Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon
Little Rock, United States · December · Independent
Why people love it
- Crosses three river bridges, including the Big Dam Bridge at miles 1 and 18 (1.6 and 29 km).
- Aid stations hosted by trail runners, with plenty of food and drink.
- Heated start tent on cold December mornings.
- Small field of about 180 finishers, so the trail is rarely crowded.
- Paved, mostly flat river trail with few turns.
Watch out for
- Few spectators: the shared trail has little crowd support.
- Fog, drizzle and a river chill are common; early December runs 4 to 23 °C (40 to 73 °F).
- Back 11 km (7 mi) loop felt long and lonely to reviewers.
- Packet pickup is at a running store, with no full expo.
- Few runners have written about it: 13 ratings over 11 years.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
RaceRaves 4.4/5 from 13 ratings over 2014 to 2025. Runners praise volunteers and aid; fog and bare trees muted the scenery for some. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
RaceRaves production 4.3/5. Heated start tent, frequent aid and clear markings; one 2025 first-timer scored production 1 yet called it well run. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Flat apart from three bridges, RaceRaves difficulty 2.4/5, and many first-time marathoners reviewed it. Cutoff not found and no pace groups confirmed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Nearly flat, but three bridge climbs, winter cold and trail turns. One reviewer did not expect a PR on a tiring flat course. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
RaceRaves scenery 3.7/5. River trail views and three bridges, but fog and bare trees muted views for several runners. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Narrow path and a small out-and-back section, but only about 180 finishers (177 in 2024) so congestion is unlikely. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Paved river trail described as well maintained by reviewers; bridge decks and trail joints only minor. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
Runs almost entirely on the off-road Arkansas River Trail, so little car traffic; trail users may still share the path. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.9
Mostly flat per the organiser and reviewers. No gain figure is published; the bridge climbs are the only hills. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop-style course returning near the start, so no net drop. Boston status not stated in sources read. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Heated start tent praised by three reviewers; small field; packet pickup at a running store rather than an expo. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups2.8
Pace groups and tracking not mentioned in any review. Timing and course markings described as solid. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.8
Trail course with light spectators, as a BibRave reviewer noted; support comes from volunteers and the local running community. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.4
At least eight reviewers praised frequent aid stations hosted by trail runners, with plenty of food and drink and many volunteers. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.0
One reviewer called the river corridor chilly and windy in winter; no other wind reports. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Early December highs run 4 to 23 °C (40 to 73 °F). Cool, often foggy or drizzly at the 08:00 start. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Early December highs ranged from 4 °C (40 °F) in 2025 to 23 °C (73 °F) in 2021; rain in 2022, fog in 2019. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
The loop passes near the finish around mile 20 (32 km), but the trail has few places for friends to watch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Little Rock sits near 90 m (300 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Little Rock is a mid-size city with many downtown and River Market hotels; not checked for race weekend. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Typical mid-size city rates; not verified. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
River Market area is near the trail; exact start and finish locations not confirmed on the pages we could read. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Clinton National Airport (LIT) is close to downtown; interstate hub. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Packet pickup at a local running store and race-morning tent; no large expo to navigate. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
One reviewer called Little Rock an underrated city; post-race food praised by two runners. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inOpen entry4.6
Open entry with small fields (177 finishers in 2024); no sell-out reported. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
About $90 in 2019 ($75 Black Friday), with heated tent, post-race food and age-group medals. A reviewer called it high value, low frills. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 5 December 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 180 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 08:00
- Surface
- Paved Arkansas River Trail (shared-use path)
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Entry fee
- About $90
- Air temperature
- -1–9 °C (30–48 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; fog and drizzle reported in 2019 and 2025
- Altitude
- 90 m (295 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Where to stay
- River Market District, Downtown Little Rock
- Booking
- Downtown and River Market hotels are close to the Arkansas River Trail.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2014 to 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 4.4/5 by 13 runners (difficulty 2.4, production 4.3, scenery 3.7, swag 3.8). Runners agree on exceptional volunteers, frequent aid, a heated tent and a flat paved river trail.
“well supported race, great folks, lots of aid stations”
- BibRaveRaced 2015 · aggregator · Positive
A runner finishing their last marathon of 2015 called it a gem. Praised aid stations and views, said the bridges worked as milestones. No real expo (packet pickup at a running store) and light spectator support on the trail. Both reviewers recommended it.
“Gem of a marathon”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Two 5-star ratings from one reviewer: well organised, solid markings, put on by fellow runners. Page lists 177 finishers in 2024 and an 08:00 start. Review dates look off.
“Well organized. Put on by fellow runners.”
Raced Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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