Arkansas Highway 23 - The Pig Trail
Over the years, this Arkansas highway has consistently been ranked as one of the 10 best driving roads in the United States by driving and car magazines. And what they say for autos goes doubly for motorcycles.
The southern end of the highway is called Other Pig Trail. It earned that name for one of two possible reasons. One, it was a popular route from central Arkansas to Fayetteville for football fans on their way to Razorback games. The second possible reason is that the road winds around like it was built following the meanderings of a wild razorback hog.
Ark. 23 winds through the lush Ozark National Forest and farm lands of the region. It begins south of I-40, crosses the Arkansas River Valley and runs up through Eureka Springs to the Missouri border At I-40, at the town of Ozark, (name sake for the mountains to the north) the real fun begins. The highway soon gets serpentine, taking you through a series of switch backs and hair pin curves. It continues to wind around the rugged mountain sides, often through thick canopies of trees.
The best stretch of Arkansas 23, and reason for its reputation, runs 80 miles from Ozark through Huntsville to the 1890s Victorian resort town of Eureka Springs, an ideal location from which to base an Ozarks riding vacation (look elsewhere in this web site for a page on Eureka Springs). You won't be sorry if you take this route into the heart of the Ozarks.
Take the "215 to Oark" and 103 -- not the "Last Train to Clarksville" (See Summer Featured Ride)
Many riders pass the junction of the Pig Trail (Ark 23) and Ark. 215, "wowed" by what they have just experienced on the legendary Arkansas riding icon . But little do they realize what they are passing up by riding by the innocent appearing Ark. 215 taking off to the east.
Ark. 215 winds along beside a popular white water float stream, the Mulberry River. This tricky, mid-category river has claimed many a canoe and kayak, even when piloted by experienced paddlers. The highway provides glimpses of the river through the heavily forested Ozark National Forest. And the trees often totally enclosed the road making a tunnel of foliage.
About half of the highway has been nicely improved. Right now, there is a two-mile stretch where the chip-and-seal pavement is being taken up in preparation for the improved road. Take it slow. The photos at left show the river through the trees and one of the pull-offs along the way. The road is pretty narrow, but the improvements have made it very nice regardless. In fact, it being narrow gives it a real "boon-docks" feel. Ark. 215 is a real serpentine cruising road.
Once in Oark, a 16-mile ride, you realize that you are really in the middle of nowhere - except "nowhere" is in the middle of some of the best riding in the Ozarks. But Oark is home to a very interesting business.. the Oark General Store and Cafe. The store was established in 1890 and is thought to be the oldest continually operated general store in the country.
But the riding fun is just beginning when you finish your lunch or break at the Ozark General Store. If you backtrack from Oark about a mile, you will come to Ark. 103. When you do, TAKE IT!!!! Waiting for you on the 19-mile ride will be a real roller coaster ride through heavy forest. The highway travels up and over the mountains as it makes its head-long dash for the Arkansas River Valley at Clarksville. If Ark 215 were a white water river, it would be a Category 3. Ark 103 would be a Category 4, with a Category 5 or 6 designation where the twin 180 hairpins make their tight, knee-dragging presence known. Even when Ark. 103 flattens out as it descends to the foothills, the thick forest continues to make the ride very scenic. Like a Category 5 River, Ark. 103 will reach out and bite the inexperienced or unwary
Arkansas Highway 21
This is a little known highway, unfortunately eclipsed by the popular Ark. 23, and holds its own against any road in the Ozarks in the category of riding fun.
It begins just north of I-40 near Clarksville. Like highway 23, it starts on the level terrain of the Arkansas River Valley but soon begins winding up the mountain sides. The serpentine route is similar to that of 23, following rugged ridges and hillsides. It runs to the Missouri border, but the best part is the 82 miles from Clarksville to Berryville.
A beautiful stretch of Ark. 21 is where it dips into the Boxley Valley, paralleling the headwaters of the Buffalo River. At the junction of 21 and 74 at Boxley, it's worth leaving 21 to make the five mile ride to the Buffalo River at Ponca.
Stop at the Buffalo Outdoor Center for a break, hike along the river, and enjoy the area. From Ponca, there are three routes you can take to other parts of the area (see description later on this page). From Boxley, Ark. 21 climbs out of the valley and will take you to Kingston. From there, your ride to Berryville winds through scenic farm land. From Berryville, Eureka Springs is just 12 miles west, on U.S. 62.
Ark. 43/74; Boxley to Ponca to Jasper
The beauty of the scenery and the winding of the roads in this stretch are entirely result of the Buffalo National River. It has carved the rugged course that the roads follow as they run along side the river and up and over the mountain on the way to the Ozark gem of a town, Jasper. And the description is not just a reflection of the town's name. From Boxley to Ponca, the road runs through part of the Buffalo River valley and magnificent is not descriptive enough. From Ponca, the mile and a half climb of Ark. 74 out of the valley is as exciting as any in the U.S. And the rest of the ride to Jasper is second to none in the scenery category.
Arkansas Highway 16 - Sweet 16 and Never Been Ridden... Much
This is perhaps the best little known highway in the Ozarks. Except for short sections which run concurrent with Highways 23, 21 & 7, this road is familiar mostly only to local riders. This is really too bad because the 110 miles of Arkansas 16 between Fayetteville and Clinton is a fun, twisty and scenic ride.
The reason Highway 16 overlooked is that it really doesn't take you any place. It basically runs along the backbone of the Ozarks. It follows a route full of curves and wonderful scenery. If you start out on the eastern end, in Fayetteville, have breakfast at the Rolling Pin Cafe (at the intersection of Highways 16 and 265). Head west, hang on and enjoy the ride. Most of the time traffic will be light and you'll have a great time discovering this fantastic road. Many visiting riders will not know to make this wonderful ride. That's their loss
Short Rides Out of Eureka Springs, Berryville, Fayetteville
A favorite back roads route from Berryville to Eureka Springs is Arkansas 221 south to County Road 302, known locally as Rock House Road. 221 is a high energy ride though the hills, down to a swimming hole on the Kings River, called Trigger Gap. Just past the bridge over the river, County Road 302 heads back to Eureka Springs. It's a very narrow, winding road running through lush, forested land. The entire trip from Berryville to Eureka Springs will take less than 30 minutes. This may well be the best short ride in the Ozarks. It's scenic, twisty and tons of fun. Locals call it "Race Track Road".
Another favorite ride with locals is a circle from Eureka Spring and back again. Take Ark. 23 three miles north to Arkansas 187, which goes to the community of Beaver. Beaver town is where the White River below Beaver Lake turns into the upper end of Table Rock Lake. Spanning the river at Beaver is a unique, beautiful landmark – a one-lane suspension bridge, known as the Little Golden Gate. For those who like to camp, Beaver operates a comfortable campground on the water's edge. The only business in Beaver is a natural stopping place for riders, the Beaver Town Inn and General Store
Out of Beaver continue on 187 to U.S. 62. 187 and 62 run concurrently for a short distance. Stay on 187 and cross the Beaver Dam, winding your way back to 62. Take 62 back to Eureka Springs, and be prepared for a spectacular two mile run down one mountain side and up the other. Tight, hairpin curves dominate this stretch of highway. Just watch for vehicles that sometimes take their half of the road out of the middle. Traffic can sometimes be slow behind a white-knuckled car driver This is a don't-miss ride for all riders staying in the Eureka Springs area.
A sweet, short ride out of Fayetteville is Ark. Highways 265 S/170/74. The 265 part of this route winds through scenic farm land on the way to the Arkansas Devil's Den State Park. The Ark. 74 portion is especially nice as you head south into Devil's Den. Campgrounds and cabins are available, but during busy weekends or holidays, check ahead for availability. Highway 74 NW out of the park is a fantastic section of highway. For a couple of miles, it reminds me of riding the Tail of the Dragon (U.S. 129) in Tennessee. The trip into Devil's Den is well worth the time.