Touring - Northwest arkansas

I am planning a trip to buffalo national river for some widerness backpacking in the park. I have just found out I am going to be able to stay longer than I thought . Does any one have any experience with touring with a bike in this area or farther south in the ouachita mountains. Preferably I would like to stay between the park and missouri, with info on more southern areas for future trips. Thanks

There are suggested routes on the Arkansas tourism website.

http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/Biking/

I have not done any touring in this area but paved roads and opportunities for resupply will be limited. And needless to say the riding will be strenuous. When I was driving to the Buffalo earlier in the year I evaluated some roads for cycling and realized I would be doing a lot of walking up the hills.

Thanks for the info.It sounds like just what I want because the camping opportunities in this area sound limitless.For any biking I do I will be solo though. Just hope the road conditions are good and not scary.

That area is very hilly and has some narrow roads. If you have an idea of where you are wanting to ride, I can break out the map and try to help.

Have you check out the book "Buffalo River Hiking Trails" by Tim Ernst? He is a local nature photographer and trail hound. He has few guide books on Arkansas hiking trails and they are all very helpful with lots of details.

Kevin

i'll add a +1 to the hills of northwest arkansas, and if you plan on doing it on a fixed gear, i pity your knees on ascents and descents. that said, the camping possibilities are really limitless. a week or more wouldnt even begin to exhaust the buffalo wilderness area itself. there are some great secret spots around there if you know someone from the area with the right connections. and south of that, the area between fayetteville and fort smith is nice as well, and also full of mountains. mount magazine near dardanelle is also stunning, though i hear they're developing the top of it, which is a shame because there used to be all these abandoned cabins up there, perfect for setting up camp... aside from that, remember you're in arkansas, be nice to the locals, and watch out for bottles flung from pickup trucks.

I resent that last mark.

what, do you toss bottles and cans at people out of your pickup truck?

as an arkansan myself, i often resent the redneck stereotype, but i've had that happen to me plenty of times (and from actual pickup trucks no less)--especially when you get further into rural arkansas, and since he was asking for advice...