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The Natural State’s diverse terrain is well suited for all skill levels and interests. Beginners are always welcome, and advanced cyclists can always find a challenge here in The Natural State, where the mild climate allows for year-round riding. In cities and towns across the state, it’s easy to locate campsites, cabins, hotels and other accommoda-tions for overnight or weekend adventures.
This portion of the brochure offers a sample of road cycling opportunities. Please refer to the opposite side for mountain biking routes. The brochure also features a list of annual rides, charity events, maps and other resources to consider when planning your on- and off-road adventures in Arkansas.
Please share the road. Arkansas law states that motorists must pass on the left side only and allow a minimum of three feet of clearance. Cyclists should abide by this law when passing a pedestrian or slower cyclist. For more safety tips, refer to foldout panels at the center of this brochure.
For more detailed information, visit
Arkansas.com/outdoors/biking
A r k A n s A s b oA s t s s o m e o f
t h e m o s t b i k e r - f r i e n d ly
r oA d s i n t h e c o u n t r y.
Road- Cycling in Arkansas
The Scott-England Loop offers a smooth, flat ride past cotton fields and pecan groves. The long version of this ride
follows Harper’s Loop, a signed bicycling route, from the Arkansas River Trail in North Little Rock to Hwy. 165. The shorter route starts at the Plantation Agricultural Museum State Park in Scott and continues to England where you make a right onto Hwy. 161, which loops back to Scott. This is the route for the Tour de Rock charity ride.
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Scott- England/Harper’s Loop
Easy to Moderate Road35-50 miles
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Scott-England/Harper’s Loop
This 17-mile loop includes the Big Dam Bridge, Junction Bridge, Two Rivers Bridge and Clinton Presidential Park
Bridge, which connect downtown Little Rock and downtown North Little Rock. The Arkansas River Trail will extend to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, where it will link to mountain biking and hiking trails and the Wye Mountain Loop. Places of interest along the trail include the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, Heifer International, Riverfront Park, Rebsamen Golf Course, Murray Park, Two Rivers Park, Maumelle Park, North Shore Riverwalk and Burns Park.
Rivertrail.org
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Arkansas River Trail
Easy to Moderate Road and paved Trail17 miles
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Clinton Presidential Park Bridge
Two Rivers Bridge
Big Dam Bridge
Junction Bridge
Beautiful lake views and heart-pounding hills await you on the Wye Mountain Loop, accessible from the Arkansas River
Trail. Start at the picnic area at Pinnacle Mountain State Park on Hwy. 300. Take Barrett Rd. across from the picnic area entrance, turning right at Hwy. 10. Turn right onto Hwy. 113 (end of Lake Maumelle) and prepare for a strenuous climb up Wye Mountain. Bear right on Hwy. 300, which leads you back to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Expect heavy traffic along Hwy. 10. Early morning rides are recommended.
Moderate to DifficultRoad37 miles
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Wye Mountain Loop
Additional trails: Little Rock’s Medical Mile (road); Historical Trail in Little Rock’s MacArthur Park (road) and Tour of Lonoke County (road, 31 miles, easy).
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The Monticello to Warren Loop features smooth roads with good shoulders and some hills. Starting at the intersection
of Hwy. 35 and Hwy. 4 in Monticello, travel west on Hwy 4. Just beyond mile 6, turn north on Dickson Rd., which becomes Stafford Rd. at mile 9. After passing mile 12, turn left on Hwy. 35. Shortly past mile 18, turn left on Hwy. 15. Just past mile 29, turn left on East Church St. (Hwy. 4) and follow it back to the start.
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Monticello to Warren Loop
Moderate Road45 miles
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Wye Mountain Loop
Monticello to Warren Loop
The Tour of Columbia County passes by two of the oldest country stores in the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas region. Leave
Magnolia on Hwy. 19 S. Take it to Walkerville. Turn left on Hwy. 98 through Emerson, Atlanta, Village, McNeil to Ark. 19. Turn left on Hwy. 19 and travel back to Magnolia. Expect light traffic.
ModerateRoad65 miles
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Tour of Columbia County
Additional trails: Sheridan to Carthage Ride (road, 66 miles, easy); Old Washington Ride (road, 37 miles, easy) and Millwood State Park (mountain biking).
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ModerateRoad85 miles
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Mississippi River Trail
6This 85-mile portion of the 3,000-mile Mississippi River Trail offers biker-friendly roads and multi-use pathways from West
Memphis to Helena-West Helena. Beginning in West Memphis, head west on Hwy. 70 and turn left onto Tom Sawyer Rd. Take another left on Airport/Waverly Lake Rd. Meander right then left onto Hwy. 147, turning left onto Hwy. 131. Travel straight on Hwy. 147, then turn left on Hwy. 38 and left again on U.S. Hwy. 79 at Hughes. Follow Hwy. 79 to Marianna. Turn left on Hwy. 1, then left on Hwy. 242. Make another left on County Rd. 217 to Storm Creek Lake Rd. Turn left on Anderson St. and travel straight through the stoplight on Springdale Rd. Follow Springdale Rd. to College St., take a left on Market St., followed by a right at the stoplight onto Cherry St. in downtown Helena-West Helena.
MississippiRiverTrail.org
Tour of Columbia County
The Sea Wall Mural, Helena-West Helena
The hills of Crowley’s Ridge Parkway give this Delta ride lots of character. Start at East Lake and Hwy. 49 in Paragould
and travel east on East Lake. Turn north on 22nd Ave. and east on Bard St., south on Twin Oaks Rd., then east on Hwy. 412. At just over 9 miles, go north on Hwy. 139. At mile 23, follow Hwy. 119 N., then turn east on Hwy. 49. Follow Hwy. 49 into Piggott and then west on Hwy. 62 to McDougal. Turn south on Hwy. 141. Past mile 59, turn west on Hwy. 141. Follow Hwy. 141 to mile 74 and turn left on Hwy. 135. Just past mile 79, turn east on Greene Rd., then south on New Friendship Rd. At mile 88, turn west on East Darling St. then south on Rector Rd. Travel west on Bard St., south on Vance St., west on West Northend Ave., then travel south on North Pruett St. to the start.
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Paragould- Piggott Loop
Easy to Moderate Road89.5 miles
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Additional trails: Arkansas Post National Monument Ride (road, 68 miles, easy) and Delta Heritage Trail State Park (road, 14 miles, moderate).
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From Mena, take Hwy. 88 (Talimena Scenic Byway) up Rich Mountain (a 14-mile climb) and into Oklahoma (88 becomes
Hwy. 1 in Oklahoma.) Follow Hwy. 1 to Hwy. 259. Turn left on Hwy. 259, and take it to Hwy. 63. Turn left on Hwy. 63 back to Mena (Hwy. 63 becomes Hwy. 8 in Arkansas). Restrooms and lodging are atop the mountain at Queen Wilhelmina State Park where refreshments are also available.
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DifficultRoad60 miles
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Paragould-Piggott Loop, Crowley’s Ridge State Park
Talimena Scenic Byway
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Diamond Loop Multi-Day Tour
Moderate to Difficult Roadabout 268 miles
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This loop cuts through historic Hot Springs National Park with scenic views of the Ouachita Mountains. Start at the
intersection of Grand Ave. and Central Ave. Travel north on Central Ave. (Scenic Hwy. 7). At mile 6.5, go straight on Hwy. 5. At mile 20.5, turn right on Narrows Rd. (in Crows). Follow Narrows Rd. until it hits Hwy. 70, and turn right. Take Hwy. 70 (Grand Ave.) back to the start. For a shorter version of this ride, turn right on Hwy. 128 off of Hwy. 5, then right on scenic Millcreek Rd. Return to Hot Springs via Magic Springs Park using either Hwy. 70 or Spring St.
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Hot Springs Loop
Moderate to Difficult Road51 miles
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This informal bike ride makes for a good multi-day tour with camping at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in
Bismarck, White Oak Lake State Park in Bluff City, Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro and Daisy State Park in Kirby. Camping is also available at the city park in Hope. Attractions on this route include Historic Washington State Park and the President William Jefferson Clinton Birth-place Home National Historic Site in Hope.
DeGray Lake Resort State Park
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sDay 1: Begin at DeGray Lake Resort State Park and travel south on Hwy. 7 through Arkadelphia taking Hwy. 67 to Gurdon, Hwy. 53 to Bluff City and Hwy. 387 to White Oak State Park (about 50 miles). Day 2: Travel back to Bluff City southwest on Hwy. 299 to Hwy. 371 and south to Rosston. Follow 278 west to Hope for camping at fairgrounds (about 50 miles).Day 3: Take Hwy. 278 west out of Hope to Historic Washington State Park and on to Nashville. Follow Hwy. 27 east to Murfreesboro and Crater of Diamonds State Park (about 50 miles).Day 4: Follow Hwy. 27 north from Murfreesboro to Kirby and west on Hwy. 70 to Daisy State Park (about 50 miles).Day 5: Travel back to Kirby and go east on Hwy. 84 to Amity, east on Hwy. 8 to Alpine and north on Fendley Road following signs to Alpine Ridge and Ozan Point Campgrounds (about 38 miles).Day 6: Travel Brushy Rd. to Skyline Dr. going east and then north on Hwy. 7 back to DeGray Lake Resort State Park (about 30 miles).
Cyclists pass a picturesque old mill on twenty-one miles of beautiful rolling hills. Starting in Batesville on North Central
Ave. (Hwy. 69), go north following Hwy. 69 for just over eight miles. Turn left on Hwy. 106 and follow it to mile 14 where Hwy. 106 will take a sharp left and head east back to Batesville. Many roads have wide shoulders or are lightly traveled.
Moderate Road21 miles
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Batesville- Ozark Loop
11Located at Hobbs State Park Con-servation Area near Beaver Lake, this curvy trail is designated for
hikers, bikers and equestrians. It winds around ridge tops and rims and features hills with 200 ft. to 300 ft. descents. Ten miles east of Rogers on Hwy. 12.
ArkansasStateParks.com/HobbsStateParkConservationArea
Hidden Diversity TrailLEVEL OF DIFFICULTY:
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Moderate to DifficultMountain Biking21 miles
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Additional trails: Lake Leatherwood (mountain biking, 13 miles, moderate) and Slaughter Pen Trail (mountain biking, 10 miles, moderate).
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TS Arky 100October ride through Grant and Dallas counties in southern Arkansas. 25-, 50-, 62- and 100-mile options. Arkansasbicycleclub.org
Big Dam Bridge 100Little Rock event held in September with 12-, 32-, 50-, 82- and 100-mile routes overlooking the Arkansas River. TheBigdambridge100.com
Bike MS Fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A 150-mile, two-day ride starting in Little Rock. Held in September.
Buffalo Headwaters ChallengeA January ride departing from Foggy Rock Farm in the Buffalo National River Headwaters near Red Star. Features 35 miles of challenging singletrack and doubletrack trails.
Eureka Springs Fat Tire FestivalThree-day celebration of mountain biking in Eureka Springs. Held in July. Fattirefestival.com
Highway 71 ClassicAnnual ride on Scenic Highway 71 in Northwest Arkansas each March. 36- and 70-mile options.Bconwa.com/northwest-arkansas
Ouachita ChallengeAnnual mountain biking race held each spring in the Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas. Ouachitachallenge.com
Ozark Mountain Bike FestivalAnnual two-day mountain biking event at scenic Devil’s Den State Park in Northwest Arkansas. Held in April. ArkansasStateParks.com/DevilsDen
Syllamo’s RevengeA 50-mile mountain bike race near Mountain View. Held in May. Syllamosrevenge.com
Tour de HillsAnnual ride in Harrison. 15- and 26-mile rides, and a challenging 58-mile race along the Jasper Disaster route. Held in April. Tourdehills.com
Tour de Hoot Fundraiser benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of McGehee. 25- to 100-mile routes on flat rural roads, all paved. Held in May. Tourdehoot.com
Tour de RockAnnual ride in North Little Rock benefiting the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute. Offers 30- to 100-mile routes. Held in June. Carti.com
For additional rides and information: Arkansasoutside.comCyclingarkansas.com
For more information on bicycling in Arkansas and other group rides, contact:
Arkansas Bicycle Club (ABC) Arkansasbicycleclub.org
Bicycle Advocacy of Arkansas (BACA)Bacar.org
Bicycle Coalition of the OzarksBconwa.com
Bike Arkansas DirectoryBikearkansas.com
Buffalo River CyclistsBuffalorivercyclists.org
Conway Advocates for Bicycling (CAB) Cycleconway.com
Fayetteville WheelmenArkansasracing.com
Hot Springs Bicycle Association (HSBA)Bikehotsprings.org
Ozark Off Road CyclistsOzarkoffroadcyclists.com
For a complete list of Arkansas bike shops and bike rentals, visit BikeArkansas.com/Shops/shops.html.
Used for both recreation and commuting, these three trails connect downtownFayetteville, the University of Arkansas
main campus and Washington Regional Medical Center to shopping and numerous parks. Bike lanes on Vantage Drive connect the Mud Creek Trail to Lake Fayetteville Park and other trails. A wonderful urban ride in Northwest Arkansas.
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EasyRoad and Paved Trail7.58 miles
Frisco- Scull Creek-Mud Creek Trails
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Additional trail: Pea Ridge Tour (road, 11 miles, easy).
Hidden Diversity Trail, Hobbs State Park
Scull Creek Trail
Scull Creek Trail, Fayetteville
Cove Lake near Paris
APT 18388 Brochure Map 1_10_12.indd 2 2/10/12 2:02 PM
Batesville-Ozark Loop