Things to Do Near Loch Lomond

On the Water: Seven Lakes, One Focus

Loch Lomond is the largest and most recreation-capable of Bella Vista's seven POA lakes. Wake sports -- waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, wake surfing -- happen here and on Lakes Windsor and Ann. Loch Lomond's size makes it the default destination for anyone with a wake boat. The main bay has enough straight-line distance for ski runs and enough width for counterclockwise rotation. The coves are no-wake zones where paddling, kayaking, and calm-water fishing happen on a different timescale from the main channel energy.

Beyond Loch Lomond itself, Bella Vista's six other lakes (Windsor, Ann, Avalon, Norwood, Rayburn, and Lake Bella Vista) offer variety: Lake Avalon has a sandy beach and swimming area; Lake Ann is a second all-sport lake with a smaller, friendlier character; the no-wake lakes offer tranquil paddling and bank fishing. As a POA member with an Activity Card, all seven lakes are accessible. You are not limited to the one nearest your house.

Trails: The Back 40 and the NWA Trail System

Northwest Arkansas has built itself into one of the premier trail destinations in the United States. This is not regional hype -- the Back 40 trail system in Bella Vista is recognized nationally among mountain bikers for its quality, variety, and sustained investment. The trail network runs through the Ozark hardwood forest in Bella Vista with singletrack ranging from beginner-friendly routes to technical expert terrain. Trail names like Tunnel Vision, Flo Ride, and Go Ride are not just local landmarks -- they draw riders from across the country for events and group trips.

The OZ Trails Bike Park, announced for opening in summer 2026 near Bella Vista, represents the continued Walton family investment in the NWA trail ecosystem. The park adds built features and lift-assisted options to the existing gravity and cross-country network -- a significant upgrade for the region's already strong mountain biking credentials.

The Razorback Greenway -- a 40-mile paved path connecting seven Northwest Arkansas communities from Bella Vista through Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville -- connects directly to Bella Vista's trail system at Blowing Springs. This greenway is the spine of the NWA non-motorized recreation network. From Loch Lomond, riders and walkers can access it via the Branchwood Nature Trail and its connections to the broader Back 40 system.

For hikers rather than mountain bikers, Blowing Springs Park in Bella Vista offers a creekside trail with a natural spring that is particularly spectacular in spring and fall. The Tanyard Creek Trail near Lake Avalon includes a waterfall section. These are moderate, accessible hikes appropriate for all fitness levels.

Golf: Seven Courses, Included in Your POA Membership

Bella Vista has seven POA golf courses. This is an unusual concentration for any community of its size: Berksdale, Brittany, Dogwood, Highlands, Kingsdale, Scotsdale, and Metfield. POA members with Activity Cards pay minimal green fees -- $18 for 9 holes, $33 for 18 at the standard courses, less for Brittany. Annual golf membership plans reduce fees further. For serious golfers, the diversity of courses prevents any single layout from feeling repetitive, and the combination of wooded Ozark terrain and well-maintained turf creates genuinely enjoyable rounds.

Scotsdale Golf Course is the most immediately convenient to Loch Lomond, positioned in the Highlands section near the lake. The Highlands Pub and Patio, also near Loch Lomond, makes the traditional post-round drink an easy continuation of the morning. The BV Bar and Grill serves as the 19th hole for other courses across the community.

Bentonville and Crystal Bridges: 15 Minutes from the Dock

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is 15 to 20 minutes from Loch Lomond via US-71. It is the primary reason Bentonville receives visitors from across the country and internationally -- a world-class institution with a permanent collection spanning American art from the colonial era through today, housed in Moshe Safdie's remarkable building set into a ravine with natural water features. Admission is free. The museum's trails connect to Bentonville's downtown via the Crystal Bridges Trail.

The Momentary, Crystal Bridges' contemporary venue a few miles away, runs a year-round program of concerts, performances, visual art installations, and events that give Bentonville a genuine cultural calendar. Residents of Loch Lomond have consistent access to programming -- theatrical events, music, art openings -- that most communities of Bentonville's size do not approach.

The Walmart campus in Bentonville -- opened with its gleaming 350-acre expansion in 2025 -- brings regular events, guest speakers, and public programming to the community. Bentonville's downtown square has evolved into a destination in its own right, with independent retail, coffee shops, and restaurants filling historic buildings around the plaza.

Recreation Center Facilities

Branchwood Recreation Center on Glasgow Road is the most immediately accessible POA facility for Loch Lomond residents. It includes an indoor pool, fitness equipment, group exercise, and seasonal programming. Activity Card holders use it included -- no per-visit charge. The Bella Vista Recreation Center (BVRC) on Riordan Drive provides a second indoor fitness facility. Kingsdale Pool and Metfield Pool are the outdoor swimming destinations in the community.

The POA also maintains a gun range (rifle, pistol, trap, and skeet), a disc golf course near Tanyard Creek, an RV park, and multiple pavilion rental spaces for private events. The community infrastructure is genuinely broad -- Bella Vista was designed to be a self-contained resort community, and the POA maintains that comprehensive amenity vision even as the city has grown into a primary-residence market.

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport: 25 Minutes

Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Bentonville is approximately 25 minutes from Loch Lomond. XNA serves direct flights to American Airlines, United, Delta, and Southwest hubs, with nonstop service to Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, and other connecting cities. For buyers who need regular air travel -- whether for business, to visit family in other regions, or to return to a home market -- the airport proximity is a practical everyday-life advantage that many comparable lake markets do not offer.