Tour Information
Wheel A’ Mena is a bicycle tour of the Ouachita Mountains and the Talimena Scenic Drive held each fall. The Wheel A’ Mena Bicycle Tour will be staged out of Mena, Arkansas which is located at the foot hills of Rich Mountain.
This ride provides some of the best scenic views in Arkansas with much of the ride being high atop the Ouachita Mountains on the Talimena Scenic Drive. Mena is proud to have Rich Mountain, Arkansas’s second largest peek. This tour is not a leisurely ride through the hills. It is for someone looking for a challenge. For some, it will be an opportunity to push yourself to your limits and see just what you can do. All routes include 2+ mile long stretches of ride with an average of 7% grade or greater with a max grades reaching almost 12% grade in a few places. We do not categorize any of our routes for beginners, though we are happy to have beginners and help them along the way if needed!
The Routes
Riders can choose between 30, 50, and 70 mile routes. Each route shares the first 15 miles. The tour begins at the historic Janssen Park in Mena, AR. Then riders proceed out to Mena Street. Riders continue north to the town of Acorn and proceed up Highway 270 to the Rich Mountain community.
30 Mile Route
At the Rich Mountain community, the 30 mile route heads up the mountain to the Queen Wilhelmina State Park (This is also the beginning of the 30 Mile Route’s Rich Mountain Warrior Challenge). Then after reaching the Wonder House, the 30 Mile riders return to Mena along the Talimena Scenic Drive. The ride concludes at Janssen Park.
For detailed information about elevation, click here for the Ride with GPS map. Click the map below for a printable version.
50 Mile Route
At the Rich Mountain community, the 50 mile route heads up the mountain to the Queen Wilhelmina State Park (This is also the beginning of the 50 Mile Route’s Rich Mountain Warrior Challenge). Then the 50 mile route will continue beyond the Wonder House at Queen Wheel A’Mena State Park, over the Arkansas/Oklahoma stateline to the Chaha Vista. At the Chaha Vista, 50 mile riders will turn around and return to the Queen Wilhelmina State Park and follow the Talimena Scenic Drive down to Mena.The ride concludes at Janssen Park.
For detailed information about elevation, click here for the Ride with GPS map. Click the map below for a printable version.
70 Mile Route
At the Rich Mountain community, the 70 mile route continues straight ahead on Highway 270 into Oklahoma. Just beyond the community of Page, riders will turn onto Highway 259. You will continue on 259 until you see a sign indicating the Talimena Scenic Drive byway. This parts a little tricky. You will take the left onto the biway, then a right onto the Talimena Scenic Drive. You will follow the Talimena Scenic Drive to the base of the mountain back into Mena. When riders hit the 37 mile mark of the ride on the Talimena Scenic Drive, riders will see the signs for the beginning of the Rich Mountain Warrior challenge for the 70 mile route. The ride concludes at Janssen Park.
For detailed information about elevation, click here for the Ride with GPS map. Click the map below for a printable version.
