Mena, Arkansas????

[Kware]

Anyone done any dual sport riding in this area. It looks like a great place to ride, dual sport, trail or road bikes. The Ouachita National forest runs south and east of Mena. Just looking at the maps, satellite views and web sites. I've got some vacation time left this year, so may plan a trip down that way late summer, early fall?

[katbeanz]

It's been a while, the first couple fall colors tours I went to in 1999 and 2000 were based in Mena. I think I can dig up a gps track or two. I've been planning on doing more DS in arkansas this fall. Dean

[troy]

The "wolf pen gap" trail system (I think it is called) is the system in the Mena area. I've heard reports of there being "100's of miles of trails" in that area. I've not been yet. I guess the reason I've not been is that it's a good hour or more past the Cass, AR area and I've yet to exhaust the trails in that area that I love so much.

Mena is on my list, though.

[xr-nut]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/recrea ... _11x17.pdf

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/recrea ... _pen.shtml

[Kware]

Well, plans are coming together to met two friends in Mena on Sunday Oct 12th. We are looking at camping and riding that area until Wednesday afternoon on the 15th. Then we are going over to Clayton OK for their Dual sport ride on the 16th thru 18th.
I am not sure at this time if I will stay in Clayton until Sunday the 19th. More likely I will be ready to head home either Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Will post up more details as we get closer in case their is other interest. Also not use if I will be taking my trailer or receiver rack. If I take the trailer I would have room for another bike if someone else wanted to share a ride.

[Hayden]

Over at Chain Gang, (F650.com) they hold a Dakar Rally there every year. Its riding and a work shop kind of thing. Yet to go to one though. Im like Troy. Havent seen all of the cass area yet I guess.


Hayden

[Kware]

Well, 3 of us headed down to Mena last Sunday, the 12th. We decided to camp at the Shady Lake National forest campground southeast of Mena.
This campground is about 8 miles south of the, southeast corner of the Wolf Pen Gap trail system.
On Monday, we rode up to the Wolf Pen Gap trails and rode most of the easy trails and some NF roads. We rode 65 miles, all but about 5 miles of it dirt or gravel. Many 1500 foot elevation changes all day. We only rode through about 100 water crossings!
Tuesday morning started off raining, but it cleared up by 10:00, so we headed east to the, Albert Pike Recreation area and then to the, Little Missouri river Falls area. From there we headed west back into the Wolf Pen Gap trails. We rode about 100 miles NF roads Tuesday.
Wednesday, Duane stuck with the original plan, he packed up and headed over to Clayton Oklahoma for the organized Dual Sport ride. I had a flat tire on my Trailblazer, so Fred and I went back into Mena to get it fixed. It started raining Wednesday afternoon and didn't stop until about 2:00 am Thursday morning. We got about 3" at the campground.
Thursday, Fred and I rode NF roads all the way to, Hickory Nut Mtn, just west of Hot Springs. We then rode into Hot Springs National Park. We took asphalt back to camp. About 175 miles Thursday.
We decided to head home Friday. It was a great trip and I am ready to go again. The Wolf Pen Gap trail system has 3 levels of ATV trails. We only rode the easy ones, there are plenty more for you tough guys. The Ouachita National forest is well worth the extra miles. I am already planning a return trip next spring on the Harley as well.
Here's some pics,
http://picasaweb.google.com/kware1/MenaShadyLake#

[troy]

Kware, those are some great photos! Thanks for sharing the report. That is an area I definitely hope to ride.