Arkansas trip - recent floods and general advice | GTAMotorcycle.com

Arkansas trip - recent floods and general advice

DemonPig

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I will be in Arkansas in 2 weeks. Most of the time will be spent riding the mountains in the North-West part of the state.

I do have a route already. Mapped it out for 10 days. Wish I had 12 to avoid slabbing.

Does anyone know if there are any specific roads I should avoid or anything worth riding that does not come up on regular top lists (as in hidden gems)?

Anyone been to the Whitaker Point? Is it worth the dirt road and the hike? I think about 14km of dirt and 2km of hiking. Will be on street bikes with sport touring tires.

Blanchard Springs Caverns - probably will only have time for the 1h easy tour - is it still recommended or should I opt out for the 1.5h "difficult" tour?

Other places I plan to visit are - Roark Bluff, Magazine Mountain, Mount Nebo, Mountain Tower (in Hot Springs), maybe a bathouse (in Hot Springs) and Mississipi-Missouri confluence).
 
I just got back from a trip to the Ozarks. Not sure the route you're taking but you should be fine from a "flood" perspective. Lots of flooded areas off the Interstate but we only ran into one closure well south of Hot Springs on 7.

We didn't spend a ton of time there due to an unexpected bike issue. The roads were decent but nothing really challenging. And since school is still in this is considered the "off season" so were didn't see that many bikes or people for that matter.

Where are you staying?
 
I've been to Eureka Springs a couple of times and wish it was closer. Insane topography. Biker friendly. Lots of non-bike stuff to see and do. Quaint to weird stuff.

Religious stuff: Some extravaganza event that I passed on but the Thorncrown Chapel just outside of town is worth it for the architecture.

Best prime rib sandwich at the Low Gap Cafe outside of Jasper. http://www.lowgapcafe.com/ I've only had the beef but apparently do great Italian dishes.

Pea Ridge Civil War Battlefield: Modestly interesting IMO but if you're into Civil War stuff you get to tick it off the list.
 
The roads were decent but nothing really challenging.

Okay, you must be really good then. I found the Push Mountain Rd. and the upper part of 123 and the surrounding are quite challenging.

hwy341-aerial1.jpg




There were also plenty of beautiful sweeper roads like Talimana Byway:

524408_438693736216188_1776402524_n.jpg
 
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How long by slab to get there and what route ....thinking about a solo run early June and happy to blitz down then work my way back.
 
I factored 2 slab days each way plus a twisty day to get there and same on the way back.
Went through NY/Pennsylvania/WV/Kentucky/Tennessee on the way in and Missouri/Illinois/Indiana/Ohio/Michigan on the way back.

My entire trip was 10 days. Avoid Indiana if you can, flat as a pancake.

1. Oakville - Gallipolis

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/43.4...b4aca3d9f5af:0xef8bf461193932b2!1m0!3e0?hl=en

2. Gallipolis - White House

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/38.8...0x886614bd35a1c6a5:0xcff365aa1cef71a3!1m0!3e0

3. White House - Russellville

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/36.4...ef8c60b45f07:0x11dac3347f5f6119!1m0!3e0?hl=en

4. Arkansas Dragon

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.3...0x87cc1c4bbadd7f7d:0xb4eddbe205b1387c!1m0!3e0

5. Talimena Byway

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.3...0x87cae268bb69fbe3:0x9cecb78b47233938!1m0!3e0

6. Pig Trail

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.3...0x87cdcac9d9ab1b43:0x40624527579d38ae!1m0!3e0

7. Hot Springs

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.3...3s0x87cd01115c796cfd:0xd5c2a5175400e4!1m0!3e0

8. Russellville - Sullivan

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.3...40af6a908dff:0x71d7e8e78d64ec4a!1m0!3e0?hl=en

9. Sullivan - Warren

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/38.2...521d34646534d:0xe3eb64417d0a895!1m0!3e0?hl=en


10. Warren - Oakville

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/40.7...56c21d19ab54d:0x2d12a62c06beb86!1m0!3e0?hl=en


I would definitely go different way back on last 2 days if I had more time. Also that Detroit bypass is not worth the time, since one of the roads is not a highway and has a ton of street lights.
Ferry was good and quick though.

There are also 3 gravel stretches there, 1 of which I couldn't do on a sport bike. That was to access Hawksbill Crag. Went to see Glory Hole waterfall instead which is a ~2.5km hike off a paved road.

Blanchard Caverns were a good point of interest. $10.5 admission.

Went on Mount Nebo (which is not listed on the route but nearby Russellville) to see the sunset, nice panoramic view from the top. There are different viewpoints for sunrises and sunsets. Follow the signs.

Loops in Arkansas are short because of time needed for sight seeing and other activities (like bathhouses in Hot Springs).

Total distance was 6,350km.

There was only one point at which I had to detour because of the floods, because the bridge was ripped out and upside down.
That was in Missouri, however. The part of Arkansas I rode around had minimal damage, just very high water levels on all rivers and lakes.
 
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I live in Georgia now so most of my riding is in the Smoky Mountains. This area blows away the Ozarks.
If you haven't been I highly recommend.

Okay, you must be really good then. I found the Push Mountain Rd. and the upper part of 123 and the surrounding are quite challenging.
 
The main reason for moving down here was for the weather and riding roads. Now I'm only 2 1/2 hours from the Dragon.

It's already mid-high '80s here. A bit cooler in the mountains though of course.
 

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