DORBA's Camp Clearfork Mountain Bike Festival 2024

Important, please read before registering:

• You may select either Cabin or Tent spot when registering per participant.
  
• For Cabin attendees, please enter your group preference if you want to stay with some friends.  Make sure they register and list you as their preference.
  
• Select a t-shirt size for each paid attendee.
  
• We will do our best to have dietary food options available for every meal.
  
• Double check all of your selections before completing registration!
• Please complete the online WAIVER per attendee.  Under 18 completed by one Adult.
• Contact us with any questions via Facebook or email (Clearfork@dorba.org)
  

An active DORBA membership/account is required to register.  Friends and extended family must have their own DORBA membership and should register separately.  If you don't see the "REGISTER NOW" button, then you are probably not logged in with your DORBA account. 

Please read the FAQ below for more details on the DORBA member policy!

Event Agenda (subject to change based on weather, volunteers, or other factors)

The weather changes rapidly in Arkansas. One minute it’s a beautiful sunny day, then 20 minutes later it's a downpour.  The good news is that the trails don’t seem to be to affected by the rain, so if you can take it, so can the trails!  We strongly recommend using the ‘buddy system’ when riding any trail. If riding solo, please let someone know where you are going.

Friday:

• Check-in starts at 3pm...please do not arrive early.  Stop at the mess hall to get your cabin assignment or tent area information.
• The gate should be closed at all times.  Please shut the gate when entering and leaving.
• 6pm - Meet and Greet outside of the mess hall under the pop-up tent.  This is a great time to bring a small cooler with some special beverages.  We will have a share table under a pop-up tent with tasting cups.  Anything you place on the share table will be available for others to taste! 
• 7pm(ish) - Outdoor BBQ dinner is served with sides, dutch oven cobbler, and ice cream.  
• If you miss the BBQ dinner, please plan to eat en route to the camp. 
• ****You won't want to miss Friday evening!****
  
• 10pm - Quiet time!
  

Saturday:

• 7am to 8am - Hot breakfast is served!
• 9am - We will have an organized ride on the Womble trail.  Please have your cars pulled up front and ready to leave by 9am.  Bring enough water and snacks to ride for a few hours.  This ride goes out to a beautiful lookout where we stop for a break and then return back the opposite direction.  Those who feel they can't ride this far or long can always turn around at any point.  In the morning, ice and water will be available outside the dining hall if needed.
  
• Lunch is on your own, but the Diaryette in Mt. Ida is very popular.   A charcoal grill is also available behind the dining hall (BYO charcoal).  The kitchen is not available to our guests.
• Afternoon - If you had a long first ride and have already eaten lunch, then this is a perfect time to jump into the swimming hole at Charlton.  If not, then maybe get some more dirt or head back to Clearfork for some volleyball, fishing, or just relaxation.
• 2:30 to 4pm - Kids activity!  Family rock hunt and painting.
• 5:15 to 6:30pm(ish) - Let the games begin! Try your hand at one of the many activities like the Bike Toss, Log Pull, Chain-less Race, or other activities that might appear.  The games are open to all kids and adults....so please participate.   If you just want to watch, then pull up a lawn chair, your favorite beverage, and cheer everyone on! 
• 6:30pm(ish) - Grab your one-of-a-kind Clearfork T-Shirt and put it on for our group picture!  
• 7pm(ish) - Dinner is served when the bell rings! Please let all children move to the front of the line. 
  
• Help is always appreciated for prep, trash, cleaning, and dishes. 
• Dusk - Hang out at the campfire with friends and family, telling stories and planning your activities for the next day.  Please watch your children around the fire pit.
• 8pm(ish) - Make s'mores at the campfire! 
• 10pm - Quiet time! Get your rest for tomorrow.  Don't forget to check for ticks!

Sunday:

• 7am to 8am Breakfast is served. Let me guess—you’re starved!
• 9am - We typically have two rides heading out at 9am.  An organized family ride will go to Cedar Glades (maybe Northwoods) where the kids can enjoy the playground afterwards (bring cold drinks).  The non-organized ride will be at Northwoods.  Northwoods (next to Cedar Glades) but is not a group ride.  There are a lot of sections to ride at your own desire and ability.  In the morning, ice and water will be available outside the dining hall if needed.
• Lunch is on your own, but the Diaryette in Mt. Ida is very popular.   A charcoal grill is available behind the dining hall (BYO Charcoal).  The kitchen is not available to our guests.
• 2:30 to 4pm - Swimming at the Charlton across the street.  Don't pay for entry, just write "Camp Clearfork" on the payment stub.  This is a beautiful non-supervised swimming hole.
• 5:30 to 7pm(ish) - We never finish all the games in one afternoon, so here’s where we test you again.
• 7pm(ish) - Dinner is served when the bell rings.  Please let all children and veterans to the front of the line.
• Help is always appreciated for prep, trash, cleaning, and dishes. 
• Dusk - Hang out at the campfire with friends and family, telling stories and planning your activities for the next day.  Please watch your children around the fire pit.
• 8pm(ish) - Make s'mores at the campfire with your children!  
• 10pm - Quiet time! Get your rest for tomorrow...or not.  Don't forget to check for ticks!

Monday:

Only coffee is guaranteed on Monday, but we typically have other items to fill your tummy before your morning ride or drive home.  Don't wait too long or any of the extra food may be gone!  The volunteers have to pack, clean the kitchen, and load up a trailer.  If you have never ridden Iron Mountain, it is definitely worth your time to ride on the drive back to DFW.

Camp Clearfork Check-Out Procedure:

We need your help!  The staff cannot leave Clearfork until the facility is cleaned and inspected by the park rangers.  We are the first seasonal guests each year and we always aim to leave it cleaner than when we arrived!

• Cabins - All cabins must be swept clean. All beds and mattresses back in original positions. All trash removed and put in containers in front of dining hall. All shutters closed
  
• Bathrooms - All showers cleaned and mopped. All toilets and urinals cleaned. Sinks and counters cleaned. All floors swept and mopped. All shutters closed
• Dining Hall & Kitchen - All surfaces cleaned. All tables and chairs folded and set against the walls. All utensils containers, tools, etc. cleaned and put away. Oven, stove griddle, refrigerators, and freezers cleaned. All trash removed and put in containers in front of dining hall. Floor swept and mopped. All shutters closed.

Camp Clearfork Grounds

• Inspect the property and collect any trash, bottle tops, or other items that need to be gathered.
  
• All trash containers emptied and bags taken to the dumpster along the entrance road.
  

If you are riding on Monday, please be sure to have everything out of the camp by 10am.
The gates will be locked and you will not be able to re-enter.

Frequently Asked Questions: (FAQ)

Q: What is Camp Clearfork?

A: Camp Clearfork is a group-use recreational facility in the Ouachita National Forest, just west of the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  The facility is located near many fantastic trail systems like the LOViT, Womble, Cedar Glades, Little Blakey, and Northwoods.  During Memorial weekend, DORBA rents out the facility for 3 days and nights to celebrate with other cycling families and their guests.  While many of us are here to ride, there are plenty of other activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, shopping, or just relaxing with a good book!
 
Q: What's included with my registration?

A: Three night stay at Camp Clearfork. Your meals (Breakfast and Dinner) are provided from Friday evening through Sunday night.  We will have family fun games for you to participate or watch on Saturday and Sunday before dinner, weather dependent.  A custom designed Clearfork t-shirt is provided and worn for a group picture typically taken on Saturday evening before dinner.

Q: Who organizes Camp Clearfork?

A: Camp Clearfork has been organized by several DORBA volunteers for over 30 years.  We need everyones assistance to help make this a fun and successful weekend.  The core volunteers pay just like you do to attend this event.

Q: Is this a family friendly event?

A: Definitely!  Many DORBA kids have grown up attending Camp Clearfork. There is a lake with canoes available, fishing (bring your own gear), a small hiking trail, and plenty of space to 'be a kid'. We have games on Saturday and Sunday evening, a nightly campfire, and typically s'mores at least once. Children must be supervised at all times!   Do not leave them alone while you are away from the camp.

Q: I have a DORBA individual membership.  Can I register other family members or guests?

A: At least one person in your immediate family must have an active DORBA membership to register.  If you do register a guest, please ensure they have an active membership.  We have a couple exceptions, such as bringing your significant other or say a child's friend along.  If you have friends attending, please ask them to become a DORBA member and register themselves.   We offer Camp Clearfork as a benefit to DORBA members, therefore, this event should help grow the active membership.  Please consider a DORBA family membership if your children enjoy the DORBA trails.

Q: Can I request to be in a cabin with my friends?

A: We will do our best to accommodate all requests.  Please indicate your group preference during the registration process.  Your friends must also specify you in their group preferences.

Q: Can I use the kitchen to make lunch or fill my coolers with ice?

A: Unfortunately not!  The kitchen is closed for guests except when help is need for cooking and clean-up.  The ice is reserved for our meals and has often struggled to keep up.  Please make sure to grab ice when in town during your day trips.  We will have an ice/water station outside in the mornings for your bottles and camelbacks.  There is a ready ice machine in town past the Dairyette.

Q: What supplies should I bring for the weekend?

A: Here's a short list to help:

• Fitted twin sheets for the beds as they are typically old and not in great shape
  
• Pillows, sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, etc..
• An extra (old) sheet can be used to enable privacy between sections in the cabin rooms
  
• Clothes for the weekend...don't forget a swimsuit
  
• Towels and toiletries
• Hat
• Flashlights
• Fans (outlets in the cabins)
• Extension cords
• Camp chairs
  
• Fishing supplies if you want to fish in the Clearfork lake 
• Hiking and/or water shoes
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray and possibly consider tick spray for your clothes
• Bike, pump, helmet, shoes, gloves, water bottles, trail food, etc..
  
• Any extra food you might need for rides, lunches, or snacks
• Cooler, ice, and lots of beverages
• Rain gear...just in case

Q: Do you allow participants to bring generators?
A: People attend Camp Clearfork for the piece and quietness, so we would prefer you leave your generators at home.  If you have a very quiet generator, we will allow them till dusk.  If your generating noise that impacts the experience of others, we may ask for you to turn it off.  Also, those with generators will be situated on a specific area of the field, so please let us know this on check-in.

Q: Do you allow participants to bring RV's or Travel Trailer's?

A: We currently allow lightweight teardrop or very small campers to boondock in the large field.  Clearfork is just not able to accommodate larger campers due to lack of parking spots, potential damage to the field, and the big climb up to the cabins.  You are welcome to stay at a local campground like "Charlton" and still participate in Clearfork.  Campers must select the "Tent Spot" option when registering.

A: Some local maps may be taped to a wall or sitting on a table for viewing in the dining hall.  Please download Trailforks and/or MTB Project on your smartphone and make sure to download the latest Arkansas trail maps. These apps may have a subscription fee that you can cancel before the first month is over.

MTB Project links:
Lake Ouachita Area Trails
Lovit Trail - IMBA Epic
The Womble Trail - IMBA Epic
Charlton Trails - Connects to Lovit
Cedar Glades Park Trail
Northwoods Trails
Iron Mountain trails (Great to do en route to camp or on the way home)

Downloads:
Camp Clearfork Facility Map
Camp Clearfork Area Trail Maps
LOViT Trail Map
Hot Springs Northwoods Trail Map

Arrival and Check-In

• Checkin and cabin assignment will be in the dining hall after 3:00pm on Friday.  
• Make sure to stop here first and check in with the Clearfork hosts to get your cabin assignments or camping instructions.
  
• Always make sure to close the gate when you enter or leave!
  
• DORBA Clearfork 2024 Waiver   

Cabin or Tent Camping:

Cabins go to those who book a "Cabin Spot" during registration.

• Most of the cabins are arranged as “bunk houses” much like one would find at a summer camp.
• Many of these structures have been standing since the late 30’s and are still in fantastic shape.
• They all have electrical outlets so you can run a fan and charge your electronics.
• Most of the cabins have 3 rooms. In the traditional bunkhouses, those rooms may have up to 4 beds per room.
• You may end up staying with a friend or make some new friends due to the cabin structure!
• Very few of the cabins have bathrooms in them, but there are great facilities available. 
  
• Tent camping is available around the outside of a large meadow.  You may drive on the field.
• We also use the field for games, so be sure to camp on the perimeter and not near any of the red cones or baseball diamond area.
• The cabin rooms are not lockable, so please secure any valuables in your vehicle's or keep them with you.  We are not responsible for any thefts.

Dogs

• Dogs with responsible owners are welcome at Clearfork.
• Owners should have means to confine their dogs when necessary and owners should have a leash on hand if any situations arise.
• This is intended to be a fun, no-stress time for all of us.  If your dog is not congruent with this experience,  then you may want to consider leaving them at home.
• Please do not leave the Clearfork area without your dog or at least finding a responsible person to watch over them.
  
• Don’t be that camper.

Warning:  Ticks & Poison Ivy:

This warning is not so much about the camp as it is about the area.  This Clearfork festival falls in the peak season for both ticks and poison ivy.  You need to come prepared with counter measures and first aid for these common maladies.  Please check yourself and family members for ticks each evening.  You may also consider a spray option that is used on the outside of your clothing.

100% Volunteer Supported Event:

Home cooked meals for breakfast and dinner are provided by a group of DORBA volunteers who not only ride bikes, but are great in the kitchen too. 

We need everyone to volunteer by helping to empty trash, wash dishes, mop, clean tables, etc...

 

What happens at Clearfork... will be remembered forever...