Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail

Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail logo featuring a mammoth with bold CRGT text.
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Rolling hills, rugged ravines, rich farmlands, spectacular hardwood forests & welcoming Delta culture

Born by windblown glacier dust hitting river fog in the days of the woolly mammoth, the saber-toothed tiger, and the dire wolf. Crowley’s Ridge is a unique ecoregion spanning from southern Missouri to the Mississippi River at Helena, Arkansas. Elevated 250 feet above the surrounding Mississippi Alluvial Plain, the spine of the ridge offers riders a perfect opportunity to explore this vast hidden gem.

The trail traverses Crowley’s Ridge connecting Missouri to Marianna. Continuing south, the route travels through the St. Francis National Forrest south to historic downtown Helena. Here is the Ride with GPS route.

We see this gravel trail as an amenity that improves the quality of life for the local community AND serves as a destination that will help strengthen the local economy. By creating jobs in bicycle-related sectors, increasing tax revenue, and generally improving the quality of life in the area, this trail is fostering a sense of community and place.

Fundamentally, CRGT is an accessible outdoor recreation and active transportation infrastructure that encourages physical activity and connects directly to the most underserved communities in the state.

  • Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail spans 249 miles and 10k of elevation

  • Remote, hilly and well-maintained gravel roads that wind and flow across rugged terrain and fertile farmlands

  • Explore an undiscovered slice of the Arkansas Delta

  • Delve into 7 state parks, 1 national forest, and 18 Delta towns

  • Visit the home where Ernest Hemingway wrote Farewell to Arms

  • Enjoy the shade of majestic hardwood forests that dominate the landscape on Crowley’s Ridge and bottomlands along river basins

  • Pull up a chair at a two-table James Beard Award winning restaurant, Jones Bar-B-Q, perhaps the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the South owned by a Black Family

  • Soak in the confluence of the St. Francis & Mississippi Rivers

  • Bomb down steep and windy loess canyons and grind across chunky windy levees

  • Grub a taco and Uno Mas at Native Brew Works

  • Enjoy a region rich in agricultural, Civil War, and Blues Music - the sound that birthed Rock and Roll

  • Hang a hammock in hidden upland hardwood forests containing rare plant species that occur nowhere else in Arkansas

  • Celebrate your journey at Delta Dirt, America's only Black-Owned farm-to-bottle distillery

This project is symbolic of our commitment to the prosperity of rural Arkansas through adventure recreation.  

Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail map showing 249 miles, 7,825 feet elevation change, 18 Delta towns, 5 state parks, and 189 campsite along the Arkansas Delta route.
Three men in cycling gear and helmets taking a selfie on the Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail in the Arkansas Delta.
A dirt trail winding through a forest during fall, with trees having colorful orange, red, yellow, and green leaves, and sunlight filtering through the branches.
A bicycle parked next to a roadside sign that reads 'Birdeye' in a wooded area on a clear day.
Man wearing a yellow shirt and helmet holding a phone and a Miller Lite beer bottle, standing next to a bike near a park sign for Chalk Bluff Park, 3 miles away, with blue road signs 341 and 347.
A welcome sign for Arkansas on the side of a rural road, with a cloudy sky and sunlight, trees, a telephone pole, and farm buildings in the background.
A gravel trail running through a dense green forest with trees on both sides and a large tree with visible roots on the left.
A rural landscape with a gravel road, a field of tall crops, a row of trees in the distance, and a blue sky with scattered white clouds.
Three cyclists riding on a gravel road through a flat, open landscape on a clear day.
A wide view of a farmland with golden wheat field in the foreground, farm buildings and silos in the middle ground, and green trees and hills under a clear blue sky in the background.
Historical marker about blues musician B.B. King with a bicycle and a tractor in the background.
A bicycle leaning against bushes along a gravel road in a rural area with flat fields and cloudy sky in the background.
Sign for Lake Poinsett State Park featuring a painted image of a lakeside scene with people in a boat and birds flying overhead, surrounded by grass and trees.
A gravel road running through a green landscape with large trees creating a canopy over the path, bright sunlight streaming through the leaves.
A cyclist wearing sunglasses, a white cycling helmet, and a light blue cyclist's jersey rides her bike past a field of tall corn plants with green leaves, under a cloudy sky.
A dirt gravel road runs through a rural landscape with green fields and trees on both sides, under a clear blue sky.
A dirt road winding through a lush, green wooded area with trees on both sides, leading into a field of grass and more trees in the distance, under a cloudy sky.
A white theater building with a curved roof, sign reading 'Dyess Theater', and a small ramp in front. Bicycles are parked on the grass nearby, and a sign for Johnny Cash Boyhood Home is visible.
A dirt path wind through a dense green forest with trees on both sides and a canopy overhead.
A person riding a bicycle on a dirt road next to green farmland with a cluster of four tall pine trees in the distance, under a cloudy sky.
Close-up view of small rocks and dirt on the ground.
A dirt road winding through a wooded area with trees on both sides, some with sparse leaves, under a clear blue sky.
A dirt road runs through a wooded area with leafless trees on both sides, suggesting a late fall or winter season.
Cypress trees in a swamp with water at their roots, sunlight filtering through green leaves.
A wooden footbridge covered in fallen leaves, leading into a leafless forest with overcast skies.
Close-up of a freshwater mussel partially buried in sand at the edge of a river, with trees and blue sky in the background.
A dirt road running through a wooded area with trees on both sides, leading into the distance. A white animal is visible far down the road.
A rural scene with a white building labeled 'Valley View Baptist Church' and a sign saying 'Welcome to God's House.' A bicycle is parked against the building, with fields and a dirt road stretching into the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
A rural landscape featuring a body of water in the foreground, dry grass, and an old, weathered barn with silos and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A gravel bike resting against a tree near a small water fountain along a wooded trail.
A large flock of birds flying over a flat, open field under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a large house with a expansive front lawn, a small group of horses near the center, and surrounded by tall trees, with a driveway leading to the house.
Man in cycling gear with two bikes standing next to a stone monument in a park with trees and a bright blue sky.
A vintage-style bicycle is leaning against a brick wall with a large Smirnoff vodka poster above it. The poster depicts a woman wearing sunglasses and a hat, sipping from a straw in a glass of mixed drink.
A river with muddy water flowing between green trees under a partly cloudy sky.
A rural landscape with a gravel road on the right and a green field on the left. Several hay bales are scattered across the field. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.
Close-up of weathered wooden planks arranged in an overlapping pattern, with visible grain and cracks, in black and white.
Outdoor sign with the word 'Birdeye' on a concrete wall, trees, and a blue sky with clouds.
Street art mural of a pig with a chef's hat, holding a grill, next to a logo that reads "Big O Rilo" on a brick wall, with two bicycles parked in front.
A black bicycle leaning against a hay bale in a grassy field under a clear blue sky with the sun shining.
A freshly plowed farmland field under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.
Interior of a large, round industrial structure with radial metal beams converging at a central point, and a small opening at the top allowing light in.
Shadow of a person riding a bicycle on a gravel trail, with the bicycle's front wheel visible and the handlebar covered in camouflage pattern.
Empty street corner with colorful historic buildings, a billboard of Levon Helm, small trees, and a blue sky with clouds.
Close-up of a hay bale showing tightly packed, dried straw in a circular pattern.
A blue and black mountain bike with yellow accents resting on a metal grate bridge, with a gravel road and green trees in the background on a sunny day.
A close-up view of a collection of various small rocks and pebbles of different sizes, shapes, and colors on the ground.
A dirt ground with scattered fallen leaves of various colors and shapes.
Historical marker sign for Scatterville, Arkansas, describing its early settlement, Civil War skirmishes, and its cemetery for pioneers of Clay County, with trees and a road in the background.
A man with a bicycle standing in front of a mural on a brick wall, featuring a postage stamp with Hemingway's face, a mural of two women and children walking, and a sign that reads 'A Farewell to Arms' and 'Ernest Hemingway.'
A vintage football schedule poster for Piggott High School displaying dates for senior and junior varsity games, with team logos and handwritten notes.
A blue, yellow, and black full-suspension mountain bike leaning against a brick wall, with a white helmet hanging on the handlebars, a water bottle attached to the frame, and a black bag mounted on top of the frame.
A tan horse standing in a pasture with trees showing fall colors and a barbed wire fence in the foreground under a clear blue sky.
A red barn with a quilt pattern decoration on its upper part, set against a clear blue sky. There is a ladder leaning against the barn and some items on the ground in front of it, including a covered object and some farm equipment.
A gravel trail through a wooded park with trees on both sides, some turning yellow and orange for fall, and a blue sky overhead.
A gravel trail running through a densely wooded forest with trees on both sides, leading into the distance.
A gravel trail running through farmland with a large pine tree on the right and gray clouds overhead.
A gravel trail through a dense green forest with large trees and lush foliage.
A man with glasses, a mustache, and a red headband under his white bicycle helmet is holding a large turkey outdoors in a park-like area with trees, tents, and a car in the background.
Lettuce growing in a garden with a greenhouse in the background on a sunny day.
Two musicians playing guitars on a small outdoor stage at Birdeye Sessions, with string lights overhead and audience members seated nearby.
Grazing sheep in a lush green field with trees and a fence, under a partly cloudy sky.
Small vintage shop with purple exterior, decorated for independence day with an American flag, bunting, and patriotic decorations. A white bicycle with a helmet is parked on cracked concrete stairs in front of the shop. There are cushions, potted pla
An old, weathered metal barn with a rusted roof, surrounded by green trees and grass on a partly cloudy day.
A man riding a bicycle outdoors, smiling, wearing sunglasses, a helmet, and a black and blue athletic jacket, with greenhouses in the background at Birdeye Gravel Festival.
A woman feeding small goats outside on a farm, with a large wooden barn and trees in the background.
A person riding a bicycle along a gravel trail surrounded by green trees in a forest.
A man wearing a helmet, plaid shirt, black shorts, and socks rides a bicycle on a gravel path through a rural landscape with green fields and a cloudy sky with the sunset.
Two cyclists riding on a gravel trail through a lush green forest.
Three cyclists standing with their bikes outside a rustic building with an American flag and a sign that says 'No Parking' on a sunny day.
Three cyclists, two riding and one standing, on a gravel road in a rural area with green fields and trees in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Two women riding bikes on a gravel path in front of a large historic house surrounded by trees.
People at an outdoor gathering under string lights, sitting at tables and socializing, with a few standing and dancing at the Birdeye Sessions.
Rustic barn with weathered wood and rusted metal roof, enclosed by a white wooden fence, situated in a rural landscape with leafless trees in the background.

Plan Your Visit

DAY TRIP

You don’t need to spend a week on a bike to experience the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail. Come visit for a day, just pick any access point along the way and create your own outing. Fare warning, you’ll enjoy yourself and want to come back.

MULTIDAY

Perfect distance for a 4-day trip. What you do and where you stay is the essence of adventure. However you go, savor your curiosity. Here’s a sample itinerary,

  • Day 1 - Helena to Marianna (~30 miles)

  • Day 2 - Marianna to Birdeye (~80 miles)

  • Day 3 - Birdeye to Jonesboro (~50 miles)

  • Day 4 - Jonesboro to Piggott (~80 miles)

Group of cyclists pause with bikes outside a rustic metal building in the Arkansas Delta beneath an American flag along the Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail.

EXTENDED JOURNEY

  • The route intersects with the Big River Trail, the Delta Heritage Trail, and USBR 80 to create lengthy excursion opportunities

  • Bike to/from the Memphis airport or Amtrak Station and complete the loop self-supported

Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail signage rendering.

WHY THE DELTA?

The Arkansas Delta has suffered for decades from extreme poverty, population decline, and an eroding economic base. Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail traverses some of the poorest counties in one of the poorest states in America. According to the National Institute of Health, a staggering percentage of the population in these counties are below the poverty line: Phillips (33%), St. Francis (29%), Lee (28%), Poinsett (21%), Clay (19%), Cross (18%), Craighead (18%), and Greene (16%).

Meanwhile, the average tourist spent $198 per day in Arkansas in 2023 - bringing in MILLIONS to the local economy. In 2018, U of A researchers found that bicycle tourism in NWA generated an economic impact of $59 million. Bicycle-related business and tourism support 1,329 jobs and generated $10.9 million in state and local tax collections. With 4 million people living within a two-hour drive, this project is poised to help.

Please come visit, CRGT is a journey you will never forget.

Upcoming events

  • Cyclists and community members gather on the steps of studioDRIFT co-founder Martin Smith's farm house in Birdeye Arkansas.

    Birdeye Gravel

    Spend a weekend exploring the Delta’s greatest trails this November in Birdeye, Arkansas.

    Click Here
  • Live musicians perform live blues music at Birdeye Sessions with acoustic guitars

    Birdeye Sessions

    Enjoy a night under the stars listening to amazing music and eating delicious food. Check in often, this is a pop-up event series that always sells out.

    Click Here
  • Canoes and kayaks glide through calm water in a cypress forest in the Arkansas Delta during Delta Drift.

    Delta Drift

    Barred owls, prothonotary warblers, and wintering bald eagles. Tupelos and cypress too. October on the Bayou!

    Click Here
  • Cyclists gather in a downtown street in Helena Arkansas for Delta Grind.

    Delta Grind

    One-of-a-kind experience in the Arkansas Delta. See you there in May?

    Click Here
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