My Favorite Motorcycle Rides in the Arkansas Ozarks
One would think that locating the finest motorcycle rides in the Ozarks would be a simple task, but your choices are so great it is hard to choose the best ones. Simply about any road you are riding in the Ozarks is better than any route you have ridden before. So trying to get the finest motorcycle roads is a daunting undertaking.
Having retired from Chicago to the wonderful Arkansas Ozarks I know that of which I speak. As I started to ride through the Arkansas Ozarks I was merely astounded that I could just begin from anywhere and ride with no special goal in mind and experience some of the finest motorcycle roads I had ever traveled. Then I began meeting with other riders that turned me on to the very best motorcycle trips in the Ozarks. Through the years I also discovered a few of my own, which I will share with you as well.
Four of the bestt thirty-three roads in the country are in Arkansas. They are Push Mountain Road, the Arkansas Pig Trail, the Arkansas Dragon, and Arkansas Highway 7. All of these are magnificent roads are filled with hairpin turns, switchbacks, elevation changes and picturesque scenery that makes for great motorcycle rides. All of these motorcycle roads does demand your utmost attention, or you could find yourself doing some unanticipated motocross stunts.
Many motorcycle sites online have articles on these roads that give details and anyone can simply search for any of these roads on YouTube to see videos of these motorcycle rides. For this reason I will not go into any more detail on these roads. Rather, I will share a few of the lesser known Arkansas motorcycle trips I take pleasure in.
Push Mountain Road is a well-known motorcycle ride that many riders throughout the country have ridden or heard of. But, here is my preferred way to make a fun day trip (or more) out of riding this exciting road.
I start by heading out of Mountain Home on Highway 62W in the direction of Yellville for 30 minutes. I pick up AR-14 Highway South in the direction of my first stop, which will be the Buffalo River State Park. The park is around 25 minutes from Yellville.
Depending on the time of day I started my trip I will check out the park restaurant that sits at the top of a bluff where you can look out over the river for a scenic breakfast or lunch. The chow takes a backseat to the dramatic scenery. The restaurant is only open during peak times of year, in general between late March to late October. For visitors wanting to explore this great State Park there are cabins and campgrounds available, and if you have the time I highly recommend a short stay for a great time.
Soon after filling my belly I continue south for about 15 minutes on AR-14S to the small city of Harriet. This part of this Arkansas motorcycle trip will get your blood pumping in preparation for the Push Mountain Road run. Now I pick up E AR-14. It seems confusing, but just follow Arkansas Highway 14 east.
From Harriet to Push Mountain Road is roughly thirty minutes. You will travel by the tiny town of Big Flat, about midway through. Look for signs signaling AR-341 North, which is Push Mountain Road. Turn left onto P.M.R. and gear up for the ride you can only imagine. On this trip I will be including the run on this road 2 times, so I simply kick back and enjoy a laid-back trip while I get pleasure from the scenery this time around.
While on this phase of the trip I stop to spend a few minutes with Chuck at Crossroads, a tiny convenient store (with gas) and the only place on P.M.R. to get a bite, soda, or a Push Mountain Road T-shirt. It's a great opportunity to stretch the legs and visit with a fantastic guy and his dog Cooper.
Moving on, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the northern end of P.M.R., at the intersection of AR-201. Here I head west for roughly a mile or 2 and take Highway 5S towards Norfork. If you stopped at Crossroads looking for a P.M.R. t-shirt and didn't get one, you can look at the Riverview Emporium in Norfork. Don is very fascinating to sit and chat with, as he has traveled the globe extensively and his store contains a lot of local antiques.
I take Highway 5S all the way to Mountain View, about a 50 minute ride if you don't get slowed down by too a lot traffic. If you are new to the Ozark experience you should decidedly make a visit to the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Many guests share the opinion that the Ozark Folk Center is the most likeable tourist attraction in the state. The people are forever warm and affable and the scenery is great. Mountain View also hosts a folk music festival every year, almost always in late April.
There is a neat little ice cream parlor in the square that would take take your grandfather back to his childhood. I stop here to cool off with a tasty treat. This is in preparation for a more earnest run of Push Mountain Road.
I jump back on Highway 5 north and ride to the intersection of Arkansas Highway 14, about a 10 minute jaunt. I then go east on 14 for about for 30 minutes to Push Mountain Road. Heading north on P.M.R., I brace myself for a more ambitious run at this difficult ride. Take note here; only experienced riders need apply. It is a frequent occurrence to find accidents on this route every weekend.
I pull over at the White River Bridge about a quarter mile before the conclusion of P.M.R. and take 10 minutes to sit by the river and permit my adrenaline levels return to a normal level. Then I start for home on Highway 201 north back into Mountain Home to complete this awe-inspiring Arkansas motorcycle trip.
Having retired from Chicago to the wonderful Arkansas Ozarks I know that of which I speak. As I started to ride through the Arkansas Ozarks I was merely astounded that I could just begin from anywhere and ride with no special goal in mind and experience some of the finest motorcycle roads I had ever traveled. Then I began meeting with other riders that turned me on to the very best motorcycle trips in the Ozarks. Through the years I also discovered a few of my own, which I will share with you as well.
Four of the bestt thirty-three roads in the country are in Arkansas. They are Push Mountain Road, the Arkansas Pig Trail, the Arkansas Dragon, and Arkansas Highway 7. All of these are magnificent roads are filled with hairpin turns, switchbacks, elevation changes and picturesque scenery that makes for great motorcycle rides. All of these motorcycle roads does demand your utmost attention, or you could find yourself doing some unanticipated motocross stunts.
Many motorcycle sites online have articles on these roads that give details and anyone can simply search for any of these roads on YouTube to see videos of these motorcycle rides. For this reason I will not go into any more detail on these roads. Rather, I will share a few of the lesser known Arkansas motorcycle trips I take pleasure in.
Push Mountain Road is a well-known motorcycle ride that many riders throughout the country have ridden or heard of. But, here is my preferred way to make a fun day trip (or more) out of riding this exciting road.
I start by heading out of Mountain Home on Highway 62W in the direction of Yellville for 30 minutes. I pick up AR-14 Highway South in the direction of my first stop, which will be the Buffalo River State Park. The park is around 25 minutes from Yellville.
Depending on the time of day I started my trip I will check out the park restaurant that sits at the top of a bluff where you can look out over the river for a scenic breakfast or lunch. The chow takes a backseat to the dramatic scenery. The restaurant is only open during peak times of year, in general between late March to late October. For visitors wanting to explore this great State Park there are cabins and campgrounds available, and if you have the time I highly recommend a short stay for a great time.
Soon after filling my belly I continue south for about 15 minutes on AR-14S to the small city of Harriet. This part of this Arkansas motorcycle trip will get your blood pumping in preparation for the Push Mountain Road run. Now I pick up E AR-14. It seems confusing, but just follow Arkansas Highway 14 east.
From Harriet to Push Mountain Road is roughly thirty minutes. You will travel by the tiny town of Big Flat, about midway through. Look for signs signaling AR-341 North, which is Push Mountain Road. Turn left onto P.M.R. and gear up for the ride you can only imagine. On this trip I will be including the run on this road 2 times, so I simply kick back and enjoy a laid-back trip while I get pleasure from the scenery this time around.
While on this phase of the trip I stop to spend a few minutes with Chuck at Crossroads, a tiny convenient store (with gas) and the only place on P.M.R. to get a bite, soda, or a Push Mountain Road T-shirt. It's a great opportunity to stretch the legs and visit with a fantastic guy and his dog Cooper.
Moving on, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the northern end of P.M.R., at the intersection of AR-201. Here I head west for roughly a mile or 2 and take Highway 5S towards Norfork. If you stopped at Crossroads looking for a P.M.R. t-shirt and didn't get one, you can look at the Riverview Emporium in Norfork. Don is very fascinating to sit and chat with, as he has traveled the globe extensively and his store contains a lot of local antiques.
I take Highway 5S all the way to Mountain View, about a 50 minute ride if you don't get slowed down by too a lot traffic. If you are new to the Ozark experience you should decidedly make a visit to the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Many guests share the opinion that the Ozark Folk Center is the most likeable tourist attraction in the state. The people are forever warm and affable and the scenery is great. Mountain View also hosts a folk music festival every year, almost always in late April.
There is a neat little ice cream parlor in the square that would take take your grandfather back to his childhood. I stop here to cool off with a tasty treat. This is in preparation for a more earnest run of Push Mountain Road.
I jump back on Highway 5 north and ride to the intersection of Arkansas Highway 14, about a 10 minute jaunt. I then go east on 14 for about for 30 minutes to Push Mountain Road. Heading north on P.M.R., I brace myself for a more ambitious run at this difficult ride. Take note here; only experienced riders need apply. It is a frequent occurrence to find accidents on this route every weekend.
I pull over at the White River Bridge about a quarter mile before the conclusion of P.M.R. and take 10 minutes to sit by the river and permit my adrenaline levels return to a normal level. Then I start for home on Highway 201 north back into Mountain Home to complete this awe-inspiring Arkansas motorcycle trip.
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