My little group is planning to make a ride to Arkansas into the Ozarks. We are wanting to make about a 150-200 mile loop out of Arkadelphia. I see there are lots of options heading north & west, but the last time I was up there I found roads turning into unpaved forest roads. Does anyone here have an established route where we can count on good roads, fuel, & food availability? Maybe some input on good roads to include (other than the well known ones like Hwy 7 etc) or maybe ones that we should stay away from due to construction? We're aiming to up there in mid-May.

Our last ride was the TX 3-sisters in our little hill country, but I know the Ozarks will blow that away!

Shoot a PM to Spudwrench, he is the one who set up the Meet & Greet last year at the Lake of the Ozarks. He should have some good information for you.

Hey Vince! I'm a born and bred Arkie!!! I live in Fort Smith Ar. I have been all over this state. Where are you coming from, When are you coming and where do you want to go???? I will be more than happy to help you out, just let me know! Heck I might just ride aways with you if ya'll don't object!

Vince, make sure that you ride the Pig trail, its in Eureka Springs...me and some friends went there twice cause we liked it so much!!!!

If your coming up through southeast Oklahoma the talahena drive is awesome curves and scenery it is highway 1. There are reviews and maps if ya Google it. Enjoy

Hey Vince, If you want help planning your rides send me a P.M. and I can hook you up. One thing though if your planning 150-200 miles loops out of Arkedelphia you won't get to the Ozarks. You will be in the Ouchita mountians. The Ozarks are north of I-40 and the Ouchitas are south of I-40. But there are plenty of neat roads and cool places to go in the Ouchitas. I went to school in Arkedelphia and my best running buddy lives in Caddo Valley [40 yrs running] and he rides a Roadie. I talked to him last night and e would be glad to give you some help if you need it.

Well, I live in Springfield, Mo. and I would be interested in riding with ya too, we rode last Saturday (my brother and I) down hwy 125 (very curvy) to the ferry boat at the end of 125 on Missouri side, took ferry ride across into arkansas and rode up to hwy 14, and I think it turned into hwy 7. Very cool ride in the ozarks. Not sure where this is in relation to arkadelphia though. It was a great day, went around 210 miles.


BTW: The roads on hwy 125 have much more loose gravel then Arkansas, the Arkansas roads were awesome.

Here's some tentative details on our route...

We'll be getting from TX to Arkadelphia via I-30 out of Texarkana. This group is not used to long hauls. In fact the 375miles from Houston to Arkadelphia is quite a stretch for us in one day. We'll spend the night in Arkadelphia and head out for the good ride the next morning and just make a big loop back to Arkadelphia for another night stay before heading home.

The loop I'm considering is Hwy 7 north to US270. Take 270 eastbound to US71 southbound... 71 to 88/59, dogleg east over to Hwy 8 that heads southwest back to Arkadelphia. It's about 205miles which is about the limit of what a couple of the passengers can take in a day. It really depends on how long we stretch it out time-wise. These lightweights will be following us up to Arkadelphia in a car. Otherwise, they can't do it. The limitation is saddle-time & a bad back. We've ridden the 3-sisters out of Kerrville, TX which is a little over 200 miles of quite technical roads in the hill country with no problems. So, we're looking to kick it up a notch before we try the Dragon next year.

I know there are many smaller roads in the Nat'l Forest, but I'm not sure which ones are paved all the way, etc. So, I figure the more major roads are a better bet unless someone here can point something out to me on the smaller roads. (We're always looking for the best backroads we can find.) I'd also like any input on the roads I've mentioned as far as current conditions, construction, attendances, etc. Some pointers on food stops that we should not pass up.

Your gonna have a blast, sound like fun. Probabally too far to ride for me to meet ya though. I would help with directions and roads but I am not so good with geography!! I know that HWY 7 and HWY 14 didn't have any construction.

I'm at work right now and I have a PGR mission this afternoon ,but I will get some info for you tonight.