Syllamo: Bad Branch Trail (BBL, Syllamo Trail System)
Mountain Biking Trail
Moderate
11.88 mi
829 ft
Bad Branch is the easiest—and flowiest!—trail in the Syllamo Trail System.
The Bad Branch Loop (BBL) is one of five trails in the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail System. Together these interconnecting loops make up 50 miles of mountain bike trail that IMBA recognized as being an outstanding, destination-worthy mountain bike trail to assign it Epic status.
Most of the Syllamo trails are singletrack; however, there are sections where the trails follow old abandoned ATV trails. Over 70% of the trails are over rocky, rugged, and demanding terrain.
The trails can be accessed from four different trailheads, plus using a connector trail out of Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and Campground. Three trailheads are on Green Mountain Road and the fourth is on AR Highway 5 North.
The BBL trailhead is located on Green Mountain Road. The recommended direction to ride this trail is clockwise, so the fun part will come early, before you wear your legs out. There is a payback towards the end. The trail follows RED markers on brown carsonite posts.
This is the most recent trail constructed in the Syllamo Trail System, and this trail also requires the least amount of elevation gain. That helps make the BBL the most beginner friendly trail in the network.
Where some of the other trails followed ATV trails, the red BBL trail is all bench-cut and fast and flowy.
I have read several reports on the lack of maintenance for the Syllamo Trails in recent years. In defense of the trails, when considering the remote area of the state where the trails are located, and being situated in the heart of the Ozarks, there are no large cities to pull help from. However, as of the fall of 2018, with the volunteer efforts of people like Denny Hess and others, the trail is currently in pretty good shape. I have also heard there might be some financial support to pay crews to keep up the trails. So don’t base your decision to visit the trails on outdated reports. Written by Bob Robinson
The Bad Branch Loop (BBL) is one of five trails in the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail System. Together these interconnecting loops make up 50 miles of mountain bike trail that IMBA recognized as being an outstanding, destination-worthy mountain bike trail to assign it Epic status.
Most of the Syllamo trails are singletrack; however, there are sections where the trails follow old abandoned ATV trails. Over 70% of the trails are over rocky, rugged, and demanding terrain.
The trails can be accessed from four different trailheads, plus using a connector trail out of Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and Campground. Three trailheads are on Green Mountain Road and the fourth is on AR Highway 5 North.
The BBL trailhead is located on Green Mountain Road. The recommended direction to ride this trail is clockwise, so the fun part will come early, before you wear your legs out. There is a payback towards the end. The trail follows RED markers on brown carsonite posts.
This is the most recent trail constructed in the Syllamo Trail System, and this trail also requires the least amount of elevation gain. That helps make the BBL the most beginner friendly trail in the network.
Where some of the other trails followed ATV trails, the red BBL trail is all bench-cut and fast and flowy.
I have read several reports on the lack of maintenance for the Syllamo Trails in recent years. In defense of the trails, when considering the remote area of the state where the trails are located, and being situated in the heart of the Ozarks, there are no large cities to pull help from. However, as of the fall of 2018, with the volunteer efforts of people like Denny Hess and others, the trail is currently in pretty good shape. I have also heard there might be some financial support to pay crews to keep up the trails. So don’t base your decision to visit the trails on outdated reports. Written by Bob Robinson
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red loop clockwise | 11.31 mi | -197 ft | -0.1% |
| Bad Branch CW | 12.07 mi | -203 ft | -0.0% |
| So take this trail allll the way to the road... | 3.87 mi | 217 ft | 0.1% |
| Right Said Red | 0.90 mi | -203 ft | -4.2% |
| Big Red Enduro | 0.72 mi | -354 ft | -9.2% |
| Red Segment East of Green Mnt | 2.29 mi | 272 ft | 2.2% |
| Way Down in Arkansas | 0.47 mi | -75 ft | -3.0% |
| I think I left a Snickers in the car! | 0.71 mi | -141 ft | -3.7% |
| Finale Climb on CW Red | 0.56 mi | 128 ft | 4.2% |