Cass sits in the Mulberry River Valley in the Arkansas Ozarks, surrounded by Ozark National Forest on nearly every side. Most people who come here come for one thing — OHV riding, or the river, or the Pig Trail — and leave wishing they’d known about the rest.

The Cass House is located at 3431 Cass Oark Road on Hwy 215 — a short drive from every attraction listed below.

The Mulberry River

Distance from Cass House: 100-yard walk (direct access)

The centerpiece of the valley. The Mulberry is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River — one of only two in Arkansas — running clear over a gravel bottom through a hardwood-forested national forest corridor. It’s good for floating, paddling, swimming, and watching. Class I–III depending on season and water levels. In spring it’s a legitimate whitewater river. In summer it’s a gentle float and perfect swimming hole. Rental outfitters (Turner Bend, Byrd’s) are 3–4 miles away. Direct access from the Cass House.

OHV & ATV Trails

Distance from Cass House: Trailheads within 10 minutes in either direction

Two separate Ozark National Forest trail systems — Boston Mountain MVUM (west) and Pleasant Hill MVUM (east) — flank the Cass House. Between them, you have hundreds of miles of national forest roads and designated OHV routes through real Ozark mountain terrain. Rocky, rooted, technical in places, and genuinely fun.

Mill Creek OHV Area (Boston Mountain) is the main staging hub for the western system. The Pleasant Hill side is more accessible and better for beginners and larger UTVs. Motor Vehicle Use Maps for both systems are available at Turner Bend, 3 miles away.

Byrd’s Adventure Center (~4 miles) also operates 800 acres of private OHV terrain with mud pits and obstacles for riders who want a managed experience.

Turner Bend Outfitters

~3 miles — Hwy 23 at the Pig Trail Junction

Turner Bend has been here since 1911. That’s not a marketing line — that’s more than a century of serving floaters, riders, hikers, motorcyclists, and anyone else who shows up at the junction of the Mulberry River and Highway 23 needing something.

Byrd’s Adventure Center

~4 miles

The original ATV park in Arkansas, operating since 1982. Byrd’s offers 800 acres of private off-road terrain — trails, mud pits, and obstacles separate from the national forest system. Also: canoe/kayak/raft rentals on the Mulberry, camping (tent, RV, and lodging), and a riverfront restaurant (check seasonal hours).

Byrd’s also hosts events — rallies, tournaments, family reunions, concerts. If there’s a major event happening at Byrd’s during your visit, the area fills up — book the Cass House early.

Best for: Riders who want managed, obstacle-focused OHV riding; groups that want multiple activities in one location; anyone who wants a full-service day at a commercial riding park.

Mulberry Mountain

~3 miles

Mulberry Mountain is the valley’s major music and event venue — a large hilltop property that hosts camping festivals, concerts, and large gatherings throughout the year. The venue has become well-known in the festival circuit, drawing national and regional acts for multi-day camping events.

• Check the event calendar before booking — festival weekends fill up the entire area fast
• If you’re coming for a festival, book the Cass House well in advance
• If you’re NOT coming for a festival and want quiet, avoid known event weekends
• The drive up Mulberry Mountain is a destination in itself — good views of the valley

The Pig Trail — Highway 23

Starts at Turner Bend (~3 miles)

Highway 23 — the Pig Trail — runs north from Ozark through the Arkansas Ozarks, connecting to the Ozark Highlands and eventually Eureka Springs. The southern section through the national forest is the part motorcyclists talk about: tight curves, elevation changes, hardwood tunnels, and the kind of road geometry that makes a motorcycle genuinely rewarding to ride.

Redding Recreation Area

~2 miles from Cass House — Ozark National Forest, managed by USFS

A developed Forest Service campground and recreation area on the Mulberry River. For Cass House guests, Redding is the closest developed river access point — good for a short drive with kids who want to play in the river without a full float trip. Also a convenient staging point for float trips starting slightly upstream of Turner Bend.

• Campground with tent and RV sites
• Developed river access (good put-in/take-out)
• Picnic areas and restroom facilities
• Day-use and camping fees apply — campground fills up on summer and fall weekends

Hiking & Outdoor Recreation in Ozark National Forest

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