Thursday, August 6, 2009

Arkansas Bike Trails Worth Trying

By PJ Williams

Arkansas, you might not know, has some excellent biking trails for riders of every skill level. Arkansas has the Mississippi River, Buffalo River, Ouachita Mountains and the Ozarks, all of which provide incredible biking opportunities. Below are a few of my favorites, I hope you get the chance to enjoy them too.

Huckleberry Mountain Horse is a 40-mile loop near Paris, Arkansas. It is a great ride with some really fast descents, but always be on the lookout for other riders. This trail can get a little crowded as it is also shared with hikers and equestrians as well. There are campsites nearby if you simply cant get enough. Make sure you get a good map of the area because not all trails and logging roads in the area are well-marked.

The Twin Turtles Trails near Fayetville, Arkansas are perfect for beginner and intermediate bikers. They are well groomed, with ramps that will get you some air. The trails are only 7 miles but you can ride them all day, it never feels repetitive. This place can, however, get really buggy, especially in the summer. Bring your glasses and goggles and have a great time.

If you like to get down and dirty, then White River Refuge in Clarendon is the trail for you! Logging roads have been turned into 10 miles of ATV trails. After a good rain, there is mud and sand to turn any trail into a challenge. The trails arent too crowded and are well-marked. Watch out for snakes in this area (cottonmouth and rattlesnakes in particular).

Eureka Springs has Lake Leatherwood which is twenty miles of trails for every skill level. Lake Leatherwood has eleven different trails for the most experienced rider. If you enjoy scary descents and challenging switchbacks, Lake Leatherwood is for you. This area gets a little too tough when it is wet and muddy. Plus you never know if there's a snake just under that muddy surface, so be careful. The scenery is beautiful and worth the effort you will expound on these trails.

The Camp Joseph Robinson trails are located near Little Rock, Arkansas. Since they are found on a military facility, you do have to pay to have a C.A.R.P. membership in order to ride. Its only $10 for a year and totally worth it just to get a chance to ride here! (Military personnel get in free.) There are a variety of trails for riders of all experience levels. However, advanced riders will be quite impressed with the rocky climbs and sickeningly fast downhill slopes. The trails are well-maintained and well worth your time!

Crystal Springs has Heaven and Hell and the name here really says everything. This area is for the biker looking to get radical and requires that you bee in excellent shape and ready with some long term stamina. You will need hiking boots for some of the uphill climbs, which make the downhill portions dangerous. Bring a ton of water, especially in the summertime. There is camping available and if you have conquered Heaven and Hell, rewarding yourself with a dip in the swimming hole near Crystal Road is the best reward. Enjoy this one, it is one of a kind but be smart and be careful.

You probably don't know that Arkansas has fifty two state parks and three national forests. These area provide ample opportunity for bikers of all skill levels. Even if you never thought you would ever go the Arkansas, I recommend checking it out. You will not be disappointed.

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