Four Unique Ecosystems Near Downtown Bentonville

You don't have to drive deep into the Ozarks to discover Arkansas's natural beauty. It's waiting just beyond downtown Bentonville! Within just a couple of miles of the square, Peel Compton Foundation stewards four unique ecosystems: a botanical garden, an accredited arboretum, a native Ozark woodland, and a thriving wetland. Together, they offer one of the most diverse outdoor experiences in Northwest Arkansas, all within easy walking, biking, or driving distance.

Whether you're a gardener, birder, photographer, mountain biker, or simply looking for a peaceful afternoon outdoors, each destination offers a completely different way to experience nature in Bentonville, Arkansas!

Peel Museum & Botanical Garden

Ecosystem: Botanical Garden

Distance from Bentonville Square: 1 mile

Surrounding the beautifully restored 1875 Peel Museum, the Peel Museum & Botanical Garden is a certified botanical garden where history and horticulture grow side by side. Inspired by Victorian-era gardens while thoughtfully adapted for today's visitors, the gardens feature a mix of ornamental plantings, heirloom varieties, native species, and pollinator-friendly flowers that change with the seasons.

As you wander the pathways, you'll discover colorful blooms, carefully designed garden spaces, and quiet places to slow down and appreciate the beauty of Northwest Arkansas. Every season offers something new, making each visit a little different from the last.

Plants to look for

• Trees: Heritage apple trees, Eastern Redbud, Dogwood, Yellowwood Tree
• Shrubs: Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Boxwood 
• Flowers: Roses, Daylilies, Irises, Cosmos, Snapdragons 
• Pollinator Plants: Milkweed, Bee Balm, Salvia 
• Edibles: Herbs and heirloom vegetables 

Wildlife to look for

• Pollinators: Monarch butterflies, Swallowtail butterflies, Native bees, Bumblebees 
• Birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Cardinals, Goldfinches, Carolina Wrens 
• Other Wildlife: Eastern cottontail rabbits, Frogs, Lizards 

Don't miss: The Heritage Apple Orchard, seasonal blooms that make every visit unique, and be sure to take a free tour inside the Peel Museum!

Compton Gardens & Arboretum

Ecosystem: Arboretum

Distance from Bentonville Square: 0.3 miles

Just a short walk from the downtown square, Compton Gardens & Arboretum preserves the vision of Dr. Neil Compton, the physician, conservationist, and leader of the movement to establish America's first national river, the Buffalo National River. Today, the 6.5-acre property is recognized as a Level II Arboretum and showcases the beauty and diversity of Arkansas's native trees and plants.

Shaded walking paths wind beneath mature hardwoods and through thoughtfully curated native plant collections. The landscape feels peaceful year-round, whether spring wildflowers are blooming, summer butterflies are visiting native plants, or colorful leaves brighten the trails in autumn.

Plants to look for

• Trees: Black Walnut, Red Mulberry, Magnolia, Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, Sassafras 
• Shrubs: Leatherwood, Viburnum, Red Buckeye 
• Grasses: Northern Sea Oats, Cherokee Sedge, Prairie Dropseed, Pink Muhly 
• Wildflowers: Virginia Bluebells, Celandine Poppy, White Violet, Purple Coneflower, Milkweed 

Wildlife to look for

• Birds: Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch 
• Pollinators: Butterflies and native bees 
• Mammals: White-tailed Deer, Groundhogs, Eastern Gray Squirrels 

Don't miss: The Dr. Neil Compton Exhibit Room inside, and the peaceful woodland trails beneath the native tree canopy.

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

Ecosystem: Woodland

Distance from Bentonville Square: 1.8 miles

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve protects hundreds of acres of classic Ozark woodland just minutes from downtown Bentonville. While many visitors know Coler for its world-class mountain biking, the preserve is equally remarkable as a natural landscape filled with mature forests, flowing creeks, rocky bluffs, and diverse wildlife habitat.

Towering oaks and hickories shade the trails, while limestone outcroppings, seasonal wildflowers, and native understory plants reveal the geology and ecology that define the Ozarks. Coler also became the first certified Firefly Sanctuary west of the Mississippi River, highlighting the preserve's commitment to protecting healthy natural habitats.

Whether you're hiking, riding, or simply relaxing beside the creek, you'll experience one of the most beautiful woodlands in Northwest Arkansas.

Plants to look for

• Trees: Oaks, Hickories, Eastern Red Cedar, Eastern Redbud, Pawpaw, Flowering Dogwood, Sycamore 
• Wildflowers: Spiderwort, Butterfly Weed, Dense Blazing Star, Kalm's St. John's Wort, Black-eyed Susan, Phlox 
• Woodland Plants: Ferns, Mosses, Native understory plants 

Wildlife to look for

• Insects: Fireflies 
• Birds: Red-tailed Hawks, Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, Woodpeckers 
• Animals: White-tailed Deer, Barred Owls, Crayfish, Box Turtles 

Don't miss: Exploring the Firefly Sanctuary, enjoying the creek at the Homestead, and stopping at Airship Coffee.

Osage Park

Ecosystem: Wetland

Distance from Bentonville Square: 1.5 miles

Osage Park showcases one of Bentonville's most vibrant wetland ecosystems. Boardwalks and walking trails wind through restored habitat where water, prairie, and native vegetation come together to support an incredible variety of wildlife.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They filter water, reduce flooding, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and support thousands of plant and animal species. At Osage Park, visitors can observe these natural processes while enjoying scenic overlooks and accessible pathways.

Birdwatchers especially love Osage Park, where migratory birds join year-round residents throughout the seasons.

Plants to look for

• Wetland Plants: Cattails, Spikerush, Soft Rush, Woolgrass 
• Prairie Grasses: Big Bluestem, Indiangrass 
• Wildflowers: American Lotus, Swamp Milkweed, Great Blue Lobelia, Pickerelweed, Prairie Blazing Star, Purple Coneflower 

Wildlife to look for

• Pollinators: Native bees, Dragonflies, Butterflies 
• Birds: Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, Canada Geese, Red-winged Blackbirds 
• Animals: Beavers, Muskrats, Painted Turtles, Frogs 

Don't miss: The boardwalk overlooks, birdwatching opportunities, and peaceful sunsets across the wetlands.

Four Ecosystems. Endless Discovery.

Few communities offer the chance to explore a botanical garden, an accredited arboretum, a native woodland, and a thriving wetland all within a couple of miles of downtown. Together, these four Peel Compton Foundation properties showcase the remarkable diversity of nature in Bentonville while protecting important habitats for native plants and wildlife.

The next time you're looking for nature in Bentonville, challenge yourself to visit all four. You'll experience colorful gardens, towering native trees, rugged woodland trails, and peaceful wetlands, each offering its own perspective on the landscapes that make Northwest Arkansas so special!

You may come for one ecosystem, but you'll leave wanting to explore them all!