The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art hosts Drop-in Trail Tours so museum guests can experience and learn about the flora and fauna of the grounds, as well as architecture and outdoor sculpture. Trail Tours are seasonal and will run through December 16, 2012, weather permitting. The Tours accommodate up to 20 guests on a first come, first serve basis.
Trail surfaces and terrain will vary and strollers, bicycles and wheelchairs are not recommended. Make sure to wear comfortable hiking footwear. Tours are between 60 and 90 minutes long, depending on the trail and season. There are two different tours available:
Tulip Tree Trail Tour. Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The Tour meets at the Museum’s South Lobby.
Rockledge Trail Tour. Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. The Tour meets outside at Walker Landing.
Located at 600 Museum Way in Bentonville, the museum is about a one hour drive from our Eureka Springs Inn. Reviews on Trip Advisor indicate that the trials are part of the special experience at Crystal Bridges Museum. One visitor from August 2012 says “Don’t miss the outdoor trails, which have pieces of art on them as well!” While another visitor from last month says “The outside (gardens, architecture of the museum, trails) is an integral part of the experience.”
In the early part of summer Jan and I spent one afternoon just walking the trails and enjoying the summer flowers, trees and shrubs. Just last week we had a guest return who raved about walking the trails. The guided tours should add a great depth to the experience.
The Crystal Bridges Museum aerial view at night.
About Crystal Bridges Museum of Art
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art explores the unfolding story of America and celebrates the American spirit in a setting that exemplifies the power of art with the beauty of landscape. Surrounded by 120 acres of forests, garden sculpture and walking trails, the museum gets its name from the Crystal Creek, which feeds the ponds you see in the picture on the right. The museum was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie.
The museum can be accessed from the Crystal Bridges Trail. The trailhead entrance is on Northeast 3rd Street between A and B Streets (across from the splash park) in downtown Bentonville. You can reach the trail Compton Gardens’ entrance on North Main Street, or from Northeast A Street north of the Museum. The Art Trail begins at James Turrell’s Skyspace installation, The Way of Color, on the Crystal Bridges Trail which will lead to the Museum’s south lobby.