Highly Recommended Roads

Arkansas Highway 14

** This is a great road from one end to the other.  It can be done in sections.**
Intersects with Highways 281, 7, 125, 235 , 27, 5 and 341(Push Mountain Road)

Highway 14 is a wonderful highway running through rural farm land and woodlands.  It passes primarily through small-town Ozarks. The entire length of Highway 14 is a nice ride. The 103 mile stretch from Highway 65 south to Mountain View offers a great combination of winding, twisty roads through very nice scenery. Highway 14 crosses the Buffalo River south of Yellville is a nice place to take a break. Highway 14 is basically a pleasurable ride through a varying Ozark country side.

Arkansas Highway 21

** Overlooked by many but this is one you won’t be sorry you rode.**
Intersects with Highway's 412, 74, 43 and 16

This is a little known highway, unfortunately it is eclipsed by the popular Highway 23. It holds its own against any road in the Ozarks in the category of riding fun. Highway 21 begins just north of I-40 near Clarksville. Like Highway 23; Highway 21starts on the level ground of the Arkansas River Valley but soon begins winding up the mountain sides. The serpentine route is similar to that of Highway 23 following rugged ridges and hillsides. Highway 21 runs to the Missouri border but the best part is the 62 miles from Clarksville to Boxley Valley which runs parallel to the headwaters of the Buffalo River. It is worth leaving Highway 21 and riding the five miles to the Buffalo River and Ponca.  Stop for a break at Ponca and take Highway 43 back to Harrison.

Arkansas Highway 23 - Eureka Springs to Ozark

** Includes the famous "PIG TRAIL" **

Great sweepers from Eureka Springs to St. Paul  and then you arrive at the "Pig Trail" for awesome twisties, switchbacks and scenery. Don't fail to stop at the Turner Bend Store (kind of a Mecca for bikers). Over the years, this Arkansas highway has consistently been ranked as one of the 10 best driving roads in the United States by driving magazines. What they say for autos goes double for motorcycles. The southern end of Highway 23 is called "The Pig Trail". The Pig Trail earned it's name for one of two possible reasons. 1. It was a popular route from central Arkansas to Fayetteville for football fans on their way to Arkansas Razorback games (Sooooie Pigs). 2. The road winds around like it was built following the meanderings of a wild Razorback Pig. At I-40 and the town of Ozark, (named 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 Highway 23 and the reason for its reputation; is that it runs 80 miles from Ozark to the 1890's Victorian resort town of Eureka Springs. You won't be sorry if you take this route through the heart of the Ozarks.

Arkansas Scenic Highway 7

My Favorite part is Harrison to Hwy 16
** The best twisties are between Harrison and Jasper **

Great sweepers and scenery from Jasper on south. Highway 7 runs from Diamond City on Bull Shoals Lake to near the Louisiana state line at El Dorado, Arkansas. The portion from Harrison across the Arkansas River at Russellville to south of Hot Springs (in the Ouachita Mountains) is surely one of the most scenic highways in the United States. The curves are less severe than some of the other Ozark highways but the vistas and scenery are pure eye candy. For our purpose here, we will only include Harrison to Russellville.

Arkansas Highway 16

Fayetteville to Clinton
** The Arkansas Toothpick **

A don't miss highway that intersects with Highway's 21, 23, 7 and 123 along its path. This is perhaps the best little known highway in the Ozarks. Except for short sections which run concurrent with Highway's 23, 21 & 7, this road is mostly familiar to local riders only which is really too bad because the 159 miles of Highway 16 between Fayetteville and Clinton are a fun, twisty and scenic. The reason Highway 16 is overlooked is that it really doesn't take you any place. It basically runs along the backbone of the Ozarks and follows a route full of curves and wonderful scenery. If you start out on the eastern end in Fayetteville and 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.

Arkansas Highway 125/Missouri Highway 160

** Peel Ferry Ride **

Highway's 125 and 160 are super! A favorite for lots of locals but as you near Branson, Missouri the traffic gets heavy. What makes this a great trip is that you cross Bull Shoals Lake on the Highway 125 - Peel Ferry. Not only is the road very enjoyable but the wait for and the trip on the Ferry (the last remaining ferry in the state) is a wonderful throwback to a time when there were five ferries crossing the waters of Bull Shoals Lake. The ferry is a relaxing way to spend 30 minutes or so with a free boat ride on a beautiful body of Ozark water. Ferry hours are from day light till 30 minutes before dark. If you miss the ferry your in for a long ride back around as this is the only place to cross the lake for 50 miles either way . A favorite for lots of locals.

Arkansas Highway 123

** Could be one of the best roads to rides in the state **

Highway 123 can be done in two sections where it intersects with Highway 7. My favorite is Western Grove to Highway 7 at Lurton but the southern section is really just about as good ! This is possibly the finest ride in the Ozarks. The road takes you through the heart of the Ozark National Forest traveling up ridges, mountain tops and down valleys. Crossing several white water rivers like the Big Piney & Buffalo that offer great canoeing opportunities. This ride offers spectacular scenery and a challenging riding. You'll likely encounter light traffic as most tourists will take Highway 21 or Highway 7 traveling north and south. From Western Grove at Highway 65 stay on Highway 123 to Mt. Judea (locally pronounced Mt. Judy). From Mt. Judea be warned about the curves and switchbacks ahead. Believe it! The highway hangs on the edge of the ridge winding along the mountain side. The road follows a very steep course with numerous switchbacks cutting back and forth almost 180 degrees. (I prefer to make this section of the run west to east.) Highway 123 intersects with Highway 7 and travels concurrently for three miles before veering off to Pelsor (also known as Sand Gap). This stretch of highway is just as exciting and scenic as the section northeast of Highway 7. This is a beautiful, fun and very challenging ride of 90 miles. You must take care on some sections of the road.

Missouri/Oklahoma Road

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