Sugar Grove

Sugar Grove, Ar is in kind of an out of the way spot. Unless your a roadrunner like me, you probably havent been there. I rode there a couple of years ago, it was my first visit.
This is how to get there. You go to the town of Magazine on Hwy 10 then go south on Hwy 109. You'll eventually get to a Y, the new 109 goes right and the old left. First take the left and go across the new bridge. Watch when you cross the Petit Jean River, because on the right looking from the new bridge you'll see the old Magazine Middle Bridge which traverses the Petit Jean River using old Hwy 109. This bridge is now closed to traffic but still standing.

Magazine Middle Bridge across old Hwy 109

Magazine Middle Bridge


I didnt walk down to the bridge because as usual I did'nt have time or because it was summer and snakey, ticky or chiggery. Back in the day when my main concern was riding all the roads in Arkansas I often passed up good chances for exploration, not anymore, I've slowed down. These days if the terrain is right (I hate chiggers) I explore. If there is a real fear of tick or chigger infestation then I take pics using the optical zoom on my Pentax.

You may as well turn around after looking at the bridge because the old highway turns to dirt shortly. If your driving or on an enduro just keep going and you'll end up in Sugar Grove. Otherwise go back and take the new road to the Junction of Hwy 217, make a left to go to Sugar Grove and a right to Boonesville. If you pass on through Sugar Grove you'll go for a few miles to a boat landing and the end of pavement. Just turn around and go back to Boonesville unless you have an Enduro, if so, just take your pick of dirt roads and you'll eventually get somewhere.

The ride is a good one, there is very little traffic and the roads have good surface. You can tell by the pictures that it was a steaming hot and sunny day when I rode there, but I enjoyed it, of course I always enjoy going places where the main tide of automobiles don't go. I may sound kind of strange but for some reason I enjoy stopping in at these little out of the way country stores when I'm tired, hot, exhausted, sweaty and barely able to speak. I get me a cold drink and a candy bar, sit outside on the whittling bench and cool down. If I'm lucky maybe theres someone from the area around and I can listen and learn about their home. You can learn alot about people and places from the stories tell and the shoes they wear.

I'm slowing down on my riding style, in the future I will take my time, visit more, explore and do alot more photography.

An old Sugar Grove Church (maybe school at one time also?)



An old house near the center of town.