A Howlin’ Good Time
Pedal your way through Howler Bike Park in Walnut Shade.
As urban legend would have it, a monstrous creature used to roam the forests of the Ozark Mountains: the howler. It was said to be as large as a bear and covered in orange fur. This creepy creature also inspired the logo and theme for Howler Bike Park in Walnut Shade. Supposedly, there are people today who still claim to have heard the howler’s call. Whether you believe the myth of the howler or not, Howler Bike Park has been giving thrills to adventurers since its opening in 2022.
With 14 trails, riders can choose their own adventure before getting on their bike. Bike trails include the Stroller Coaster, with road crossings and bridges, and Say Uncle, which contains an exciting, steep incline and is a hard-pedal trail for more experienced riders. You can also bike past the human-sized howler statue that lives on the compound.
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If visitors have never been to a bike park or do not have equipment of their own, Howler rents everything they may need for a day on the trails or weekend getaway, including bikes, helmets, and other protective gear.
Before opening Howler Bike Park, Max Penny and his family owned a bike shop in the Ozarks called Mountain Movement. A year after the bike shop opened, the family purchased the land in Walnut Shade that became Howler Bike Park. It started with the family creating a single trail through the forest and ramped up from there.
“It started pretty organic, like, ‘Okay, we’ll make a couple of trails for mountain biking and see who comes out,’ ” Max says.
Employees, dubbed “The Trail Crew,” maintain existing trails and work to create new ones. Max proudly takes part in the trailblazing endeavors, but outside of working the trails, he enjoys the people who visit.
“This is going to sound corny,” Max says, “but this is the truth. I love seeing when people come out, and maybe they’ve had a bad week, or they just haven’t had the best time in the world. They come out and are just so pumped that they got to escape from the woes of everyday life.”
To commemorate their adventure at Howler Bike Park, visitors can shop at the park’s store and purchase a branded T-shirt, a hat, or bike gear.
Not a biker? This family-owned business has something for everyone. At the park’s central hub, the Basecamp, visitors can grab food from the Growl Grill or a fresh coffee from Howler Coffee.
For those wanting to extend their adventure, there are also rentable places to stay on the grounds’ 200 acres, including tents, RV spots, and glamping tents.
And who knows? If you stay the night at Howler Bike Park, you might just catch a glimpse of its monstrous mascot, the howler.
• 3410 Highway 65, Walnut Shade • HowlerBikePark.com
This article was originally printed in the June 2026 issue of Missouri Life.
