Second Arkansas Graveler bike event set for early June

The Ozark Foundation’s second annual Arkansas Graveler, a five-day bike journey across county and forest backroads from the Ouachita National Forest in western Arkansas to scenic Greers Ferry Lake in north central Arkansas, will take place June 3-8, 2025.

The event will begin in Mena on June 3 and finish in Heber Springs on June 8. The course is known as The Bigfoot Route.

Approximately 400 touring and recreational cyclists from across the country are expected to participate in the ride which will include four stops in host communities along the route.

“Arkansas Graveler will showcase and celebrate the best of Arkansas – its natural beauty, culture, and hospitality – in a most unique and magnificent way,” said Scotti Moody, director of Events and Development for the Ozark Foundation. “While this route will present an incredibly epic challenge for cyclists from around the world, we hope they return home having felt that the Arkansas Graveler is so much more than a ride.”

The inaugural 2024 event, which ran through northern Arkansas, attracted 265 touring and recreational cyclists from 35 states. Approximately 25% of the participants were female, which is higher than the average cycling event.

Ozark Foundation learned lessons from the first event that Moody believes will make the 2025 event even more successful.

“First of all, this year’s Arkansas Graveler will happen a few weeks earlier so as to attempt to avoid the stifling heat and humidity of Arkansas summers,” she said. “We are also shortening the event by a day and offering a flex day for rest and relaxation at the midway point.”

Last year, the Arkansas Graveler giveback program donated bikes to rural communities through the non-profit organization, Pedal It Forward. Graveler participants also helped pack more than 15,000 meals for residents in Searcy County.

Arkansas has approximately 69,000 miles of unpaved roads, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Gravel is one of cycling’s fastest-growing sectors. Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said Arkansas is well-positioned to become a leading destination.

“We are proud to be a partner in this event because cycling, especially on unpaved surfaces, presents an outstanding way to grow the tourism and outdoor economy in some of Arkansas’ more rural counties,” said Lewis. “Each county in our state has a system of gravel roads that can become tourist attractions and offer a one-of-a-kind view of the outdoor beauty and small-town charm that makes Arkansas special.”