Parks, Lakes, and Themed Attractions in Branson, MO

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City Rides

Nestled in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, some of the prettiest scenery and most varied recreational activities await you in Branson's parks. Branson also features exciting amusement parks to thrill you with fast-paced rides and splashy adventures.

In proximity to Branson are three lakes, which offer a variety of sports and recreation opportunities. Branson's pristine lakes offer chances for camping, picnicking, parasailing, fishing and swimming. There are docks for ski boats, pontoon boats, bass boats and jet skis. Wildlife sightings around the lakes include eagles, deer, turkeys and other water birds. Table Rock Lake State Park, only 10 minutes from Branson's central business district, features scuba diving and swimming at its new Moonshine Beach. Lake Taneycomo is right in the city of Branson, and Bull Shoals Lake, only 20 miles away, offers a nearby chance to escape the city to discover nature and solitude.

The Mark Twain National Forest is the perfect place for mountain biking on trails and for exploring old logging roads in 4-wheel drive vehicles. Other sites for outdoor adventures include the overnight camping and backpacking opportunities in Busiek State Park, Hercules Glade and Piney Creek Wilderness Areas. Additional trails can be found at The White River Trail, located below Table Rock Lake, near Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery.

Stockstill City Park, off James Epps Road near Roark Creek, is a good place to enjoy sports and recreation without even having to leave the city. Here, you'll find tennis courts, sports playing fields, playgrounds, picnic tables and shelters and paved walking trails.

If you'd like to observe the unique natural habitats and geology of the Ozarks, make sure to visit the Ruth & Paul Henning State Forest on Highway 76. Here, you'll find both paved- and natural-surface trails, as well as an observation tower giving you good views of the Ozark Mountains. This park features up-close study of the dolomite glades, unique to the Ozarks, where you'll see cacti, lizards and maybe even a tarantula or scorpion!

Once you've had some park experiences with an emphasis on nature, perhaps you're ready to step up the speed and thrill factor, and visit one of Branson's amusement parks. At Silver Dollar City, you'll enjoy 17 rides and attractions, 60 shops and restaurants, and 50 shows, all in the setting of an 1800s Ozark town. Rides include the Wildfire Rollercoaster and the Waterworks Waterboggans, and in the unique shops, visitors can purchase souvenirs such as old-fashioned candy, handmade candles and cut glass. If it's a hot day and you'd like a thrilling way to cool off, head to White Water Park where you'll fly down Raging River Rapids, play at RainTree Island, or soar on the Tropical Twister, all among beautiful pools and landscaping.

Branson's best-kept secret may be its treasure trove of parks. From the scenery of the Ozark Mountains and nearby lakes, to thrills and spills at White Water Park and Silver Dollar City, park goers in Branson can find both serenity and adventure