Ride Plan and Information – 2008

No frills, door prizes, or awards, but plenty of fantastic motorcycling roads and the annual Eureka Springs Blues Festival. http://eurekaspringsblues.com/

Every June, national and regional talent is present for this truly unique festival. Headlining talent performs at The Auditorium with acts in clubs and on the streets all around town making this a great weekend to visit Eureka Springs. There will be extended hours for the trolleys so you do not have to ride into the downtown historic district to enjoy the festival. We will not conduct group rides (depending on the number of attendees) but a number of suggested routes and roads will be available. We encourage you to hook-up with other riders for your Saturday day ride. Trust me; there are no bad roads in Northwest Arkansas !

We encourage you to print this information and bring it with you. There will not be any copies available at the motel. Think safety and ride safely! We’re looking forward to seeing you in Eureka Springs!

Scott J. Calabro: scalabro@vha.com or Work: 972-830-0528 / Home: 972-625-2286 for additional information

WHEN: Friday, May 30th through Sunday June 1st

LOCATION: The Ozark Mountains in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri . Our meeting place is the Wagner Inn in Eureka Springs , Arkansas , approximately ¾ mile east of the US 62 and AR 23 south junction.

The Wagner Inn
3064 E. Van Buren (US62E), Eureka Springs , AR 72632 -9712
¾ mile east of AR 23 south (N36 23.476 / W93 43.366)Phone 479.253.9440 / 800.235.7639 reservations (**72-hour cancellation notice)
Owners are Jody Mullens and Krista Cappuccetti
Covered parking available if it rains
Old towels, buckets and water hose is available to clean your machine

AGENDA:

• Schedule and plan your own route to and from Eureka Springs. A few suggested routes are provided below. Depending on the number participating, a group ride may be scheduled. A number of GPS routes will be posted.
• Loosely organized eating plans for Friday night, Saturday lunch, and Saturday night. Based on anticipated attendees for the festival, we shouldn’t try to converge on a single place because most restaurants will be crowded.
• Maps, suggested destinations, and a list of good motorcycle roads are provided. State maps for Arkansas and Missouri are available in the Wagner Inn office. Bring your Arkansas Rider’s Guide. (Available at www.arkansasrider.com, Mario Caruso, author / publisher).
• No obligations except your motel reservation.
• Eureka Springs is busy on weekends with lots of tourists, lots of traffic, lots of bikers, and it’s the weekend of the Blues Festival (http://eurekaspringsblues.com/). Expect crowds at popular eating establishments.

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, May 30th, sunrise 6:20 AM
Depart for Eureka Springs
Group ride: TBD depending on the number participating.
Arrive, check-in, parking lot social
Dinner on your own or decided in the parking lot
After dinner, head downtown on the trolley for Blues Festival activities

SATURDAY, May 31st, sunrise 5:59 AM / sunset 8:27 PM
Ride, eat, ride, and eat. See suggested destinations below
Blues festival activities all day and well into the evening hours

SUNDAY, June 1st, sunrise 5:58 AM
Depart for home (see the suggested route)

WHAT TO PREPARE FOR: Deer and elk at dawn, dusk, and nighttime. Plan to be flexible as weather conditions can change quickly. Unexpected rain showers are common. Expect temperatures that range from the 50’s to the 80’s. Fill your tank before departures; refuel often because most small towns or communities do not have gas. Take cash since many businesses in small towns do not take credit cards.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: We expect everyone to ride in a responsible, safe, and prudent manner. The roads in Arkansas and Missouri are generally in excellent condition but there is little margin or no margin for error. Most roads do not have shoulders and many are very twisty. There are very few posted speed limits which does not give you a license to twist the throttle and ride outside your skill level. OBEY the speed limits coming into the small towns! Please ride carefully and safely so we all have an enjoyable weekend. And watch out for the deer, elk, and wild turkey!

PLACES TO EAT:

A notebook containing the menus from some of the better places to eat in Eureka Springs is available for review in the Wagner Inn office. Some of the more popular places include, Sparky’s, Rogue’s Manor, Ermilio’s, the Smokehouse, Gaskin’s Cabin, Mud Street Café, Autumn Breeze, Devito’s, and the Bavarian Inn. There are other good places to eat but we lack sufficient data to list them here. There are several restaurants within walking distance of the motel that are also decent. For Eureka Springs, also see www.eurekasprings.com/restaurants

SUGGESTED DESTINATIONS

ROCKHOUSE Road, connecting to Hwy 62 about 1 mile east of the Wagner Inn is one of those MUST DO roads. Rockhouse Road meanders southeasterly into the country side about 10 miles and is very steep and crooked. It connects with AR 221, also about 10 miles, connecting back to Berryville , AR.

CLIFF HOUSE, on AR 7 approximately 6 miles south of Jasper. Located in the heart of the Buffalo River Valley area, an excellent area to ride and visit. The Cliff House serves excellent food and offers a magnificent view of “the Grand Canyon of Arkansas.”

OZARK CAFÉ, on AR 7 in Jasper on the Square (870.446.2976) Serving burgers, plate lunches, salads (gourmet style), desserts, etc.; very popular, good food and prices.

OARK GENERAL STORE, in Oark , AR north of Clarksville on AR 215. This is an old, historically significant Arkansas general store that serves good food (nationally recognized!). Oark is situated in a secluded area of the Ozark National Forest . Cell phones do not work there! Oark is accessible from AR 103 (a really great road) or from AR 215 via AR 23 (the Pig Trail). If you take AR 215, a 1/2 mile section may not be paved yet between AR 23 and Oark but is hard, packed clay and very passable if not wet. AR 215 is designated an Ozark scenic byway.

BEAVER LAKE (west of Eureka Springs) Take scenic AR 187 and explore all the roads leading to the lake shore. The short stretch of US 62 between the western end of AR 187 and Eureka Springs is also very nice but possibly plagued with slow traffic.

ONE LANE WOODEN SUSPENSION BRIDGE, also on scenic AR 187 near Holiday Island , northwest of Eureka Springs.

TABLE ROCK LAKE (west of Branson , Missouri ) Roads south of this lake, MO 86, MO 112, MO 90, and MO 76 on the north side are excellent. If time permits, take the single letter roads to the lake shore. Avoid the traffic near Branson, it can be very heavy.

BULL SHOALS LAKE FERRY . Take AR 125 to the ferry crossing Bull Shoals Lake ; continue on MO 125 to MO 76. The ferry trip time is 10 minutes and the cycle time is 45 minutes. MO 125 between US 160 and MO 76 is one of the best motorcycle roads in Missouri and worth turning around to repeat.

MAGAZINE MOUNTAIN (on AR 309 southeast of Paris, AR) The Grapevine Café in Paris at 105 E Walnut (2 blocks east of AR 309 and the courthouse) is an excellent lunchtime spot.

PEA RIDGE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK (the only Civil War battleground in Arkansas ) On US 62, west of Eureka Springs near Rogers .

BENTONVILLE BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP

13159 Wishing Spring Rd, Bentonville , AR (479.273.1807, N36 25.351 / W94 13.129)

Hours of operation are: Tue to Fri, 9 to 6, Saturday, 9 to 4. www.bentonvillebmw.com

Directions to Bentonville BMW shop: Located north of Bentonville just as I-540 bypass and US 71 run together. Turn right at the first stop light on Benton County Road 40. Turn right on the 2nd access road, Wishing Springs Rd. If you cross the bridge, you’ve gone too far. Located behind the Church of Christ .

ROUTES TO EUREKA SPRINGS: There is a multitude of ways to get to Eureka Springs. The following routes depart from the Dallas area in a northerly direction and cross eastern Oklahoma into northwest Arkansas . They are fairly direct, presenting the shortest distance and allowing you to complete trip during daylight hours. There are a variety of other routes that take you further east but add up to 100 additional miles. One in particular is to cross the Talimena Scenic Drive , beginning north of Talihina , OK and ending to the east in Mena , Arkansas . From Mena, continue north (Hwy 71 to Hwy 23) through Waldron, Booneville, and Ozark to Eureka Springs. Caution: the 25 mile stretch between Y City and the Hwy 23 turn-off is heavily patrolled. The speed limit is 55 mph.

QUICK, SCENIC, MINIMAL TRAFFIC:

Route: Denison to Stringtown to Talihina to Poteau to Fort Smith to Eureka Springs, 342 miles from Denison (Note: this makes an excellent return route also!)

Departing McKinney , TX at Hwy 380 and US 75

N on US 75 (47 miles) to Red River , TX-OK border
N on US 75 / 69 (57 miles) to Stringtown , OK (watch speed limit / pulse radar around Stringtown)
E on OK 43 (43 miles) to Lake Sardis
N on OK 2 (9 miles) to OK 63 / OK 1 / OK 2 junction
E on OK 63 / OK 1 (14 miles) to Talihina , OK
N on US 271 (37 miles) to Poteau , OK
N on US 59 (5 miles) to OK 112, the bypass around Poteau
E on OK 112 (18 miles) to US 271 near Fort Smith
E on US 271 (3 miles) to I-540 at Fort Smith , AR
N on I-540 (15 miles) to I-40
E on I-40 (4.1 miles) to I-540 north
N on I-540 (11 miles) to exit 29, Mountainburg exit
N on AR 282 (0.8 miles) to US 71
N on US 71 (19 miles) to AR 74 East, just south of Brentwood
E on AR 74 East (2.5 miles) to CR 43
N on CR 43 (9.2 miles) to CR 57
E on CR 57 (2.8 miles) to AR 16
W on AR 16 (4.1 miles) to AR 74
E on AR 74 (6.4 miles) to AR 295
N on AR 295 (8.3 miles) to AR 45
E on AR 45 (10 miles) to AR 12
E on AR 12 (6.2 miles) to AR 23
N on AR 23 (10 miles) to US 62 at Eureka Springs
E on US 62 to Wagner Inn (approx ¾ mile)

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SUPER SLAB NORTH, QUICK, WITH TRAFFIC

Route: Denison to I-40 to Fort Smith to Eureka Springs, 350 miles

Departing McKinney , TX at Hwy 380 and US 75
N on US 75 (47 miles) to Red River , TX-OK border
N on US 75 / 69 (133 miles) to I-40 near Checotah , OK
E on I-40 (79 miles) to I-540 north (at Fort Smith, AR)
N on I-540 (11 miles) to exit 29, Mountainburg exit
N on AR 282 (0.8 miles) to US 71
N on US 71 (19 miles) to AR 74 East, just south of Brentwood
E on AR 74 East (2.5 miles) to CR 43
N on CR 43 (9.2 miles) to CR 57
E on CR 57 (2.8 miles) to AR 16
W on AR 16 (4.1 miles) to AR 74
E on AR 74 (6.4 miles) to AR 295
N on AR 295 (8.3 miles) to AR 45
E on AR 45 (10 miles) to AR 12
E on AR 12 (6.2 miles) to AR 23
N on AR 23 (10 miles) to US 62 at Eureka Springs
E on US 62 to Wagner Inn (approx ¾ mile)

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SCENIC RETURN HOME ROUTE THROUGH EASTERN OKLAHOMA

Route: Eureka Springs to Springdale to Tahlequah to Lake Sardis to Stringtown to McKinney , 386 miles

Depart the Wagner Inn

W on US 62 (0.7 miles) to AR 23
S on AR 23 (10 miles) to AR 12
W on AR 12 (6.2 miles) to AR 45
S on AR 45 (6 miles) to US 412
W on US 412 (55 miles) to Alt US 412, 15 miles west of Siloam Springs , AR
W on Alt US 412 (6 miles) to OK 10
S on OK 10 (26 miles) to US 62 in Tahlequah, OK
***runs parallel to Illinois River , wonderful road and scenery!!!
S on US 62 (7 miles) to OK 82, south of Tahlequah
S on OK 82 (23 miles) to OK 100 (along east side of Lake Tenkiller )
S on OK 100 (13 miles) to US 64 at Gore, OK
W on US 64 (9 miles) to OK 2 at Warner, OK
S on OK 2 (27 miles) to OK 31 at Kinta , OK
W on OK 31 (6 miles) to OK 2
S on OK 2 (19 miles) to US 270 at Wilburton , OK
S on OK 2 (26 miles) to OK 43 at Lake Sardis
W on OK 43 (43 miles) to US 75 / US 69 at Stringtown , OK
S on US 75 / 69 (103 miles) to McKinney , TX

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DEFAULT SATURDAY RIDE (if you can’t decide what to do!)

Route: Eureka Springs to Berryville to Ludwig to Hagarville to Mount Judea to Jasper to Kingston to Huntsville to Eureka Springs, 243 miles

Depart Wagner Inn
E on US 62 (0.5 miles) to CR 51 / Rockhouse Road
S on CR 51 (7 miles) to AR 221
E on AR 221 (11 miles) to AR 21 in Berryville , AR
S on AR 21 (35 miles) to Boxley , AR
S on AR 21 (44 miles) to AR 292 at Ludwig , AR
E on AR 292 (7 miles) to AR 123 at Hagarville , AR
N on AR 123 (28 miles) to AR 7 at Pelsor , AR
N on AR 7 (4 miles) to AR 123 at Lurton , AR
N on AR 123 (15 miles) to AR 74 at Mount Judea , AR
W on AR 74 (14 miles) to Jasper, AR
** Stop at the Ozark Café / Refuel stop
W on AR 74 (19 miles) to AR 21 at Boxley , AR
N on AR 21 (10 miles) to AR 74 at Kingston , AR
W on AR 74 (14 miles) to AR 23
N on AR 23 (4 miles) to Huntsville , AR
N on AR 23 (29 miles) to Eureka Springs (Wagner Inn)

THE GOOD ROADS

The following is a list of recommended roads for motorcycling in northwest Arkansas , southwest Missouri , and eastern Oklahoma . The suggested routes incorporate many of these roads.

Recommended Motorcycle Roads in northwest Arkansas

Recommended Roads in Missouri

Recommended Roads in eastern Oklahoma