Beginning from the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, our ‘Battlelands’ route features mostly gravel roads (65%) in and around Prairie Grove, Arkansas – home to one of America’s most intact Civil War battlefields.
From the parking lot, the route follows a popular self-guided driving tour through the 838-acre State Park. Rich in historical significance, cyclists will pedal through the same wheat and cornfields where “Confederate and Union forces clashed in a fierce day of fighting” and what became the last major Civil War battle in Northwest Arkansas.
Following the Battlefield Park Road, a 3-mile section of scenic pavement leads to long runouts of shaded gravels roads twisting through the farm rich valley of the Illinois River. Around mile 9 the route crosses a small tributary of the Illinois River. Depending on seasonal rainfall, this low water crossing can be a few inches or a few feet deep. While refreshing in the summer, be mindful of this possible water crossing during the winter months. If necessary, simply staying on Rose Cemetery Road provides a highwater bypass.
A short pedal through Prairie Grove’s Historic Downtown (listed on the National Register of Historical Places) leads cyclists back to the State Park, where a unique collection of buildings and artifacts depicting life during the Civil War lead back to the parking lot.
With well-maintained gravel roads and under 1000 feet of elevation, our 22-mile ‘Battlelands’ route is rated Mild - ideal for the beginner gravel cyclist OR avid cyclists looking for a spirited loop. While low in traffic density, cyclists will want to use caution while riding along the short portions of two-lane State Highways and paved county roads that link the gravel together.
Where to Park
The Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park commemorates the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, Confederate and Union forces collided in a brutal day of fighting that left 2,700 casualties. Arkansas’s largest Civil War battle re-enactment takes place here biennially (even-numbered years) the first weekend in December. Free parking is open year-round from 8am until one hour after sunset.
