The Pig Trail
Why is this spectacular scenic route, Highway 23 called the Pig Trail Scenic Byway? Well, for one thing, the meandering nature of the route reminds visitors of a trail carved in the woods from wild pigs. Another factor that influenced the name was that this route has been a major travel way for students, sports fans and other University of Arkansas supporters going to and from Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the Arkansas Razorbacks. And lastly, it’s a National Scenic Byway.
The Pig Trail provides numerous recreational opportunities. Enjoy open fields and pastures, rugged cedar breaks and rocky bluffs or the banks of the Mulberry River. If fishing isn't your favorite activity, brave the rushing waters for a few hours of whitewater rafting or kayaking and afterward spend a night under leafy boughs while the rushing waters from the White River sooth you to sleep. Start off the next day with a hike along the Ozark Highlands Trail, and capture the widespread views beneath you with your camera. There is Turner Bend Store and campground at the "end of the trail" where you can get a patch that says "I survived the Pig Trail" and a campground, along with several lodges and cabin sites along the beginning and end of the ride.
The rugged and forested Boston Mountains region of the Ozark Mountains provides the setting for this 19 mile route, which often runs through a tunnel of foliage during spring, summer and fall. Winter provides the clearest views of the mountain terrain. Spring wildflowers and brilliant autumn foliage make the route especially popular during those seasons. The route crosses the Mulberry River and the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail.
