Story by ALLISON PARKER

The Ozark Mountains provide endless fun for motorcyclists, and Eureka Springs is the perfect staging spot for a multiday exploration of the area.

The town’ s uniqueness can be traced to its early days in the 19th century. At the time, there was a trend, perhaps even a craze, for natural waters with supposed healing properties. The area where Eureka Springs sits today had springs in abundance, trickling from the tall bluffs. Word of these springs spread, and people came to be healed and rejuvenated.

As a tourist town since its inception, Eureka Springs’ Victorian-age buildings were built into the rock itself to be as close to the spring water as possible. The roads meandered up and down, twisting around to reach these buildings perched on the side of rock faces. Many buildings have street access from multiple floors. The entire downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It’ s not just the strange layout of the town or the springs themselves that make Eureka Springs unique. It has a culture all its own, one that blends with the larger Ozark culture in some ways and defies it in others. Art can be found wherever you look, on street corners or in shop windows and anywhere between. Annual celebrations crowd the calendar, like the Great Passion Play around Easter and the Zombie

AT A GLANCE

Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas Distance: Numerous routes from 20 to 200-plus miles Ride Time: Half-day to multiday adventures Best Direction to Ride: South toward Ozark National Forest Skill Level: Beginner to advanced( twisty mountain roads) Best Bike Type: Touring, sport-touring, sport, cruiser

Crawl during Halloween, as well as UFO conferences, music festivals, and more.

And on top of all that, Eureka Springs is a prime location from which to stage a motorcycle trip in the Ozarks.

The Pig Trail is perhaps the most famous northwestern Arkansas route for motorcyclists, covering about 24 miles and offering elevation changes and lots of twisties and hairpin turns. From Eureka Springs, riders head south on State Route 23 for about 50 miles to reach the northern tip of the Pig Trail, enjoying more curvy pavement on the way down. The Pig Trail travels south through the Ozark National Forest, rewarding riders with scenic overlooks and waterfalls along a corridor through a heavy canopy of trees. The Turner Bend Mulberry River Outfitter is a popular stop, offering campsites and cabins, as well as food and souvenirs.

For a different view of the Ozark National Forest, head east from Eureka Springs to get to State Route 21, which takes riders south toward the 35-mile Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway.

50 / OCTOBER 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM