Arkansas Highway 16 Ozark Skyway
The central section of Arkansas Highway 16 — roughly 72 miles from Fayetteville east to its junction with AR-7 in the Ozark National Forest — delivers one of the state's most underrated ridge-top rides. The road climbs through Elkins and then becomes progressively more serpentine as it gains the Ozark highland plateau, passing through communities including Lurton, Deer, Witts Springs, and Ben Hur before crossing AR-123 and dropping to Sand Gap near AR-7. The route briefly joins the Pig Trail corridor near Brashears and shares a concurrency with AR-21 in Newton County, forming part of the official Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway. Rider Magazine called it a candidate for "Ozarks Scenic Highlands Skyway" — one of the least-trafficked and most scenic highways in the state.
What you'll hit along the way.
Rider-verified stops, overlooks, fuel, and the corners worth knowing about — in the order you'll meet them.
Searcy
A welcoming small city at the eastern trailhead of Highway 16, with services and amenities before heading into the Ozarks.
Rise and Grind Coffee Co.
A local coffee shop in Searcy worth a stop before setting out on the route.
Pangburn
Small riverside community near the Little Red River, marking the start of the route's transition into the Ozark highlands.
Deer
Quiet Ozark community deep in the hills, offering a natural midpoint rest in the heart of the route.
Red Star
A remote settlement in the upper Boston Mountains that reflects the rural character of the Ozark interior.
Foghorn's Wings Burgers & More
A casual spot near the western end of the route for a satisfying meal after crossing the Ozarks.
No runs logged on this road yet — be the first.
Runs are rider-logged & GPS-traced in the app
Ride your own ride — times are rider-logged & GPS-traced, never a race on public roads.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
Riders upload photos to their profile and tag the road or stop — tagged shots show up here automatically.