Oppello Loop
- 52 miles
- moderately difficult
Leave from roadside park at end of Lake Maumelle on Ark. 10; follow
Ark. 10 through Williams Junction to Perry; follow Ark. 9 to Oppello;
turn right on Ark. 113 through Bigelow back to start. The ride has two
great downhills and two tough climbs; restrooms are at Williams Junction
and Oppello; refreshments are at Williams Junction, Perryville, Perry,
Oppello, Houston and Bigelow.
Lake Maumelle Loop
- 38 miles
- moderately difficult
Start at Pinnacle Mountain State Park; left from park entrance on
Ark. 300 to Ark. 10; right on Ark. 10 to Ark. 113 (end of Lake
Maumelle); right on Ark. 113 up Wye Mountain to Ark. 300; right on Ark.
300 back to Pinnacle Park. The climb up Wye Mountain is strenuous; Ark.
10 has rolling hills and has the most traffic; best to ride in the
morning only; the place for refreshments is in Monnie Springs and
Roland; a restroom is located at the park.
Magnolia to White Oak Lake State Park Ride
- 80 miles (round trip)
- moderate
Leave Magnolia on Ark. 79 North (wide highway with paved shoulders,
but heavy traffic); left at Stephens on Ark. 57 North; follow signs to
park; reverse route to return. Makes a good overnighter at White Oak
Lake State Park where there are good camping facilities, showers,
fishing, refreshments, etc.
Tour of Petit Jean
- 61 miles
- moderately difficult
Start at Perry on Ark. 9; proceed on Ark. 9 to Oppello; left on Ark.
154 up Petit Jean Mountain; 1.5 miles straight up to Centerville; left
on Ark. 7 to Ola; left on Ark. 10 to Perry. Restrooms available at
Oppello and Petit Jean State Park visitor center; refreshments at
Oppello; visitor center; Centerville, Ola and Casa; basically flat
except for steep climb to Petit Jean.
Sheridan to Carthage Ride
Begin at the Middle School at Sheridan; take U.S. 270 to Poyen; turn
left on Ark. 229 to Leola; take Ark. 46 to Ark. 9; left on Ark. 9 to
Tulip; left on Ark. 48 to Carthage; left on Ark. 229 to Leola; right on
Ark. 46 back to Sheridan past Jenkins' Ferry. There are no restrooms;
refreshment are at Poyen, Leola and Carthage; there are few hills;
traffic is heaviest on U.S. 270 out of Sheridan.
Tour of Perry County
Depart from intersection of Ark. 113 and 300 at the bottom of Wye
Mountain; follow Ark. 113 through Bigelow to Ark. 60; turn left on Ark.
60 to Ark. 216 at Houston; left on Ark. 60 to Ark. 300; left on Ark. 300
back to start. There are no restrooms; refreshments are at Bigelow and
Houston.
Mount Magazine Ride
- 60 miles
- moderately difficult
Leave Havana on Ark. 309 (Magazine Scenic Byway); climb 9 miles to
top of Mount Magazine. While there stay a day or so at Mount Magazine
State Park, with a full-service lodge, cabins, restaurant and
enthralling views. Head down into Paris; turn left on Ark. 104 to town
of Magazine; left on Ark. 10 back to Havana. Most traffic is located on
Ark. 10; although Mount Magazine is highest point in Arkansas, Ark. 309
is graded so climb is gradual; restrooms are at Magazine and Paris;
refreshments are at Paris, Magazine and Waveland.
Faulkner County Tour
Leave from Hamlet (intersection of Ark. 36 and U.s. 64); follow Ark.
36 through Naylor and Mount Vernon to Ark. 124; left on 124 to Quitman;
follow 107 back to Ark. 36 and back to Hamlet. Restrooms and
refreshments are available at Naylor and Quitman; most traffic is on
Ark. 36.
Backwoods Ozark Tour
Leave from Jasper on Ark. 74 to Boxley; turn left on Ark. 21 to Ark.
16; left on Ark. 16 to Ark. 7. There are two extremely difficult climbs
out of Jasper and Boxley; The last 3 miles is downhill to Jasper;
refreshments available at Swain, Deer and Jasper; traffic is heaviest on
Ark. 7.
Clark and Hot Spring Counties Ride
Leave Arkadelphia on Ark. 7/U.S. 67; follow U.S. 67 out of Caddo
Valley to Donaldson; turn right on Ark. 51 through Joan back to
Arkadelphia. There are no restrooms other than at Caddo Gap and
Arkadelphia; refreshments available at Donaldson and Joan; most traffic
on Ark. 7.
Arkansas Post National Monument Ride
This ride offers a visit to the first capitol of the Arkansas
Territory, a look at Arkansas' Mississippi Delta region and a look at
part of the Arkansas River navigation system. Start at Pendleton
Campground two miles east of the Arkansas River bridge on U.S. 165.
Proceed north on U.S. 165 to the Ark. 169 intersection. Turn east on 169
and travel about 2 miles to visit the national monument. Back on Ark.
165, continue north through Gillett to the intersection with Ark. 44 and
continue on Ark. 44 to Tichnor. Take the paved county road south out of
Tichnor to Lock No. 2 on the Canal and to Dam No. 2 on the Arkansas
River. This is across the river from the Pendleton Campground; however,
there is no access across Dam No. 2, so you must return on a reverse
route. You might also want to visit Norrell Lock and Dam and Merrisach
Lake Campground which lie on either side of Lock No. 2. Pack a lunch or
pick up food at the store in Tichnor or the cafe in Gillett.
Historic Washington Ride
Historic Washington was the Confederate capitol of Arkansas from
1863 to 1865 as well as an important stop on the Southwest Trail into
Texas and the Mexican Territory. Today, Historic Washington is a state
park dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the town's role
in that period of history. Historic Washington State Park is a great
place to spend time; however, the surrounding countryside also provides
great scenery for cycling. One good ride is to leave Historic Washington
north along Ark. 4. This will take you through typical rolling, rural
Arkansas countryside. Traffic on Ark. 4 is moderate. At the Ark. 332
intersection, turn left toward Tollette. This highway offers a very
scenic ride with light traffic. At Tollette, turn south on Ark. 365 to
Saratoga, east on Ark. 73 to Crossroads, then north on Ark. 195 back to
Historic Washington. Historic Washington offers the Williams Tavern
Restaurant and numerous other historic buildings. There are motels and
other services available nearby in Hope.
Petit Jean Mountain Ride
This ride begins at Petit Jean State Park. The top of the mountain
is flat with very little elevation change. From the lodge or campground,
proceed east on Ark. 154. Turn left on the first blacktop road, just
below the dam on Lake Bailey. Continue on the paved road, bearing right,
until you come to a "T" intersection (about two miles). Turn left to
visit Winrock International, a wonderful agricultural facility on the
ranch established by former Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. Back at the
"T", turn right to complete the loop around the mountain. This is a
gently rolling road past farms and forests with almost no traffic. It
connects back to Ark. 154 at a "Y" intersection. To return to the park,
turn right and ride west about four miles. However, before returning,
turn left, go about 1/4 mile and turn left on the paved road. This goes
to Petit Jean's gravesite and a fantastic scenic vista of the Arkansas
River Valley.
Pea Ridge Tour
This ride lies entirely within Pea Ridge National Military Park
located on U.S. 62 in Northwest Arkansas, just north of Rogers. The
entire circuit is about 11 miles over flat, well-maintained asphalt
roads with a number of scenic vistas along the way accented with
historical site markers. The only climb of any consequence is a short
one-half mile climb up to the Pea Ridge. From here you get a view of the
rolling hills of the countryside and look down over the entire panorama
of the battlefield.
Ride Around Greers Ferry
- 60 miles
- extremely difficult
Leave from intersection of Ark. 16 and 25; follow Ark. 25 through
Heber Springs to Drasco; turn left on Ark. 92 to Greers Ferry; follow
Ark. 16 back to start. There is a great downhill into Heber Springs;
three hard climbs on Ark. 16; most traffic is in Heber Springs;
refreshments and restrooms available at Heber Springs, Drasco and Greers
Ferry.
"P" Cities Ride
Start at Perryville; follow Ark. 9 to Perry; turn left on Ark. 10 to
Ola; left on Ark. 28 to Plainview; left on Ark. 60 back to Perryville.
Refreshments available at Casa, Ola, Plainview, Fourche Junction and
Aplin; one tough climb between Perryville and Perry.
Tour of Columbia County
Ride features two of the oldest country stores in the
Arkansas/Louisiana/Texas border region. Leave Magnolia on Ark. 19 South
to Walkerville; turn left on Ark. 98 through Emerson, Atlanta, Village,
McNeil to Ark. 19; left on Ark. 19 and back to Magnolia; light traffic.
Rich Mountain Ride
Begin at Middle School in Mena on Ark. 88; take Ark. 88 (Talimena
Scenic Byway) up Rich Mountain (14-mile climb); and into Oklahoma (88
becomes Hwy. 1 in Oklahoma); follow 1 until U.S. 259; turn left on Hwy.
259 to Hwy. 63; turn left on Hwy. 63 back to Mena (Hwy. 63 becomes Ark. 8
in Arkansas). The only restroom is at top of the mountain in Queen
Wilhelmina State Park; also only refreshments.
Lonoke/White County Tour
From the intersection of U.S. 67, Ark. 5 and 367 go northeast on 367
to Ark. 31; turn left on Ark. 31 to Romance; left on Ark. 5 back to
start. Restroom available at El Paso; refreshments are at Beebe and El
Paso.
White County Tour
- 55 miles
- moderately difficult
Leave courthouse at Searcy on Ark. 36 through Center Hill to
Rosebud; left on Ark. 5 to Romance; left on Ark. 31 to Floyd; left on
Ark. 305 to Center Hill; right on Ark. 36 back to Searcy. There are no
restrooms other than at Searcy; refreshments at Joy, Rosebud and Floyd.
Tour of Lonoke County
Depart Furlow (take exit 164 off Interstate 40); take Ark. 15 2
miles north; take Ark. 89 to Ark. 321; right on 321 to Ark. 31; to Ark.
89 at Lonoke; right on Ark. 89 back to Furlow. Only hills are overpasses
of Interstate 40; refreshments and restrooms at Lonoke.
The Jasper Disaster
Leave from Harrison, AR on AR 7 to Jasper. Right on AR 74 to Ponca.
Right on AR 43 back to Harrison. 3 long climbs. Traffic is heaviest
from Harrison to Jasper. At the junction of 74 and 43, take a left on
43 and ride about 1 mile for a chance to see elk in the Boxley valley.
The Flippin CCC ride
- 35 miles
- moderate - difficult
Leave Flippin on AR 202 to Summit. Right on 14N to Lakeway. Turn
right on Welcome Ridge road in Lakeway. Right on County Road 859 to
Quarry Mountain Road to Highway 178. Right on 178 back into Flippin.
Many rolling hills with one difficult climb on Quarry Mountain Road.
