Adventure Cycling Association

Minnesota might boast about its 10,000 lakes, but Arkansas has quite a few of its own! Begin your adventure at Stephens Lake Campground on Lake Ouachita, just 11 miles from Hot Springs. From there, explore the nearby National Park visitor center and make a stop at Superior Bathhouse Brewery in downtown Hot Springs — the first brewery in a national park and the only one to use thermal water! Don’t miss the opportunity to ride to the top of Blakely Mountain Dam for stunning views and intriguing twisted rock strata.

The morning ride will take us through Bear, the site of Arkansas’s only gold rush — the fact that there was no gold didn’t stop 5,000 folks from coming to dig for it! Plan ahead if you’re looking for a cold brew in the next leg of our trip as Arkansas has many “dry” counties and we’re heading into 200 dry miles (though there is beer available at both state park lodges on our route). We’ll get a true taste of the kind of riding these modest-looking mountains offer as we pedal through lots of up-and-down stretches including Moondance Road, which might require a hike-a-bike! A short stop in Mount Ida makes a nice break before the final 10 miles to camp at North Fork Lake. There are no facilities at North Fork, but it makes up for it in beauty.

Today may be short on mileage, but the beauty really starts to ramp up. The first 10 miles are rolling hills on smooth gravel before we hit four challenging climbs in the last 25. Things get serious after crossing State Highway 8 with the climb up to Mosquito Gap. The reward is a long, beautiful descent on Crooked Creek. Stop for lunch at the falls on the Little Missouri River just one mile off-route and get ready for the final trio of climbs in the Albert Pike Recreation Area in the last 11 miles for the day. The views of the mountains and the creeks of turquoise water make the climbs worth it.

The day begins with two big back-to-back climbs on the border of the Caney Creek Wilderness. The Dicks Gap overlook is a great spot to catch a breather before you start hunting for lunch spots on the banks of Brushy Creek. A third climb finishes with a downhill run to Hatfield where you’ll be tempted to grab some fried chicken at the gas station. Make sure you’re fueled up for THE CLIMB — actually four climbs. There’s a can’t-miss photo spot at the Arkansas welcome sign as you head up Weehunt Mountain (a 500-foot climb). Next is Self Mountain (400 feet), which features a rock cairn marking the Oklahoma border. A wicked switchback on a rocky, steep slope tops Middle Mountain (300 more feet) before you finally top Rich Mountain (another 500 feet — take that Rocky Mountains!). Don’t miss the natural spring flowing from a pipe on the left side of the road on the final climb. Our destination for the night is Queen Wilhelmina State Park, famous for its “Castle in the Sky” lodge and the perfect place to relax and enjoy views and brews after a challenging day of cycling.

Get ready for a roller-coaster route today with lots of ups and downs. Who would have thought there was so much climbing in Arkansas?! One must embrace the love of the gravel and plenty of time climbing. The morning holds four big climbs, and the views are fabulous! We begin the day with a 1-hour shuttle to some wonderful ridge top riding with great climbs up Blue Mountain toward tonight’s camp.

Today we’ll ride to the highest point in the state, but not before enjoying views from below as we peer up to the lodge on Mount Magazine as the route crosses the Petit Jean River valley. A wise cyclist will not overindulge at the store in Waveland, but rather will save room for a lunch at the Mount Magazine Lodge, situated 2,700 feet above sea level — and the rest of Arkansas! Then it’s 25 miles to our campsite on the shores of Lake Dardanelle.

The last leg of the route is almost all pavement. We’ll follow State Highway 22 to Dardanelle, where we’ll likely take a quarter-mile detour to see Dardanelle Rock, a local landmark used for thousands of years. The scramble to the top is a challenging trail. The ride through the Arkansas River valley is flat as a pancake, although there are a few small rises around Cotton Town. The final climb is up to Arkansas’s first state park, Petit Jean. The lodge is a must-see and the campground for our last night together has hot showers!

We will head out bright and early to shuttle back to Hot Springs, closing our trip through this unique and off-the-beaten-path route — but you might already be planning a return trip!