Cycling & running events in Little Rock, 2026

River Trails And Big Rock Legs

Running: Locals run the Arkansas River Trail when they want steady base miles without overthinking it. Emerald Park gives North Little Rock runners my favorite run: the Highland Trail, the Emerald Park Trail, and the Arkansas River Trail Loop. The Highland Trail runs behind the North Little Rock Veterans Administration Hospital on Big Rock Mountain. The single-track connector lets runners hop between the Highland Trails and the Arkansas River Trail. Conway Running Club keeps it friendly with weekly groups running 6-minute to 12-minute miles. Bigfoot Running Company shows up around the race scene. Little Rock Marathon anchors the calendar as a Boston Marathon qualifier, with Juneteenth in Da Rock 5K and SCORCHIN' SQUIRREL TRAIL RUN adding local flavor.

Cycling: Riders use the Arkansas River Trail as the spine of the metro. The Arkansas River Trail: Grand Loop runs 88 miles through Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, and Conway. Two Rivers Park gives cyclists Bike Fixit Stations when long Z2 turns into a little field repair. Mello Velo keeps the Little Rock club scene connected. Big Dam Bridge 100 is the big anchor event, with courses ranging from 15 to 105 miles. The River Classic follows the Big Dam Bridge 100 route in September. Big Rock Mountain gives North Little Rock the close-in climbing, and the Ouachita Mountains sit nearby for harder legs.

Season: June, July, August, and September are the best months here, and locals treat summer like a training block. SCORCHIN' SQUIRREL TRAIL RUN runs through Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center's 1200 acres, and the course brings significant incline plus water crossings in wet weather. Summer Meltdown Half Marathon runs on shaded paths, waterways, and rolling hills. Riders keep bottles full and use the river trail for early base miles before the heat gets loud. Winter changes the mood more than the routes. Ugly Sweater Race | 5K - Elf Dash lands on December 19, 2026, and both sports shift toward steadier miles and lower-key groups.