200 Miles
From Fayetteville, this adventurous ride sees many peaks and valleys as it takes you through the rugged Upper Buffalo Wilderness and down into the scenic Buffalo National River valley. The fun begins right out of town as you cross a narrow bridge over Lake Sequoyah. From here, a combination of exciting, twisty pavement and rural gravel roads leads you towards the lush Ozark Mountains. Riders looking for off-bike adventures can consider stopping at the King’s River Falls trailhead for a short hike to a beautiful waterfall.
As the surface turns into rocky dirt with more pronounced elevation changes, you’ll know you’ve made it into the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. In the wilderness, the Hawksbill Crag is one of the most photographed scenic viewpoints in Arkansas – which you can reach via a 1.3 mile hike through wild terrain. While worth it, experiencing this rewarding overlook can add a few hours to the day – so make sure to plan your time accordingly.
After you turn onto Highway 21, don’t miss the hidden left hand turn onto Walker Mountain Road. This bench cut road zigs and zags as you climb up and over Shiloh Mountain. Once back on the pavement, head east via twisty Highway 74 towards the small mountain town of Jasper. Here, you’ll find several options for food and a great spot to fuel the tank at Yeager’s Junction Qwik Stop. The Americana themed Ozark Café is a local favorite located on the town square. If you find Ozark Café with a wait to be seated, Jasper Pizza and Low Gap Café are also delicious options.
Once the tanks are full, head south on the curvy pavement of Highway 327 into the beautiful Buffalo River Valley towards Parthenon. Next, Murray Road is an undulating dirt road that takes you down closer to the Little Buffalo until you finally cross it on an old low water bridge. After crossing the river, you’ll turn onto Daniel’s Ridge Road - a dirt road climb through thick forest that brings you back up to Highway 21. A short stint on pavement includes a magnificent view over a valley before hanging a left back onto gravel.
Dynamic dirt follows Walnut Creek with several water crossings with depth dependent on season. A paved road signals you are close to Devil’s Knob, a viewpoint worthy of its short, rugged climb. Further down Highway 21, a turn on a gravel forest road takes you towards Oark and the ribbon of pavement that is Highway 215. Fly Gap Road puts you back on one of the most scenic gravel roads in the area. If you haven’t had enough viewpoints for the day, then Hanging Rock overlook has a view for you, overlooking a valley towards the iconic “Pig Trail”.
The route finishes with several mountain traverses via Fly Gap Road and Brannon Mountain Road - leading to paved “steep and dangerous curves” on Hazel Valley Road. From there, Highway 16 takes you on a leisurely trip back towards Fayetteville’s Historic Downtown, where a large variety of food and drink awaits.
