Author Topic: ARK 123 & Ozark Forest Scenic Byways (Read 4580 times)

Sven · « **on:** June 24, 2006, 05:01:33 PM »

Last week I spent several days in the Ozarks. A couple highlights:

ARK 123 south of Mt. Judea is a bitch of a road. The signs below give you an idea what the road is like. The hairpin turns are posted 10MPH, and you'd be hard pressed to exceed that. They are extreme uphill grades with tight right-hand turns..too little juice and you'll never make it up the hill; too much juice and you'll be soaring off the mountain. At the top of each hairpin curve is a left 90-degree turn, only to face another hairpin curve! Woof.

Any of the north/south roads (ARK 23, ARK 21, ARK 7, ARK 123, and ARK 27) thorugh the Ozark National Forest are good rides with similar curving paths along the mountainsides.

We based out of Harrison at the Little Cedar Cabins, which was a nice change from a motel. http://www.littlecedarcabins.com

Sven · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2006, 05:03:34 PM »

And...there's nothing like getting back to the heartland, where wholesome nature rules!

wtnbandit · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2006, 12:20:10 AM »

Sven,
Been there a couple of times. Awesome roads! Glad you had a safe trip.

LowRyter · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2006, 01:41:49 AM »

Sven, 123 S of Mt Judea is a great Rd. We've had three Banditfests in the Ozarks (last year we had about 20 Bandit at Bull Shoals). We always make a run on 123. Last year we ran into a 3 or 4 guys Suzuki GSx-1100 shafties on 123, unfortunately one of them crashed pretty good, smashed the bike had some really bad wounds on his legs.

Have your tried 341 south of Mt Home? That rd rocks, it's twisty with some banking that digs....the local riders call it the Serpent (kinda play on the Dragon)
John

Sven · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2006, 09:16:42 AM »

Quote from: LowRyter

Have your tried 341 south of Mt Home? That rd rocks, it's twisty with some banking that digs....the local riders call it the Serpent (kinda play on the Dragon)

Yeah, we did that road last fall and then again on this recent trip...but both time were stuck behind slow moving vehicles, so while we could see the potential, it wasn't much fun.

LowRyter · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2006, 06:40:59 PM »

Sven, are you in the Ark, Texas, Okla, Miss area?

I am hopeful we'll have another Banditfest this fall.

Sorry you got blocked on 341, I had a chance to cut it loose (at least for my speed, a relative thing). I found the site lines & traffic at the Dragon kept me a little more cautious.

LowRyter · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2006, 06:42:24 PM »

Sven,I see you are in Tenn....duh for me.

Sven · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2006, 08:22:55 PM »

Make sure to PM me about the BanditFest once it's scheduled!