From mountainous ridgelines to creek lined roads, the opportunities for gravel road riding are endless around Fayetteville. The surrounding Madison and Washington counties boast hundreds of miles of gravel roads leading into Ozark National Forest – known as “one of America’s most scenic and picturesque areas”.

For cyclists, the region is rich with remote gravel riding adventures where hardwood tree canopy can cover the roads and rolling ridgelines tower over the rivers and farmlands that dot the countryside below. While arduous climbs can be customary, miles of outstretching descents balance a gratifying gravel riding experience in the Ozarks. To aid in route selection we’ve assigned a simple rating of Mild, Moderate, or Challenging to each route – based on the overall distance, elevation per mile, and/or services available on the ride.

Beginning from popular outdoor destinations with public parking lots, the following is a collection of gravel routes favoring cyclists looking for their next unpaved adventure.