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Outdoors & Sports / Biking / Mountain and Road Trails
Mountain Trails

The Ozark Mountain Bicycle Trail -
The Ozark Mountain Bicycle Trail, still under development, runs about 40 miles
through the Buffalo National River area.
Starting at Forest Road 1205, the ride begins with beautiful waterfalls along
Falling Water Creek. The trail passes by Richland Creek Campground and climbs up Horn
Mountain. From the summit, the trail descends to Richland Creek Valley and the little
town of Snowball. From Snowball the trail heads into the scenic Buffalo National
River area ending at County Road 39.
NOTE: The trail is still under development and not
completely marked. Bikes are available for rent at various outfitters. For
information, contact: Searcy County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 836, Marshall, AR
72650 (870)448-5788.
Road Trails

Backwoods Ozark Tour - This 58 mile Backwoods Ozark Tour has been rated "Very Difficult" by Arkansas Parks
and Tourism.
To embark on this journey, leave from Jasper on Ark. 74 to Boxley; turn left on
Ark. 21 to Ark. 16; left on Ark. 16 to Ark. 7. There are two extremely difficult
climbs out of Jasper and Boxley; The last 3 miles is downhill to Jasper; refreshments
available at Swain, Deer and Jasper; traffic is heaviest on Ark. 7.
Mountain View to Mountain Home Bike Tour -
This road tour with its final destination in the Ozark Mountain Region Mountain Home
covers 60.5 miles, plus 14 miles to the Bull Shoals State Park campground. The tour
is rated "Difficult."
Take Ark. 5 north from Mountain View all the way to Calico Rock. The seven miles
from Mountain View to Allison is generally downhill. After Allison, Ark. 5 enters the
Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest and stays within the Forest almost all
the way to Calico Rock. This section of Ark. 5 is classified as a National Forest
Scenic Byway. It runs along the White River valley and is generally level with a few
easy climbs.
As Ark. 5 approaches Calico Rock, the bluffs for which the community was named
come into view. As you cross the White River, you enter Calico Rock's beautiful,
historic downtown Stay on Ark. 5 northwest out of Calico Rock all the way to Mountain
Home. This road carries a good deal of traffic; however, it is predominantly tourist
traffic, rather than commercial traffic. You'll be generally climbing from Calico
Rock all the way to Mountain Home -- again, without any extremely difficult
hills.
This section of Ark. 5 also follows the White River valley, offering beautiful
scenery and enjoyable activities. Two interesting diversions are the Wolfe House in
the community of Norfork and the Federal Fish Hatchery at the base of Norfork Lake
dam. Mountain Home offers excellent stores, restaurants and motels. The communities
of Lakeview and Bull Shoals just west of Mountain Home also offer several motel or
campground options. There are a number of nearby campgrounds on Bull Shoals Lake and
a great campground at Bull Shoals State Park, either right on the bank of the White
River or on the lakeshore. Gaston's White River Resort, a world class trout fishing
resort offering a great restaurant and a variety of lodging, is right on the river
just below the state park. The community of Bull Shoals also offers a number of
motel, resort and restaurant opportunities. Bull Shoals State Park lies 14 miles west
of Mountain Home on Ark. 178.
The Arkansas Bicycle Tour -
This two week bicycle tour through Arkansas includes the Mountain View to Mountain
Home tour described above. The Arkansas Bicycle Tour makes a loop from Little Rock
north through Heber Springs, Mountain View, Mountain Home, Harrison and south through
Russellville and Hot Springs. Estimated to take up to two weeks, the tour is outlined
in the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism's booklet, "Bicycle Arkansas," which
is available by calling (501) 682-1301 or by writing Arkansas Department of Parks and
Tourism, Outdoor Recreation Grants Section, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR
72201.
Helpful phone numbers:
- National Weather Service: (501) 834-0308
- Arkansas State Police: (501) 324-9370
- Emergency: 911
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