Branson - Destination for the Trail Enthusiast!

Branson, and the surrounding area, is teeming with trails and walking paths of all lengths and surfaces, and trails that meander through a variety of topography. And you won't have to travel far from your room to find excellent walking and hiking opportunities; the City of Branson's Parks & Recreation Department has mapped out and maintains several excellent trails and walking paths right here in the city limits, including some that connect to other trail systems.

Please click the park names below to see a trail map if one is available. Some are .pdf and some are .jpg.

Take the Branson Path Less...or Maybe More...Traveled!

Walking paths can be found in these parks:

• Branson RecPlex - includes a one-mile asphalt walking path that loops around the entire complex. Located in Branson Hills, the RecPlex features a fitness facility, basketball courts, meeting space, an aquatic center, baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, park pavilions, and a playground.
• North Beach - has a 3/4 mile walking path located on the banks of Lake Taneycomo and connecting to the Branson Landing Boardwalk. The park also has fishing docks, barbecue pits, picnic tables, and horseshoe pits.
• Stockstill Park - features a 1/2 mile asphalt walking path that wraps around the playground and ball fields and takes you past Cox Medical Center. From there, you can take a sidewalk to Branson Landing or Historic Downtown Branson. Stockstill also has picnic pavilions and a pretty creek that meanders alongside it.
• Sunset Park - has a 6/10 mile paved and lighted walking path with exercise stations along the way. There's also a disc golf course found in the interior of the path.

The "Trail" Leads To...From...and Throughout the City of Branson!

Area hiking trails maintained by the City can be found at:

• Lakes Forest Wilderness Area - boasts 4.4 miles of trail with some of the city's most rigorous hiking, including a set of 315 stonework steps constructed in the late 1930's. You'll come upon beautiful woodlands, an old homestead and barn, two caves, a grotto, a waterfall, and some of the area's most stunning views of Lake Taneycomo and the Ozarks' countryside.
• Roark Creek - provides 3.2 miles of trail with all but the last 1/2 mile paved. It ends at a bluff overlooking the creek. There's also a 1/2 mile ADA accessible trail.
• Waterfall - is 2/3 miles long and unpaved. It runs along an un-named tributary of Roark Creek, and its features include two creek crossings, beautiful rock formations, a waterfall, and a dense tree canopy.

Hike, Bike, Run, or Just Walk for Fun - Branson Outdoors Earns High Scores!

State parks, wilderness areas, and extensive state and national forest land is all around the Branson area, making it the ideal destination for everyone who's looking for easy access to the great outdoors! You'll find substantial hiking, biking, horseback riding, and walking opportunities in the extensive acreage of the Branson area's gorgeous and protected landscape.

• Busiek State Forest - Approximately 18 miles of well-marked trails for use by hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. Located just 20 minutes north of Branson.
• Chinquapin Trail at Table Rock State Park - 1.5 miles of natural surface trail with access to several areas of park services. It shares a section with Table Rock Lakeshore Trail.
• Drury-Mincy Conservation Area - features 1.5 miles of difficult-level hiking on Bear Creek Trail, and Thurman's Sink, a .30 mile trail with moderate difficulty. This lovely area is less than 10 miles from Branson.
• Hercules Glades Wilderness - has an impressive 32 miles of maintained trails that follow open glades, forested ridge tops, and Long Creek. Visitors can enjoy stunning panoramic views and other scenic features.
• Ruth & Paul Henning Conservation Area - provides 3.6 miles of hiking trails with four different experiences: Homesteader's Trail, a difficult hike of 3.4 miles; Glade Exploration Trail, a moderate hike of 1.1 miles; Shane's Shortcut, a difficult hike of .30 miles; Dewey Bald Trail, a moderate hike of .40 miles; and Streamside Trail, a moderate hike of .40 miles.
• Table Rock Lakeshore Trail - is 2.25 miles long and follows the shoreline of Table Rock Lake from the State Park to Dewey Short Visitor Center. It's a paved, relatively flat trail popular with walkers and wheelchair users. A section of the trail is shared with Chinquapin Trail.
• White River Valley Trail - is 10.25 miles in length; it was built on Table Rock State Park and US Army Corps land that was used during the construction of Table Rock Dam in the late 1950's. The trail is sectioned into loops that offer a variety of surfaces and challenges.

More Trails in Branson? You Bet!

Check out the trails you'll find in a variety of areas:

• Branson Creek - several trails of varying lengths are located in the extensive acreage of this gorgeous residential development that's privately owned; however, the trail system is accessible to the public. You'll find caves and some fascinating historic sites, like the remains of Melva, a ghost town destroyed by a storm in the early 1900's.
• Dogwood Canyon - features trails of varying lengths throughout both the groomed and rugged landscapes of this privately owned, but publicly accessible, 10,000 acre property owned by Bass Pro Shops. It's located about 25 minutes from Branson, and unlike most of the hiking trails in the area, admission to the park is required to access the trails.
• Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery Trails include:
• The White River Corridor Trail below Table Rock Dam, .40 of a mile along the Lake Taneycomo shoreline. It connects to:
• Canebrake Trail, less than a half mile trail through forested areas, where you'll also find winding wooden bridges.
• Fisherman's Trail be only .40 of a mile, but it has access to some great fishing holes!
• White River Bluffs Trail is a 1.6 mile loop offering a challenging hike on a dirt/gravel path with some gain in elevation.

It's easy to see that Branson is not only the perfect place for shows, attractions, and other amazing indoor entertainment, it's an ideal destination for everyone who loves to explore the outdoors by taking a leisurely stroll on a paved and even surface; gently bouncing along on horseback; or rigorously hiking through a roughly cut route. Branson serves the outdoor enthusiast in all of us, regardless of how big or small our enthusiasm might be!