited during: Jan - Dec.
      ▼ How do I access Medusa? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Medusa are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Medusa?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 12 minutes to ride Medusa. The trail is 1.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Medusa?
      Medusa is a moderately popular trail. There have been 11,111 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 11,575 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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