2026 Trail of Tears Remembrance Ride

We remember the Trail of Tears to acknowledge the humanity of those who suffered and the grave injustice committed against sovereign peoples. This remembrance ride is not about assigning collective modern-day guilt, but about collective modern-day responsibility. History, unexamined, repeats its patterns of dehumanization and marginalization.
Remembrance facilitates essential change and discussion. It forces us to examine how systemic power can be used to silence, displace, and erase entire cultures. By confronting this legacy, we open dialogues about ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities today. I challenge every rider to be a beacon of hope and change that inspires society.

All entry fees will be donated to the Cherokee Nation Foundation.

The Route retraces the Trail of Tears from Pea Ridge, AR to Tahlequah, OK. This is a one-way route. If you choose not to complete the out-and-back route, then you are responsible for your own transportation.

This is a self-supported ride – riders are responsible for their own food, water, navigation, and repairs. The event will be held on roads that are open to vehicular traffic. Bright colors and bike lights are recommended to improve safety and visibility.

The start location = Pea Ridge Bike Camp, 10542 Blue Jay Rd, Pea Ridge, AR 72751. The Grand Depart will be at 8 AM on June 20th 2026. Participants are encouraged to camp overnight at the Pea Ridge Bike Camp if they would like to. The cost is $30 and reservations can be made through Hipcamp.com using the UR code. Cash payments will be accepted on-site. Outdoor showers and a bike wash station are available for those opting to camp. There will be courtesy parking available for all participants throughout the weekend at no cost. Learn more here.

Please see the following routes:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53659411?privacy_code=5L6GDjQAcRKNRfmTmCfFzDFkCsNHqUTo
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53781133?privacy_code=NJcJ8zCVQq5Ht8pcdZwKeQdCHeqoMzAW
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53776809
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54162737

Phat Tire Bike Shop is sponsoring the event: Phat Tire will provide a support van to transport camping gear to the overnight location for semi-supported participants. The van will have limited capacity and is intended to help reduce carried weight for riders. It will NOT function as an official SAG vehicle or follow the slowest rider along the route. Phat Tire staff will also be available at camp locations to provide basic technical support as needed.

The main camping areas that the group and the Phat Tire Crew will be staying at is Eagle Bluff Resort = https://www.eaglebluffresort.com/

**Once registered, I highly recommend reserving a campsite along the Illinois River as these sites are extremely popular during kayaking/rafting season and will book quickly. Please refer to the RideWithGPS links to research camping websites and book online.

Route surface description: The section from Pea Ridge to Fayetteville incorporates gravel and paved Greenway. Fayetteville to Tahlequah incorporates singletrack, chunky gravel roads, and low-traffic paved roads. If completing the entire route, a tire width of 45 mm+ is recommended.