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This tour through the amazing forested singletrack of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas is unique for Hermosa Tours in that it is a departure from our mostly western United States-based tours. We added this area for a reason – the riding is superb and the tranquility of the area is unmatched. Riding here in the spring is rejuvenating, as the green bloom of the dense foliage seeps into your soul…breathing into you new life. Come fall, the area is transformed into a multi-colored wonderland with the scent of autumn that must be experienced personally for one to truly understand.
Our staff will greet everyone at Little Rock National Airport at 4pm (unless everyone flies in earlier), get everyone loaded up and we’ll head to the Ouachita National Forest and our first night’s lodging. You’re free to explore and grab dinner on your own this first night in Hot Springs. We’ll check back later to make sure everyone is ready to roll and that you have everything you need.
We begin the tour on day one with the IMBA Epic Womble Trail. The Womble is an old singletrack across the Ouachitas that has been adopted and maintained by mountain bikers since the 1980s. It is a must ride for anyone visiting the Natural State. Our journey will begin at the western terminus and head east. This classic ride will have us climbing up and over mountains, across creeks and through crystal fields as we follow a serpentine ribbon of dirt beguiling us through swirling turns of superb bench cut trail. The narrow cut undulating turns will excite and challenge any rider. The bluffs along the Ouachita River will fill your head with wonder and beauty. As we roll down to the finish at Lake Ouachita you will be thinking, ‘It is a good world,’ as you smile inwardly with satisfaction. Ride length is approximately 26 miles.
Our second day out we will ride a section of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, a 192 mile trail (137 miles open to mountain bikes) running east to west through the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Our section will feature some of the best riding along the trail. This is a more technical ride than the Womble. You will enjoy swooping switchbacks, falling vistas, a major creek crossing, some challenging climbs and some sections that beg you to open it up. We will finish undulating downward over the Ouachita backbone to the van waiting in the pines below. Ride length is approximately 17 miles.
Our route today will take us into the headwaters of the Buffalo National River. The Buffalo was slated to be dammed by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1970, but a committed group of individuals began a campaign to save the river, and in 1972 the Buffalo was designated as the country’s first National River. In the Wild and Scenic headwaters, three creeks merge to create the river. Our ride will follow natural benches, traverse rocky ridges and dip into dark hollows of mature hardwoods. If all is right, our bikes will feel the ancient rhythm created by the sculpting forces of nature as we flow over the landscape. We will cross Ozark azure blue creeks and wander through wildflower gardens. Many of the Buffalo trails are true singletrack often less than 12” wide and require concentrated attention. There are trail sections that will test your riding ability. Steep ups and steep downs abound. Ride length is approximately 18 miles.
Today begins with a hearty breakfast at the lodge to get us moving on a 3 hour shuttle downstream near the confluence of the Buffalo and White Rivers. After lunch at the Blanchard Springs trailhead on North Sylamore Creek, we will pedal up Jack’s Branch and begin riding a large loop which circles above the creek. The trail swoops up and down over and over through quiet dark pine forests, into rocky open hillsides under stately hardwood trees. Circling back toward the creek we ride to the edge of massive cliffs falling to the water below. Inspiration will guide you to the rock ledge open to a beautiful Ozark vista. A few miles, a few climbs and a thrilling descent later we will return to the shuttle van after enjoying our first day of Syllamo riding. Ride length is approximately 14 miles.
Our final adventure will take us back out on the Syllamo Trails for an IMBA Epic experience. Starting high up on Scrappy Mountain, we will dip and dive our way down the ridge, through pine-soft hollows and white limestone gardens. Mile after mile of wide-grinning joy passes by ever so quickly. At about 9 miles down the trail, we ride through a very rough and technical section dropping down a hillside of large limestone slabs to the bluff edge above the White River far below. The rock ledge is a human magnet. The Syllamo trails are a workout and today you will need a lot of energy to finish this epic ride. We will continue over rocky undulating terrain, make some great climbs and technical descents. You will finish this day with a huge smile on your face, knowing that you took on the best of the Syllamo and won! Ride length is approximately 19 miles.
After a great week of riding, we love to celebrate the end of the trip with a group dinner. This is a great time for everyone to reflect on their experiences and tell war stories accumulated from the many great miles of singletrack. Our dinner tonight is in Mountain View, followed by a traditional Ozark world-class bluegrass jam at the town square, then mosey on back to the lodge for a final celebration bonfire. Cheers!
Please plan your flights to leave the next day and Hermosa Tours will shuttle you to the airport for your flight home.
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