Wipe up your computer screen and stay with me. This craggy square of forest-capped limestone, home to less than 9,000, is core Ozarkbahn. The county corrals some of the most remote and rough-hewn terrain in the Ozarks, which incubated an amusingly vibrant backwoods culture. The racier chapters of Newtonian history include illicit whiskey production, premier marijuana agronomy, hippie communes, and the only hillbilly theme park in the world. The native earthiness still beckons droves of outdoor fans to trails and rivers. Most importantly, this capsule of the spartan, beautiful, and unique is crisscrossed by a stunning circuit of highways.
[Arkansas 74 on Google Maps]
We already know Arkansas 21 and Arkansas 123. Another great route from the Newton County playlist is Highway 74 from Ponca to Mount Judea.
This 28-mile drive is neatly divided in the middle by the county seat, Jasper. Starting at its Western end, AR 74 leaves Highway 43 and ascends from Boxley Valley into a mile-long hill climb loaded with narrow hairpins. This section alone is entertaining enough to enjoy until your brakes melt, but rest of the jaunt offers plenty of curves and Kodak vistas.
Lost Valley, Steel Creek, the Ponca Wilderness, and the Upper Buffalo River are among the Ozark's most popular destinations for camping, hiking, canoeing, and gratuitous shutterbuggery. Driving enthusiasts be warned: 74 carries a lot of traffic over from Scenic 7 at Jasper, and few drivers have the skill, vehicle, or inclination to traverse the road in anything but a dull plod. Jasper is also a favorite biker stop, so the potential to get slowed up is even worse during hospitable tourist weather. Want one more hazard? There are hundreds of elk in the area, and they're not very automobile-compatible. Dodge the obstacles, and 74 is a blast.
A final set of hairpins bring 74 into Jasper, where the road joins Highway 7 to cross Indian Creek, then twists East out of town. Thanks to lighter traffic, the second half of this drive has a different complexion. While the elevation changes aren't as extreme, the road maintains a steady roster of curves and scenery. Highway 74 eventually combines with Arkansas 123 near Hasty, and tracks four miles South along the bluffs by Big Creek to Mount Judea. While 74 continues East for several miles from there, this is where you part ways to continue South on 123, the best road in Arkansas.
Traffic: can pick up significantly during tourist season
Driving challenge: from rolling scenery to "hope the guardrail stops you"
Purty mouth: remember, the whole route is in Newton County
Ozarkbahn rating: a perennial favorite
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