Riding the Pig Trail in Arkansas

[HawkFuzz]

I was lucky enough to get to travel to Arkansas and Missouri.  I had never been to this part of the country and thought it would would be a great trip.  My SOQS was born and raisied just outside of Fayetteville and needed to return home to bury her moms remains next to her father who had passed many years ago.  She and her brother planned four days of rides that were outstanding.  We took one day off to handle the details of a memorial service and final resting place for her mom.

She and her brother trailered three bikes and a trike from Colorado to Arkansas.  They found a great little house right off the Pig Trail Highway (Hi-way if you are from Arkansas).  The house was a little ways from Eureka Springs.  It was perfect.  Lots of great rides nearby and a great house to base out of for a great price.  (I would gladly share info about the place if needed)  We lucked out and her niece and husband decided to come to the service.  They rode their bikes from Southern Illinois to Northwestern Arkansas.  She had not seen her niece in 25 years and had not spoken to her in about 18 years.  They were a perfect fit and so much fun.

We rode to Branson, MO one day taking the long way from Eureka Springs around the west end of the lake and then to the south end of the lake near Branson.  It was a nice ride. Lots of twisties and tree lined roads.  We even happened to see a gorilla along the ride. (At a four way stop in Missouri, in a vacant lot was a statue of a silver back gorilla.  I wish I had stopped to take my picture with it.) 

We rode the Pig Trail (highway 23) thru Northwestern Arkansas South towards I40.  Then took the old highway 71 back up to Fayetteville.  We had 6 bikes and 8 people.  I wished I had given my camera to one to the kids to take photos for us as we rode the trail that day from the back of the trike.  The Pig Trail was awesome.  Lot of motorcycles going both directions.  The hickory smoke was thick at times as we passed wide spots in the road.

When it was time for her niece to head back to Illinois, we rode as a group to send them on their way.  We starred south along highway 23 and then turned north to go through Peel's ferry.  We decided that we were too close not to take an opportunity to put out bikes on a ferry. (There isn't a ferry that I know of in Colorado.)  There were lots of motorcyclist on the ferry with us.  We rode a short way into Missouri and had lunch.  We then parted ways and headed back the way we came to ride the ferry again. 

We took a short ride the last day just to drain off some gas from the bikes before putting them back on the trailer.  In toll, I rode just about 700 miles.  It was a beautiful part of the country to see on a motorcycle.

I am anxious for the snow to start melting here and the roads to get cleaned off of the winter time gravel.

[hppants]

Way to go Hawkfuzz - nice trip.  I am trying to plan a 4 day Arkansas tour this year.  I have heard the roads you took are great.

[fishball]

Boy does that road look inviting.  I have a few friends who have rode the Pig Trail before, I hear nothing but good things about the route.

[HawkFuzz]

The pig trail was gorgeous.  The water was all running high.  I have never seen such an interesting color.  It had to be because of the sand stone and lime stone that water runs over and through.  I wish we had run both directions on the pig trail but I was over ruled.   I hope to get back sometime and do it again.  Maybe in the fall this time.

Pants I would say it is worth the trip.

[fortyhourdays]

That looks like a beautiful ride!  What kind of bag is that on your bike?

[FearThis SC]

Very nice ride report.....I love riding in the Ozarks!  I do it on a daily basis!   Ride Safe......thanks for sharing!!!

[pw363]

Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing

[Falban]

Looks like a blast.  Thanks for sharing Hawk.

[bajakirch]

About 6 years back I took a group of Boy Scouts on a camping trip to MO. We stayed in the St. Louis area, but did a day trip to Eminence (about 3 hours by car). Once we got into the Ozarks I don't think there was a straight road in site. It had to be good -- we had to stop every 10 minutes or so to keep some of the kids from getting carsick. When we reached our destination (a river rafting outfit on the Jack's Fork River) the brakes on the accompanying Suburban were smoking.

This was before I started riding a MC. Now that I do, I look forward to taking a MC trip back down there some day.

[Deadly]

I've ridden all over that area before but have never ridden highway 23. The photos are great!   

[HawkFuzz]

Fortyhourdays,  The bag is a saddleman's tail bag I picked up in Sturgis last year.