Things To Do on an eBike in Craighead County
Craighead County's riding is built around Craighead Forest Park, a city park on Crowley's Ridge with trails for beginners and for riders who want an all-day test.
The county has one sourced park and one nearby state park, so this guide stays short and is marked for an owner decision and not padded. Shops are on the eBike shops in Jonesboro page.
Where to ride in Craighead County
Crowley's Ridge is a long line of low wooded hills in the Delta flats, so the trails climb and drop through forest and not through open country.
Craighead County riding country: wooded hills of Crowley's Ridge near Jonesboro.
Distances come from the City of Jonesboro, which rounds its trail lengths. The state park page lists no biking, so it appears here only as a nearby stop.
1. Craighead Forest Park beginner trail
The beginner trail is inside the loop road, so riders can bail out onto pavement if they tire. Trailheads are at Access 5 and Access 6.
Distance: About 4 miles; start: Access 5 or Access 6 inside the loop road, Craighead Forest Park, Jonesboro; surface: Mountain-bike singletrack.
eBike access: The city page has no eBike policy, so call the parks office before riding a motor. Etiquette and planning: Hikers, runners, and horses use the park, so announce yourself at blind turns. Managing source: City of Jonesboro, Craighead Forest Park trails.
2. Craighead Forest Park advanced trail
The advanced trail starts behind the bathroom at Pavilion 1, winds around the south side of the park, and then connects to the beginner section. The city calls it a test for even the most seasoned rider.
Distance: 11.7 miles for the entire trail; start: Behind the bathroom at Pavilion 1; surface: Mountain-bike singletrack.
eBike access: The city page offers nothing on eBikes, so follow the statute unless a sign says otherwise. Etiquette and planning: Carry water, because it is a long ride with few places to leave early. Managing source: City of Jonesboro, Craighead Forest Park trails.
3. Craighead Forest Park paved loop road
The paved road circles the park and is the easiest way to see the lake without singletrack. The 2.4-mile chat trail along the lake's edge is for walkers and runners.
Distance: 3.2 miles of paved road; start: Craighead Forest Park, 3009 Dan Avenue area, Jonesboro; surface: Paved road.
eBike access: The city page states no eBike rule, and a paved park road follows bicycle rules under state law. Etiquette and planning: Cars use the road, so ride single file and watch for turning vehicles. Managing source: City of Jonesboro, Craighead Forest Park trails.
Planning a Craighead County ride
A good day is the beginner trail in the morning, lunch at a pavilion, and the paved loop in the afternoon. Save the advanced trail for a day with a full battery and full water bottles.
The state park lists the Walcott Lake Trail, the Dancing Rabbit Trail, the Lake Ponder Trail, and the Spider Creek Trail. Crowley's Ridge State Park is a pleasant add-on for a scenic stop, but its page lists no biking, so bring a walking plan and not a riding plan.
Craighead Forest Park, Crowley's Ridge State Park, and the Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center are the three named places in this guide. The Walcott Lake Trail and Spider Creek Trail at the state park are hiking trails, and the nature center is reached by three trails from the forest park.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day on the beginner trail: Ride Access 5 to Access 6 and loop back by the road.
Full day for experienced riders: Take the advanced trail from Pavilion 1.
Easy afternoon: Ride the 3.2-mile paved road.
What not to ride
ATV area: The northwest section is exclusive to ATV riders.
Horse-only trails: Horses are not allowed inside the loop road, and bikes share the other trails with them.
Midday summer rides: Delta summers are hot and humid, so ride early.
When to ride Craighead County
Winter is mild in Craighead, so the cool months are the main riding season, and summer is for early mornings only.
Shop hubs
Listings in Craighead County come from 2 towns. A town page gives the address and phone for every shop in that town.
Rental and tour operators
We found no rental listing for this county. Ask the shops on the Craighead County eBike shops whether a loaner or rental exists.
Arkansas eBike rules snapshot
Arkansas defines an electric bicycle in Arkansas Code § 27-51-1702, as enacted by Act 956 of 2017, as a bicycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. It sorts them into three classes. Class 1 assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 may move the bike on its own and cannot assist at 20 mph. Class 3 assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 28 mph.
Under § 27-51-1703 an electric bicycle gets the rights and duties of a bicycle, is not a motor vehicle, and is not subject to the title's insurance, licensing, registration, operator's license, or certificate-of-title rules. Under § 27-51-1705, a Class 1 or Class 2 bike may use a bicycle path or multi-use path where bicycles are permitted, but the local authority in charge of the path may prohibit them. A Class 3 may not use a bicycle path or multi-use path unless it is within or adjacent to a highway or roadway, or the local authority permits it.
Under § 27-51-1706, nobody under 16 may operate a Class 3 eBike, though a child under 16 may ride as a passenger on a Class 3 built to carry one. Any operator or passenger under 21 on a Class 3 must wear a helmet that meets 16 CFR part 1203, and a Class 3 must have a speedometer that shows miles per hour. The statute sets no helmet duty for Class 1 or Class 2, so read our Arkansas eBike laws guide, then the sign at the trailhead, because city and park rules can go further.
Section 27-51-1704 adds equipment duties for anyone buying or renting. An eBike must meet the federal bicycle standard at 16 CFR part 1512, and since January 1, 2018, manufacturers and distributors must permanently label each bike with its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Nobody may tamper with a bike to change its class unless the label is replaced to match. A Class 2 motor must disengage when the brakes are applied, and Class 1 and Class 3 motors must stop assisting when the rider stops pedaling.
Arkansas State Parks has its own rule, 22 CAR § 50-122. It allows Class 1 eBikes on state park trails designated for bicycles, allows Class 1, 2, and 3 on state park roads, and prohibits Class 2 and Class 3 on mountain-bike and multi-use bicycle trails.
We found no Jonesboro eBike rule on the park trails page, so all we can cite is the state statute. Crowley's Ridge State Park is governed by the Arkansas State Parks rule for trails.
Frequently asked questions
Which rides in Craighead County work well on an eBike?
Craighead Forest Park, with a paved loop for easy rides.
How long is the advanced trail?
The city says 11.7 miles.
What trails are at Crowley's Ridge State Park?
The state parks page lists the Walcott Lake Trail, the Dancing Rabbit Trail, the Lake Ponder Trail, and the Spider Creek Trail.
Where is the nature center?
The Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center is reached by three trails from Craighead Forest Park.
Is there a bike shop in Jonesboro?
Yes, the directory lists several, including Gearhead Outfitters and GHO Cycle House.
Is an eBike helmet the law?
A helmet is required on a Class 3 for anyone under 21, per § 27-51-1706. A park or city may set its own rule. See the Arkansas eBike laws guide.
All shops in Craighead County
5 listings across 2 cities are gathered on the Craighead County eBike shops page.