Buffalo River Loop

• Feeling the hills gradually grow taller and steeper heading east from Fayetteville
• Descending from sweeping summit vistas to the depths of the Buffalo River valley
• The rugged and secluded riding along the Buffalo River
• Small-town resupply experiences, scenic campgrounds, and swimming holes

The Buffalo River Loop departs Fayetteville on lower traffic paved roads to the small community of Goshen, and east of there, the vast majority of the route is unpaved. The hills gradually grow steeper and taller, and the views broader. Huntsville (mile 32) and Kingston (mile 52) both offer resupply options, but camping/lodging options are not available until around mile 58; east of here, there are countless lodging and camping options (see the route POIs in RWGPS for more information) as this region is a popular tourism destination.

Riders will reach the edge of the deep Buffalo River Valley around mile 62, and jaws will drop – it’s incredibly scenic country. The small community of Ponca sits far below, and the BOC Ponca downhill MTB trails plunge down from a trailhead at mile 63. Pavement riding leads to Compton and the bikepacker-friendly JB Trading Outpost and campground at mile 69. East of there, the route becomes steadily rougher and more rugged as it enters the Buffalo National River lands administered by the National Park Service and descends nearly 1,500 feet. Don’t expect National Park-style amenities, however – this remote area along the Buffalo River corridor has some of the roughest backcountry roads in the region. Between miles 70 and 85, wide tires and low gearing will be greatly appreciated. There are numerous dispersed camping along this stretch, and the small Cavers Camp (mile 75) is a pleasant little official camping area. Several water crossings must be negotiated with caution.

The roughest section of the route ends at Highway 7 (mile 86), and the next 5 miles of the route into Jasper follow this narrow mountain road – ride with caution here. Jasper is a charming small town that’s become an outdoor recreation hub and offers all services a bikepacker may want aside from a bike shop. This is also the last resupply opportunity on the loop for 95 miles, unless riders opt to loop back through Huntsville on their return to Fayetteville.

At Jasper, the route wraps back to the west, but the terrain continues to be incredibly demanding. The gravel roads in this area are generally reasonably well-maintained, but the climbs are steep, and riders might find themselves doing some walking on the steepest pitches. The route passes the cyclist-friendly Horseshoe Canyon Ranch and campground (mile 102) and then drops steeply back down to the Buffalo River at mile 113. The steepest of the long climbs on the route immediately follows, and then the terrain becomes a bit less demanding on the high ridgelines that follow. Riders will enter the Ozark National Forest at mile 118 and pass the Hawksbill Crag Trail, an incredibly popular scenic hike. Dispersed camping opportunities become more numerous between miles 123 and 128. Riders will also pass Wahzhazhe Summit, the highest peak in the Ozarks, at mile 123, as well as the Buffalo River Headwaters mountain bike trail system. As the name implies, this area is where the mighty Buffalo River begins!

As the route leaves the Buffalo River behind, the final camping option on the route is the private and rustic Red Fern Camp along a creek (mile 129). There’s not much for amenities here, but the setting is beautiful. Beyond that, riders will pass the Kings River Falls trailhead and then leave National Forest lands at mile 131. The final 55 miles of the route are across private lands and unfortunately have no camping or lodging options. The terrain becomes less demanding, but there still is plenty of climbing remaining. Water sources also become less frequent – the Venus Church at mile 133 has a well riders can use to fetch water, and creeks at miles 146 and 159 are generally reliable outside of drought periods.

At miles 140 and 146, riders have the option of turning north to reach Huntsville. Riders might opt to start/finish their rides here to shorten the loop and longer stretches without camping/lodging options. Riders returning to Fayetteville could also opt to resupply in Huntsville and retrace their outbound route back west; this doesn’t notably change mileage, and the riding is a little easier.

The final miles of the route west of the Highway 23 crossing at mile 146 have a series of four punchy, steep, and chunky climbs of 300 to 500 feet that will sting the legs. Goshen offers one last opportunity for resupply before the final and mostly paved 14 miles back to Fayetteville.

• Paved: 35%
• Smooth Gravel: 35%
• Rough Gravel: 25%
• 4×4 Road: 5%
• Singletrack: 0%

Mountain bikes or gravel bikes with 50mm/2” tires and low gearing for steep climbs are strongly recommended for this loop.

See POI descriptions on route in RWGPS for more information; reservations generally required in campgrounds

• Mile 14 – Goshen: Convenience store, restaurant
• Mile 33 – Huntsville: Grocery store, restaurants, motel
• Mile 52 – Kingston: General store/restaurant
• Mile 56 – Camping: Spoke n Tru private cliffside campsite 2 miles north off route
• Miles 58-65 – Numerous campgrounds, cabins, hostel; see POIs for more info
• Mile 63 – water at Ponca DH MTB Trailhead
• Ponca (off route at miles 65 and 104): General store, cabins
• Mile 69 – Compton: JB Trading Outpost, campground, cabins
• Miles 72-82 – Dispersed camping on Buffalo Nat’l River lands; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 92 – Jasper: Grocery store, restaurant, motels, campground
• Mile 102 – Horseshoe Canyon Ranch: Campground, cabins, restaurant, tiny store
• Mile 113 – Buffalo River
• Miles 124-127 – Dispersed camping on Ozark National Forest; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 129 – Red Fern Camp: Private rustic campsites along creek
• Mile 130 – Kings River
• Mile 133 – Venus Church: Water well
• Mile 146 – War Eagle Creek
• Mile 173 – Goshen: Convenience store, restaurant
• No camping options for the first ~60 and final ~60 miles of loop

Singletrack Trail Systems:

• BOC Ponca Downhill Trails (mile 63): Downhill trails descend to the Buffalo River at Ponca
• Upper Buffalo Headwaters Trails (mile 123): An IMBA Epic trail system in the rugged terrain around the tallest mountain in Arkansas

Route Alternates:

• Goshen alternate starting location: Shortens route to 158 miles with 14,600 feet of climbing. Vehicles can be left at the Goshen Community Center.

• What kind of bike should I ride? Mountain bikes or gravel bikes with 50c/2” tires and low gearing for steep climbs are strongly recommended for this loop. “Standard” gravel bikes are not ideal for some of the chunky, loose, and steep roads and climbs in the eastern half of this loop.

• What’s the ideal time of year to ride the route? Spring and fall months tend to be ideal for riding in northwest Arkansas. Summer months can be dangerously hot and humid, and winter months can be cold, snowy, and icy at times, particularly in the mountains. Pre-leaf-out in the spring (typically late April/early May) will offer the best views, and fall colors typically peak around mid- to late October.

• How long will the route take to ride?  The full route will take most riders 4+ days; it can be shortened by a day or so by starting in Goshen or Huntsville.

• Do I need any special permits? No.

• Are there any specific safety considerations on this route? See the general route network information for suggestions related to vehicle traffic, dogs, and ticks.

• What is the longest distance between resupplies? ~95 miles from Jasper back to Fayetteville (or 81/61 miles if starting in Goshen/Huntsville). Riders could also opt to return via Huntsville, adding a resupply option mid-way through the ride back to Fayetteville.

• What is the longest distance between reliable water sources?  ~30 miles; riders should be prepared to filter/treat stream water

• What are the most recommended camping locations along the route? The private cliffside camping location 2 miles off route at mile 56 is fantastic (reservations/payment required). Dispersed camping in the Buffalo River Canyon (miles 73-77) has received top reviews. Horseshoe Campground (mile 102) is a beautiful spot, the rustic creek side Red Fern Camp at mile 129 is idyllic (private; reservations required), and the campground at JB Trading Outpost near Compton (mile 69) also comes recommended by bikepackers.

• Is it easy to find places to camp? Camping/overnight options need to be planned somewhat carefully for this loop since the first ~60 and final ~60 miles of the route are through private lands with no camping options and very limited lodging options. The remainder of the route in the Buffalo River region has many options for dispersed camping, campgrounds, cabins, and lodges. Starting the route east of Fayetteville in Goshen or Huntsville will shorten the initial and final stretches with no camping options.

• Where can I park? Overnight parking is available in the Fayetteville Town Center’s parking deck. The entrance is located on East Ave, at the intersection of East and Rock. If you intend to park overnight, please let us know in advance – [email protected].

• Can I ride the route in either direction? Yes, but the climbs are a bit less demanding when the loop is ridden in the counterclockwise direction; route resources are written in the counterclockwise direction.

• How do I follow the route? These routes are not marked on the ground in any way. The route is hosted on Ride With GPS – you can download the GPS data to a GPS unit or use the Ride With GPS mobile app to navigate (the free “basic plan” is all you need for this). Visit bikepackingroots.org/projects/fayetteville to find links to the route on Ride With GPS. If navigating on your mobile device, expect the battery to run down more quickly than usual.

• This route traverses the traditional lands of the Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), O-ga-xpa (Quapaw), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux), Caddo, and 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^ (Osage).

Please be sure to get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.

Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.

Thanks to Kurt Refsnider for the route development, Brannon Pack and Andrew Onermaa for route suggestions, and all the Route Test Team participants who test rode this loop and provided valuable feedback.

Photo Credits: Tim Keen and Kevin Lowe