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    Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area

    4.5 (19 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    A view of Taneycomo lake
    Mary M.

    What a amazing Trail acrossed from HURTS donuts and the Dixie stampede had no clue it was ever there and right in Branson!!!!! maybe 3 or so miles if you take the whole thing. beautiful flowers and some history We will be back in the fall to do it again

    One of the trails
    Payton M.

    This is the best hike I have found in Branson so far. Lots of different trails to choose from. The views are incredible. There are a lot of stairs on some of the trails but you can avoid them if you want. Great places for picnics. Lots of benches and tables. I totally recommend for a nice sunny day.

    Crystal C.

    Great Fall Hiking Location!! Going here in mid-November I could see why this would be a great location for local hiking. Though with the rocky terrain I wouldn't want to personally explore it during months where snakes are a bit more predominant, the numerous hiking trails this space provides accommodate those of all skill levels. During rainy season, a trail leads to a waterfall which is unparalleled. Visiting when I did this meant the falls was in fact dry and thus you could hike through the bed instead of having to double back to another trail. There are several small grotto caves which are scattered down the trail area and overlook the water below. My favorite trail was a series of stone steps which made for quite the challenge. You can access this area through two different trails which combine to work their way toward the shoreline. This path proved to be a challenge on the way back up with over 300 steps which stagger down the mountainside. Up at the top of the area just down a short flat path is a very interesting piece of history, the original someplace location with numerous signs of interest which explain the unique history of this location. This is a MUST hike when in Branson for those looking to get off the strip and do something in the great outdoors. Great views!!

    Dominik D.

    If you want a nice representation of the Ozarks in a civilized park, this is a place for you. Despite being within city limits, you get those million dollar vistas that the region seems to have no shortage of.

    Ron D.

    We definitely enjoyed our hike today and recommend this trail . A little rocky and especially in the rain. We will be back.

    I'm sure the fall is lovely when it's not dry! It was fun to climb around
    Kaci C.

    Beautiful area! The fall was mostly dry when I went, but the trails were mostly clean, there is lots of shade, the hike was a bit challenging due to a bit of mud and the steepness (look, I'm from the Gulf region where it's flat, okay?), and there were beautiful scenic views. I wish the signage were more clear, though. We were never really sure if we were on the blue, pink, red, purple, or whatever other color trails they had. Despite that, we found our way and enjoyed the scenery and light workout. I could enjoy this area regularly if I lived nearby. It was most definitely worth the visit!

    The stone wall of the Owen Homestead.
    Brian B.

    A beautiful forest walk with trails for all levels of hikers. The staircase is a difficult track and not well suited for anyone with heart or lung related problems.

    Brittany T.

    We were in town on a trip and looking for a place to hike. This place was great! It was easy to find and the trails were well marked and easy to follow. Be aware if you want to see the waterfall there are tons of stairs. We went after it rained for almost a week straight and the water was flowing. We got done with our hike and were soaked from all the rain water running off the hill onto the trails but it was fun.

    Ginger M.

    About six miles of trails ranging from easy to difficult...right in the middle of Branson. Pretty cool, and even as a couple who love to hike and come to Branson a few times per year, we had never heard of Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area until we happened to drive past. It's a very good place to get in some exercise while visiting Branson, especially if you are not as big on theme parks or outlet mall shopping. Those things are fun, but to me this was much more interesting! We hiked several of the trails here and found all of them to be moderate by our opinion from hiking trails including many National Parks. I really was a bit puzzled by the levels assigned to several of the trails, but if you like to hike you probably won't have any trouble here, either. A homestead site is within some of the easier trails and quite interesting although the home structure was destroyed by fire, outbuildings and a swing remain, as well as picnic areas. There are some really fantastic views although the majority of the trails are indeed in deep woods. Be very aware of all the spiderwebs! Especially if you come earlier in the morning as we did. There were dozens upon dozens especially on the red and blue trails near the entry area a bit further from Lake Taneycomo. We spotted lizards, squirrels, and fortunately for me, no snakes. Lovely place and fairly well kept. The trails aren't blazed as clearly as I'd prefer which is the reason for the four star rating. One could easily find themselves puzzled about which trail is which. For those who may have younger children and/or just want to stop and stretch their legs, the entrance right off 76 does have a great small, newer playground and some picnic tables along with park-type restrooms.

    Byron B.

    Some nice trails with informative placards about the property's history. The old settlement had gorgeous oak trees. Had lunch at the picnic tables and went for a hike. Nice place to spend a couple hours with a family for free.

    Shot of Lakeside Forest Wilderness area.

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    Great activity to get the kids out of the car and work up a little sweat with some nice views. Would go back and do a different trail.

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    7 years ago

    Great hiking trail! Take it easy or hike the stone stairs. Well established trail. Great views!

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    Ask the Community - Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area

    Are the trails conducive to an elderly person using a walker?

    Hi there! Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area is beautiful, but it’s quite rugged with uneven trails, stairs, and natural terrain, so it’s generally not very conducive for someone using a walker. If you’re looking for a more accessible trail in Branson,… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area

    At the bottom was a view of Lake Taneycomo so pretty it made me forgive the stair situation.

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    Dogwood Canyon Nature Park - Little church that you can rent out for weddings

    Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

    4.3(197 reviews)
    14.0 mi

    On a Monday morning in April we (I, mother and daughter) set out to cruise through the glorious…read morecanyon on wheels. Feeling a bit hesitant at first to do it on bike but it was the best feeling. It was a perfect 68, clear skies and lilac blooms along the way. The perfection was almost overwhelming. A tram is also available for a round trip adventure but the bike was just too fun to pass up. Along the way we saw all kinds of little critters, snakes, fish and birds. Stopped at the tree house, chapel and most of the waterfalls. On bike with all the stops about 2 hours, walking could easily be 3+. Bikes are $15 each and I highly recommend getting there early so you have your pick cause the good ones go fast. Some have baskets and you should get one of those and then fill it with a picnic lunch. Little under $20 per person for entry, with discounts for veterans, seniors and children. Large parking but the place is popular, so again if possible arrive early.

    I had to call in a few times. I had questions about what my tickets included, I had questions…read moreabout how to plan my weekend, every single person that I spoke to, went above and beyond to help me out. Then when we got there, the check in lady, recommended the Tram like we had been besties forever an we would really miss out of we didn't do it. 0 regrets. She was so right. Didn't love the restaurant, but literally everything else was amazing.

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    Dogwood Canyon Nature Park - Feeding golden trout

    Feeding golden trout

    Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
    Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

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    White River Kayaking & Outdoors - Great wildlife on your kayak adventure

    White River Kayaking & Outdoors

    4.4(16 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Issac and Hannah were so awesome and helpful during our visit. They checked us in and got us in our…read morekayak quickly. The launch is super easy and the instructions on where to go were clear. This is a great choice when you are thinking about a kayak outing self-guided. It is a great value and we would recommend these folks if you are looking for some time on the water.

    Branson is a busy place with a lot of stores for shopping. I am not a shop until you drop kind of…read moreperson, so when I visited last summer, I knew I needed to find something else to do. I booked with White River online in the morning, and that afternoon I was on my way to have a little adventure. From checking in, to getting ready for my voyage, and being on the water in great equipment, I had such a lovely time. Fast forward to about a week ago, I traveled back to Branson for a musical, and I knew I had to go back to White River. I had the same experience with great staff, study/safe equipment and a peaceful journey on the river. The store has a lot to offer for purchase including: clothes, water shoes, sunscreen dry bags and more. You have the option of renting dry bags and a waterproof speaker at a pretty low cost. The dry bag is a must. You're given options for which trip you want to take. My sister and I chose Taneycomo, and it was a little under 4 miles. (We were provided a map for the trek.). We were picked up from out ending point, and taken back to the original location. Sn: Any business that offers free period products is alright with me! Love this place, they will always have my business when I'm in town.

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    White River Kayaking & Outdoors
    White River Kayaking & Outdoors
    White River Kayaking & Outdoors - Lots of boat activity but very safe for kayaking.

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    Lots of boat activity but very safe for kayaking.

    Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area - hiking - Updated May 2026

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