Suggested Rides at STN National

[Connierider]

for you folks who have never been in NW Arkansas and Southern Missouri to ride - you are in for a treat with some of the finest riding in the southern midwest region.

I see there have been several routes posted that are south and east of E.S. and they are good ones.  

But, you will be remiss if you don't partake of some of the best routes - which are right along the Ark/Missouri border and in southern Missouri.  When Missouri builds rural roads they don't flatten or straighten anything so they can be hilly and twisty.

Having been to Eureka Springs five times now - four on the bike and once in a Miata, I think I can offer up some choice routes/roads you will find quite tasty.

I was just there the last weekend in April at the Southern FJR Owners Rally where we had 85 FJRs.

WARNING: The roads in this area have many blind corners, hilltop driveways and decreasing radius turns at 10-30 mph so be careful and alert at all times.  One moment of inattention can be disastrous as two FJR owners found out.

This is from Yahoo Maps site.

Route 1: - if you only do one - DO THIS ROUTE
go east out of E.S. on HW 62 to Berryville
go northeast on HW 21 almost to the Missouri border to Blue Eye
at Blue Eye go east/south on HW 311 to County Road 91
Go left on CR 91 to CR 16 which turns into Denver Road to Burlington
at Burlington, turn north on HW 65 to HW 14 and turn right
Go east on HW 14 to Lead Hill (gas stop) and go through town to HW 268
Turn left on HW 268 about six miles to HW 125 and turn left (north) to Peel
take HW 125 to Bull Shoals lake and cross the lake on the small ferry (worth the trip)
Take HW 125 in Missouri north until it intersects HW 160
Go Left on HW 160 (BEST ROAD IN THE AREA)
At intersection of HW 160 and Road "O" there is a small cafe on the right that has EXCELLENT
food and a nice view.
Continue on HW 160 to HW 76 (gas stop) and turn left on HW 76
Take HW 76 to Road "J" and turn left (south)
Take Road "J" to "JJ and turn left on JJ
Take Road JJ all the way back down south to HW 14 in Arkansas
At HW 14 turn right (west) back to HW 65 and turn right (north)
Take HW 65 north to HW 86 and turn left (west) on HW 86
Take HW 86 west all the way to Road "P" (Ark 23 - gas stop) and turn left (south)
Take Road "P" (Ark 23) south back to Eureka Springs - you will ride up through town to HW 62

Route 2:
take HW 62 west/north out of E.S. to Gateway and HW 37
go north on HW 37 to Washburn and turn left (west) on HW 90.
Take HW 90 west all the way to Noel - gas stop
At Noel - turn around and repeat road back to Washburn
At Washburn turn right (south) on HW 37 to Seligman to HW 112
Turn left (east) at Seligman on HW 112 to Road "F"
At Road "F" turn right (south) to Eagle Rock and HW 86
Go left (east) on HW 86 to Road "P" (Ark 23 - gas stop) and turn right (south)
Take Road "P" (Ark 23) south to Eureka Springs.

Route 3:
Take HW 23 south out of E.S. to HW 12 and turn right (west)
Take HW 12 west all the way to Rogers - turn around and repeat
HW 12 is a lot of fast sweepers and a very smooth road

Having been raised in the nw ARk/sw Mo area I can assure you 160 is far from the best road in the area.If you turn on 160 where you suggest you've just missed the best part of 125! And if you're going east west in Missouri take 76 from Branson to Cassville.Then 37 so to Ark 62 which bring you abck into ES on the west side.

[SWriverstone]

So given the massive amounts of rain and flooding they've had down in that area lately...I wonder if there are roads to be avoided? (As in, roads that *used* to have bridges.  )

Scott

[sprocket]

So given the massive amounts of rain and flooding they've had down in that area lately...I wonder if there are roads to be avoided? (As in, roads that *used* to have bridges.  )

Scott

I don't think so, some of the washed out areas I saw have been temporarily fixed with gravel. There all well marked so its not like it will sneak upon you or something. Arkansas has sure had its fair share of natural disasters so far this year.

[FJRmgm]

So given the massive amounts of rain and flooding they've had down in that area lately...I wonder if there are roads to be avoided? (As in, roads that *used* to have bridges.  )

Scott

That was not a problem as of the end of April when we were there.  

However, Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes are at historically high levels so there is water backed up in places it has never been before.

But, there were no issues with bridges.  

As always when riding roads along mountain sides though, you must watch for runoff water and rocks and stuff coming across the roadway on corners and curves.

[stk0308]

Having been raised in the nw ARk/sw Mo area I can assure you 160 is far from the best road in the area.If you turn on 160 where you suggest you've just missed the best part of 125!

+1 THAT!  125 north of 160 is much better than 160 west of the juncture.  160 is nice, but man, 125 is much, much better.

[garry]

A couple questions about 125 in MO and AR.

I've read that the part north of 160 in MO is really good. How far north does the good stuff go?

Also, how far south (in AR) is it really good?

[sprocket]

125 is good ridin all the way till you get just south of Springfield MO. Then it develops more traffic, houses, just a typical increase in general population. I have never rode past that point.
 125 south into Arkansas to 14 is a short distance, to me its just the part that gets you to the ferry.
 There is a little section from 412 south to 235, I don't know if I ever rode that part or not, but it cant be much its short and in the flat lands.

[garry]

125 is good ridin all the way till you get just south of Springfield MO. Then it develops more traffic, houses, just a typical increase in general population. I have never rode past that point.
 125 south into Arkansas to 14 is a short distance, to me its just the part that gets you to the ferry.
 There is a little section from 412 south to 235, I don't know if I ever rode that part or not, but it cant be much its short and in the flat lands.

Thanks. Just trying to figure out a plan for late Monday (160 in MO), Tuesday (300 mile local loop), and Wednesday morning (twisties en route to Memphis). Your loops look like huge fun, but I need a slightly shorter day than 400+ miles on Tuesday since there is the dinner that night and I will have just ridden 1300 twisty miles in the past 3 days.

Any chance of posting a "Best Of" 300-350 mile loop similar to your route #2, but without the MO section and without Push Mtn (since I will be doing 160 to 13 south on Monday, 125, 341 and 14 on Wednesday)?


EDIT: Sprocket, what do you think of this 349 mile route? Feel free to suggest changes. I'm winging it...  http://tinyurl.com/5nl28t

I figure I can loop north into MO (north of Branson) early Wed morning, ride a big chunk of 125 south into AR, ride the ferry, then head to Mtn Home to catch Push Mtn to 14 and then continue southeast toward Mtn View and on to Memphis.

[sprocket]

 I will have just ridden 1300 twisty miles in the past 3 days.
 

What a privilege!

That route looks great to me, very few main hwy miles, and the majority of what you have is backwoods rural twisties, its just hard to go wrong with that!
I'm not real good at that tiny url stuff, but I will post up a 300 - 350 mile route, minus the MO. stuff and Push Mtn. It will include what I think is the best stuff.
Again my preferences always shift toward, minimal traffic, maximum twisty and routes rural enough that we can let the hammer down ever now and again.
It's been posted here before about riding 10-30 mph twisties and getting wore out and all, but I don't know anywhere (except the handful of  switchbacks on 123) in Arkansas were you cant ride any faster than that in the twisties. If you do your gonna get run over by grandma on her way to the church quilting get-together, or passed by a Harley.

[R Doug]

Garry, that's  good looking route and there are some similarities to what I was planning.  The biggest difference is I'm giving up 125 to check out 309 south of I-40.  I wonder what's better between 125 and 309?  It sounds like 125 is something not to miss.  If so, I may just do your route so I can take in the much talked about 125.

Regarding Rt. 160, I'm taking it on my way in on Monday.  Then, on my way to Memphis on Wednesday, I plan on hitting Rt. 341!

[garry]

Garry, that's  good looking route and there are some similarities to what I was planning.  The biggest difference is I'm giving up 125 to check out 309 south of I-40.  I wonder what's better between 125 and 309?  It sounds like 125 is something not to miss.  If so, I may just do your route so I can take in the much talked about 125.

Regarding Rt. 160, I'm taking it on my way in on Monday.  Then, on my way to Memphis on Wednesday, I plan on hitting Rt. 341!

My plan for Wednesday is to hit all of 125 (from north of 160 in MO), head east to 341/Push Mtn, then take 14/etc to Memphis.

So I'm trying to avoid 125 and 341 on the Tuesday loop, but still hit a bunch of good roads. My Monday route to Eureka Springs is nearly 500 miles (almost no slab), so I'm going to be more than a little tired on Tuesday, hence the desire to keep the route length sane. Plus there is the dinner that night. My/our only chance to socialize is Tuesday afternoon/evening, so I want to be back to the hotel by 5pm at the latest for BS'ing, beer and BBQ.

[sprocket]

OK try this, IMO some of the "best" twisty ridin in Arkansas!
Again I told you how I base my opinions. I'm not at all interested in a relaxed, smell the flowers kind of ride. I'm a Sport-Tour rider so get on the gas!!


http://tinyurl.com/5b5yr7

[garry]

OK try this, IMO some of the "best" twisty ridin in Arkansas!
Again I told you how I base my opinions. I'm not at all interested in a relaxed, smell the flowers kind of ride. I'm a Sport-Tour rider so get on the gas!!


http://tinyurl.com/5b5yr7

That route looks great. We have a winner! I have the same mentality when riding. I like to put in full days of rural twisties at a sporty pace. 325 miles is perfect! I don't mind some funky pavement either. Looking forward to it, plus it makes my departure route on Wednesday a no-brainer (125, 341, 14, etc)

Thanks sprocket!

[SWriverstone]

I guess I'm a member of the wrong forum. I need "Smell-the-Flowers-Touring.Net."   (SFTN)

While I'm not a slow-poke, I'm nowhere near Garry and Doug's hardcore league.   They like nothing but HARD RIDING...whereas I like to explore the countryside, meaning rubberneck a lot while I'm riding and take lots of pictures.

And for me, the more empty and deserted a road is, the better!   I'd be thrilled if I didn't see another motorcycle, cage, or bicycle all day.

So if any of the Arkansas experts have recommendations for my kind of riding, I'd love to hear 'em!

Scott

[sprocket]

I guess I'm a member of the wrong forum. I need "Smell-the-Flowers-Touring.Net."   (SFTN)

While I'm not a slow-poke, I'm nowhere near Garry and Doug's hardcore league.   They like nothing but HARD RIDING...whereas I like to explore the countryside, meaning rubberneck a lot while I'm riding and take lots of pictures.

And for me, the more empty and deserted a road is, the better!   I'd be thrilled if I didn't see another motorcycle, cage, or bicycle all day.

So if any of the Arkansas experts have recommendations for my kind of riding, I'd love to hear 'em!

Scott

Well I know I'm no expert, I've just spent alot of time riding in Arkansas. Heck I can be just about anywhere in Arkansas in a few hours or so from my house.
My wife doesn't ride with me very often, but when she does, its at a pace we can smell each and every flower along the way.
And I do enjoy that with her! Theres something about having her pressed up against my... Well I don't guess I need to go into that.
One of my favorite things about hard riding with others is being able to watch there styles, to me theres nothing more elegant than seeing a really smooth rider flow with the road. I'm really looking forward to meeting alot of the guys and gals from this forum.
It should be a great couple of days in June!

[R Doug]

My/our only chance to socialize is Tuesday afternoon/evening, so I want to be back to the hotel by 5pm at the latest for BS'ing, beer and BBQ.

I hear ya and I really like sprocket's route too.

I think we may be traveling back together from Wednesday on, but I plan on taking Scott's "stop and smell the roses" approach to Memphis.    Therefore, I may make a more direct line to Memphis to check it out a little more and catch up w/ you later that evening for dinner.

[FJRmgm]

OK try this, IMO some of the "best" twisty ridin in Arkansas!
Again I told you how I base my opinions. I'm not at all interested in a relaxed, smell the flowers kind of ride. I'm a Sport-Tour rider so get on the gas!!


http://tinyurl.com/5b5yr7

That is a very good route that combines all of the best NW Arkansas has to offer.

Be aware that on HW 7 you are going up on the mountain ridge and it can be 10-20 degrees cooler and windy compared to the valley below.

[FJRmgm]

I guess I'm a member of the wrong forum. I need "Smell-the-Flowers-Touring.Net."   (SFTN)

While I'm not a slow-poke, I'm nowhere near Garry and Doug's hardcore league.   They like nothing but HARD RIDING...whereas I like to explore the countryside, meaning rubberneck a lot while I'm riding and take lots of pictures.

And for me, the more empty and deserted a road is, the better!   I'd be thrilled if I didn't see another motorcycle, cage, or bicycle all day.

So if any of the Arkansas experts have recommendations for my kind of riding, I'd love to hear 'em!

Scott

Route 1 on my original post is very good for that.  You get twistys with not much traffic, a ferry ride over Bull Shoals lake and HW 86 in Missouri which is very scenic with lots of camera opportunities and the route is not insanely long so you spend all day in the saddle.