CMA HeartBeat July 2025 | Page 11

RECOMMENDED RIDES

RECOMMENDED RIDES

If you want the real details, you’ ll have to ask them yourself.
Now that you’ ve heard the folklore of one small section of the route, are you ready to take a great ride through the woods? If so, it’ s time to fuel up, zip your jacket, and keep your ears open for distant banjo strings. The Ozarks are calling— and the Ranch is waiting.
RIDER NOTES: Fuel Up at Turner Bend It ' s your best( and possibly only) fuel option along the route.
Weather Check Parts of the loop include gravel and forest service roads; avoid during / after heavy rain.
CMA
Recommended Gear Dual-sport or ADV bike, water, map / GPS, first aid kit( the Evangelists did it on packed touring bikes).
THE OZARK BACKROADS LOOP: 95 MILES OF SCENIC RIDING THROUGH ARKANSAS WILDERNESS
Start / End Point: So Live So Ride Moto Ranch, 15211 AR-21, Ozone, AR Total Distance: 95 miles Estimated Ride Time: 2 hours 32 minutes( without traffic) Terrain: Mix of paved highways, gravel roads, and forest service routes Ideal For: Adventure motorcyclists, dual-sport riders, scenic tourers Highlights: So Live So Ride Moto Ranch, Oark General Store, Turner Bend
For riders craving winding backroads, natural beauty, and hidden gems tucked into the Arkansas Ozarks, this loop from So Live So Ride Moto Ranch in Ozone, AR offers the perfect escape. It’ s a place purposefully crafted for disconnection from the grind of everyday life, owned by Dustin and Kate— a couple whose genuine love for people shapes every corner of the experience. When Holly and I rolled in and set up camp, we found ourselves sharing meals, laughs, and latenight porch talks with them— and like many who pass through, we didn’ t leave as just customers. We left as family.
So, if you find yourself in the Arkansas Ozarks, do yourself a favor and swing by to say hi. You’ ll thank yourself later. Here’ s a route that blends rural charm, forest-lined roads, and peaceful stops along the way.
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LEG 1: Ozone to Oark( 13.3 miles, 23 min) From the So Live So Ride Moto Ranch, begin your journey north on AR-21, and turn left onto Co Rd 36 / Co Rd 5440. This road carves through deep forest with stunning elevation changes and sweeping curves. After just over 13 miles, you’ ll reach the rustic town of Oark, home to the Oark General Store, a perfect stop for coffee or a bite. They are open for breakfast if you get there early.
LEG 2: Oark to Patterson Springs Church( 4.8 miles, 12 min) – The Jerod Shortcut Continue northeast on AR-215 E and quickly turn left onto Co Rd 34 / Co Rd 5261. You’ ll weave through the backcountry, making a couple of slight turns to stay on course. Follow Co Rd 5261 / Oark Rd and eventually turn right onto Private Rd 6295. Your destination, Patterson Springs Church, sits quietly in the wooded hills of Pettigrew— an ideal midride reflection point.
LEG 3: Patterson Springs to Turner Bend( 45 miles, 1 hr 5 min) This is the adventure leg. Head northeast on Private Rd 6295, turn right onto Co Rd 5261 / Forest Service Rd 1404, and continue as it becomes Forest Service 101 and then Co Rd 3. When you hit AR-16 W, turn left and cruise for over 23 scenic miles. Make a sharp left onto AR-16 W / AR- 23 S, then a final left onto AR-23, leading you straight to the Turner Bend Store. This historic outpost sits along the Mulberry River and is a beloved stop for riders and paddlers alike. Once here you have officially finished the Pig Trail, it’ s a thing. So, buy a decal and display it proudly for all to see.
RETURN LEG: Turner Bend to Moto Ranch( 31.9 miles, 51 min) Head north on AR-23 N, then turn right onto AR- 215 E, gliding through forested valleys. Eventually, you’ ll rejoin Co Rd 36 / 5440, retracing your route through the hills. Finish your ride with a right turn onto AR-21 S, returning to the Moto Ranch where your loop began. If you’ re smart, you’ ll stop at Oark again and get a piece of pie.
John Jr and Holly Ogden, John Jr serves as International President for CMA.
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