U.S. Bicycle Route 51

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials established the U.S. Bicycle Route System in 1978 with the mission to recognize routes that lend themselves to bicycle travel. In 1982, two routes were established, and they remained the only two until 2011, when interest in the system was pushed by several bicycling organizations, including the Adventure Cycling Association.

Establishing routes requires coordination between federal, state and local transportation boards. U.S. Bicycle Route 51 is contemplated to run from U.S. Bicycle Route 45 just west of New Orleans, Louisiana, north to Minnesota, passing through Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas on the way. The portion in Arkansas was approved in 2024 as the first section of USBR 51. The next year, Missouri’s portion of USBR 51, running from the Arkansas to Iowa was approved.

Very loosely, Bicycle Route 51 parallels in some measure the old Jefferson Highway from the early 20th century and modern U.S. Highway 71 and Interstate 49.

The Arkansas Segment

Southbound from the Missouri border, the route follows U.S. Highway 71 for seven miles before switching to the paved Razorback Greenway, which it follows for 37 miles.

The Razorback Greenway in Fayetteville includes portions of Lake Fayetteville Trail, Clear Creek Trail, Scull Creek Trail, Frisco Trail and Town Branch Trail.

On the south side of Fayetteville, the route switches back to U.S. Highway 71, which runs south to Alma. This southern leg includes wide shoulders, and the highway is designated by the state as a scenic highway.

The total distance of the Arkansas portion of the USBR 51 already approved is just a hair over 90 miles according to the Adventure Cycling Association, although various sources report its distance as 88 miles. Its highest elevation in Arkansas — and likely the highest along the entire six-state proposed route — is approximately 2,080 feet above sea level, when the route passes over Mount Gaylor. Northbound from Alma, the route in Arkansas has 4,015 feet of climbing and 3,653 feet of descent.

A spur — USBR 251 — splits off USBR 51 in Bella Vista and runs 10 miles northeast from Sugar Creek Soccer Park to the Missouri border near Jacket, Missouri. That route continues into Missouri, connecting to Springfield and Bolivar.