Left: Local rider crosses Beaver Bridge early this spring. Right: Chicago group discovers that even an overcast day riding the Ozarks is still a great day riding.
We Know You' ll Enjoy Riding the Ozarks
Of course, we' re prejudiced, but we feel this area is one of the top riding spots in the nation. We' ve planned these pages help you make the most of your Ride to the Ozarks and give you a great overview the Ozarks. Of course there are plenty of other wonderful roads besides the ones recommended here. May we suggest DeLorme's fine Atlas and Gazetteer to fully explore the Ozarks if you want to take to the back roads - read that meaning our famous gravel roads. And be sure to contact us after your ride and e-mail us a picture of you and your riding group for us to post on our "Rider's Gallery".
David Bell lives in rural Carroll County, Arkansas. He teaches photography at North Arkansas College in Harrison and writes and photographs for magazines and other periodicals. His motorcycle magazine credits include RoadBike magazine, Ride Texas magazine, Rider magazine, among others. Take a look at his June 2008 "RoadBike" coverage of Eureka Springs. Fortunately, there are editors at the magazines to check his spelling and grammar; at cruisetheozarks.com, David's it. (OK, I'm it. It's just less threatening to use the third person).
Click to enlarge spread
Also, Take a look at the June/July '09 issue of Ride Texas for his article on the Ozark County, Missouri historic Water Mills; and check out his Natchitoches, LA article in the June '09 issue of Rider.
Geology of the Ozarks
The geology of the Ozarks produces twisty, serpentine highways and roads and is what makes the area a veritable riders' haven, To understand the geological make up of the Ozarks, you need only look at the mountain tops; flat, mostly all the same elevation. In the distant past, this area sat at the bottom of a vast inland sea. It was later uplifted, producing a plateau with the highest point above mean level - Mt. Magazine - between the Rockies and the Smokies, not necessarily the highest point above sea level. Over the years wind, rain and rivers carved the ridges, hollows and valleys along which many of the winding highways, roads and hiking trails follow even today.
We have a long riding season in the Ozarks and many more days provide for great riding than a rain delay. But you will want to have rain gear with you in case you have to "ride on anyway". Check out the current weather over Berryville and the rest of the Ozarks HERE! Scroll down to the middle the weather page for a radar image.
The sponsors of this website are listed because they are motorcycle friendly and solicit your business. Lodging, cafes and restaurants, watering holes and other sponsoring businesses have been selected to help make your stay enjoyable... both on the road exploring and back relaxing after a day of riding. Please support these folks who welcome you to Cruise the Ozarks.
Coming - Timely News for Riders "Cruising the Ozarks"-Check Back
If you would like to become a sponsor on Cruise the Ozarks, click here to contact us.