Tour de Ozarks Mega

• Climbing away from Fayetteville and into the high Boston Mountains via quiet gravel roads
• Remarkable views and long descents reward the effort to get up every big climb
• Ridge top gravel roads that meander along for miles and miles past the region’s highest peaks
• 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 Tour de Ozarks Mega Loop links together several shorter gravel bikepacking routes to create a 260-mile grand tour of some of the most rugged and scenic country in the Ozarks. This route will take most riders 5-8 days, depending on daily mileage. The loop departs downtown Fayetteville and meanders southwest out of town on bike paths, past Kessler Mountain Park, and then follows ~6 miles of paved roads before turning toward Prairie Grove on rural gravel. Just past mile 16, riders can opt to follow the route into downtown Prairie Grove (where there’s a nice café, restaurants, a grocery store, and town park) or bypass it on Centerpoint Church Road. A quiet paved country road leads to the historic Canehill town site at mile 26. There’s a small museum here, as well as restrooms and water.

The climbing begins in earnest at mile 32 with the ascent to the ridgeline of Skylight Mountain. An exhilarating descent to Cove Creek follows, and at mile 43, riders enter the Ozark National Forest. There are several creek side dispersed camping opportunities along this stretch of road, and many more campsites can be found along the route for the next 10 miles of up-and-down mountain roads; most campsites are not adjacent to creeks, however, so plan accordingly for water needs. Most riders will opt to spend the first night out.

At mile 58, the route passes a beautiful swimming hole in Lee Creek before climbing 1,000 feet past more dispersed camping areas. At mile 65, the “Easier Mountainburg Alternate” splits off the main route. The main route meanders south past Kimes and Meadow Mountains on chunkier gravel roads with numerous short, steep climbs and broad views before descending 1,000’ in just 4 steep miles to the town of Mountainburg. This community has several restaurants and a small market, and there’s an inn 4 miles off route in Chester.

The “Easier Mountainburg Alternate” into and out of Mountainburg is similar in length and climbing to the main route, but the alternate is entirely paved (as opposed to almost entirely unpaved), bypasses the very demanding Warloop Road climb east of Mountainburg, and passes through Chester and its cafe and inn. All services in Mountainburg are also on this alternate.

East of Mountainburg, the main route climbs Warloop Road, a steep, rocky, and adventurous 4×4 road. The toughest part is ~2 miles in length and likely will include ~0.5 miles of hike-a-bike for virtually all riders; it is, however, a beautiful climb through the forest for riders who want a short bit of adventurous technical riding. For riders wanting to bypass this, the “Easier Mountainburg Alternate” continues east of Mountainburg on a steep paved climb and rejoins the main route at mile 83 at the upper end of Warloop Road.

At mile 83, the route leaves the Boston Mountain Loop and follows the “Ozark Connector” to reach the Buffalo River Loop. The Ozark Connector includes a mix of well-maintained gravel roads and stretches of scenic pavement. Between miles 91 and 107, there are numerous dispersed camping opportunities and both National Forest and private campgrounds. The Turner Bend Store near Cass is a great place to resupply and grab sandwiches to go from the deli. A very gradual climb along the Mulberry River turns into a steep 1,200-foot climb at mile 119, and 15 miles of ridgetop riding links to the Buffalo River Loop at the Kings River.

Turning east on the Buffalo River Loop, there are numerous dispersed camping options on National Forest lands for the next ~15 miles, and the private Red Fern Camp at mile 135 is a beautiful spot to spend a night along a creek.  Riders will pass Whazhazhe 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! Riders will also pass the incredibly popular Hawksbill Crag hiking trail before leaving the Ozark National Forest at mile 145. A steep descent to the Buffalo River at mile 150 is immediately followed by an equally steep ascent to another scenic ridgeline. The route passes the cyclist-friendly Horseshoe Canyon Ranch and campground (mile 162) and then drops steeply down to Jasper, a charming small town that’s become an outdoor recreation hub and offers all services a bikepacker may want aside from a bike shop. Past Jasper, the next 5 miles of the route into Jasper follow Highway 7, a narrow mountain road – ride with caution here.

The route turns west at mile 178 and enters Buffalo National River lands administered by the National Park Service. 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 178 and 193, wide tires and low gearing will be greatly appreciated. There are numerous dispersed camping areas along this stretch, and the small Cavers Camp (mile 188) is a pleasant little official camping area. Several water crossings must be negotiated with caution. At mile 189, the road steeply ascends 1,400 feet out of the valley, and from there, the terrain and demands of the route begin to steadily ease. The gravel roads become well-maintained and smoother, only a half dozen climbs of a few hundred feet remain as riders traverse a mix of farmland and wooded uplands. Resupply options become more frequent with JB Trading Outpost and campground at mile 195, Kingston at mile 212, Huntsville at mile 231, and Goshen at mile 250. Lodging and camping options are numerous until mile 205, and west of there, the route is on private lands with virtually no overnight options aside from a motel in Huntsville. After Goshen, the final 14 miles of the route are nearly entirely paved, offering a smooth return to Fayetteville at the end of this big Tour of the Ozarks

• Paved: 40%
• Smooth Gravel: 40%
• Rough Gravel: 15%
• 4×4 Road: 5%
• Singletrack: 0%

See POI descriptions on route in RWGPS for more information; reservations generally required in campgrounds. For an elevation profile for this loop, see the Tour de Ozarks Loop profile for miles 0-135 of this loop, followed by the Buffalo Rivers Loop profile in reverse from miles 113 to 0.

• Mile 18 – Prairie Grove: Grocery store, café, restaurants
• Mile 28 – Canehill: Water spigot
• Mile 42 – Cove Creek
• Miles 44-64 – Dispersed camping on Ozark National Forest; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 48 – Lee Creek
• Mile 77 – Mountainburg: Stores, restaurants
• Mile 78 – Bearded Lady Inn in Chester (4 miles off route)
• Mile 93 – Shores Lake Campground (Ozark N.F.)
• Mile 97 – Dispersed camping on Ozark National Forest; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 104 – Cass: General store, deli
• Mile 107 – Reddington Recreation Area campground
• Miles 105-108 – Dispersed camping on Ozark National Forest; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 110 – Byrd’s Adventure Center restaurant, campground
• Mile 128 – Pettigrew Campground and RV Park
• Miles 136-139 – Dispersed camping on Ozark National Forest; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 135 – Kings River
• Mile 135 – Red Fern Camp: Private rustic campsites along creek
• Mile 151 – Buffalo River
• Mile 162 – Horseshoe Canyon Ranch: Campground, cabins, restaurant, tiny store
• Mile 172 – Jasper: Grocery store, restaurant, motels, campground
• Miles 182-191 – Dispersed camping on Buffalo Nat’l River lands; see POIs in RWGPS
• Mile 195: Compton: JB Trading Outpost, campground, cabins
• Miles 197-205 – Numerous campgrounds, cabins, hostel; see POIs for more info
• Mile 201 – Water at DH Ponca MTB trailhead
• Ponca (off route at miles 160 and 202): General store, cabins
• Mile 208 – Camping: Spoke n Tru private cliffside campsite 2 miles north off route
• Mile 212 – Kingston: General store/restaurant
• Mile 231 – Huntsville: Grocery store, restaurants, motel
• Mile 250 – Goshen: Convenience store, restaurant
• No camping options for the first 44 and final ~60 miles of loop

Singletrack Trail Systems:

• Upper Buffalo Headwaters Trails (mile 140): An IMBA Epic trail system in the rugged terrain around the tallest mountain in Arkansas
• BOC Ponca Downhill Trails (mile 201): Downhill trails descend to the Buffalo River at Ponca

Route Alternates:

• Easier Mountainburg Alternate (miles 65-83): This alternate route into and out of Mountainburg is similar in length and climbing to the main route, but the alternate is entirely paved (as opposed to almost entirely unpaved), bypasses the very demanding Warloop Road climb, and passes through Chester and its cafe and inn. All services in Mountainburg are also on this alternate. This alternate crosses the main loop in Mountainburg, so riders can opt to take the western half of the alternate, the eastern half, or both. The Warloop Road climb on the main route east of Mountainburg includes ~2 miles of steep, rocky 4×4 road that sees virtually no vehicle traffic and is guaranteed to include a half mile of hike-a-bike for nearly all riders; it is, however, a beautiful climb through the forest for riders who want a short bit of adventurous technical riding.

• What kind of bike should I ride? We recommend a gravel bike with an absolute minimum of 45c tires. During summer months, the gravel roads in the mountains tend to become drier, dustier, looser, and chunkier, so during those months in particular, wider tires may be preferred by many riders. A mountain bike would also be absolutely fine.

• 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 4-6 days.

• 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? 53 miles

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

• Is it easy to find places to camp? Yes, aside from the first 43 and final ~55 miles that are entirely across private lands with no camping opportunities.

• 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? Most certainly! The 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: Ian Graber-Stiehl