I must say this conservation department is gorgeous My husband and I hiked for a few hours I…read moreabsolutely loved it. Pics to fallow

My wife and I hiked here yesterday (June 22 2105). We thoroughly enjoyed it. Didn't see another…read morehuman being as advertised. Relatively easy to find and convenient. The GPS in our car couldn't find it but our phone could. Finding any description of it on the Internet proved difficult. I noticed a marker on an online map and then did an online search. This yielded the previous Yelp review and a short section on the Missouri Department of Conservation. (Missouri Parks and apps to locate hiking areas provide no information.) So, unfortunately, or fortunately, however you choose to look at it, finding out about it takes an effort. We liked the hike. It's about 2.7 miles out and back (5.4 miles total) so not a loop. It's competitive but not overly strenuous. The biggest drawback? A couple of sections included lots of loose stones, so exercise real caution or you might turn on ankle or something. My wife expressed disappointment that it offered no vistas. Good views might await you if in late fall or winter. But in summer you can see nothing due to the foliage. But we highly recommend it. Especially if you enjoy solitude and a decent workout.

Great hiking areas, creek access for wading. Great family and picnic area. Gun range on the west…read moreside along with my favorite trails, Purple, Orange and White. Great switchback trails and four season hiking and trail running. Horses are allowed also, so keep your eyes open. Always be prepared with water and bug spray!

Took my great grand kids here and they loved riding the bat coaster. Wish the food was cheaperread more

Somewhere in Branson, tucked behind the tourist shops and fudge factories, we decided to go full…read morenature mode and hit the Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area--which sounds way more intense than it actually is. I was half-expecting to see a bear with a banjo or a raccoon running a moonshine still. Instead, we got about 140 acres of surprisingly legit wilderness... with signs. Lots of signs. Branson knows how to label a rock. The trail started off innocent enough--wood chips, some chirping birds, a suspicious squirrel staring us down. Then came the stairs. Not like "oh look, a couple of steps," but 315 stone steps carved into the side of a bluff like Mother Nature was training for a StairMaster commercial. Whoever built these things must have been part mountain goat, part lunatic. Down we went, each step echoing with the soundtrack of my thighs weeping. Somewhere between Step 89 and existential crisis, we passed a little cave where I'm 83% sure a wizard lives. It was cool, literally and metaphorically. We didn't go in though--look, we respect magical real estate. At the bottom was a view of Lake Taneycomo so pretty it made me forgive the stair situation. There were trees, chirping birds, and a breeze that whispered, "Hey, good luck going back up." We lingered at a little waterfall trickle (emphasis on trickle--it hadn't rained much) and contemplated faking an injury to avoid the climb. Eventually, we powered back up, legs shaking, pride shattered, but hearts full. Or maybe that was just dehydration. Back at the top, we found a porch swing near the ruins of an old homestead, which felt like a reward from the hiking gods. If you ever wanted to swing gently while staring into the distance and pretending you're in a Nicholas Sparks movie, this is your spot. All in all, 5 stars would hike again. Just next time, I'm bringing hiking poles.

People who go to Branson for shows and shopping are missing the REAL beauty of this place. I did…read morethe two mile loop that takes you down to the lake and back up to the parking lot. The beauty of the Ozarks is breathtaking! There are restrooms and covered picnic tables as well.

The White River Valley Trail System is an awesome spot for anyone who loves a challenge. The…read moreparking area is spacious and well-maintained, with clean restrooms and clear welcome signs to get you started. Once you hit the trail these are technical paths with plenty of rocks, roots, and serious elevation changes. It's a tough hike or ride that requires skill and stamina. The trails aren't marked very well, you have to keep an eye on the trees. One of the trails connects to a paved road that leads down to the river, where you'll find access for fishing and some really nice views of the hatchery. Overall, this trail system is beautiful and challenging, perfect if you're looking for a solid workout and don't mind a bit of rough terrain. Definitely not for beginners, but experienced hikers and mountain bikers will love it.

A beautiful place to hike. While the trails are not marked well, the scenery is fantastic!!…read more Trees, wildlife, small waterfalls and so very peaceful. Easy to access. Great area to park cars. The lower trails are quite easy to hike, the ones further in get more difficult. Drop a pin when you park-- since the trails aren't marked well you might have some difficulty getting out if you are on a schedule. When you drop the pin, you can often take a short cut back to the parking area.

Cricket Creek Marina Campground is a beautiful serene campground nestled in the trees by the lower…read morepart of Table Rock Lake. This part of the lake is calm and way less crowded even though it's super close to Branson. This is a great place to camp with your 5th, motorhome or trailer! They even have pull through sites for buses and longer rigs. Each site is well paved for leveling and have electric & water hookups. The dumping station is conveniently located across the street from the camping sites. Cricket Creek is dog friendly, retiree and family oriented. This is a beautiful camp ground to walk and it's a short distant walk to the marina. This campground is very clean and well maintained.

This is a hidden jewel in the Ozarks. It is absolutely beautiful, and the marina is right next…read moredoor. Close to everything, but a world away.

We had a great time on our trail ride! The guide was really patient with our kids (ages 12, 10, and…read more7), and our whole family enjoyed it. The horses were kind and the trails were beautiful. Highly recommend!

Excellent trail ride experience! We had the best trail guide, completely exceeded our…read moreexpectations. We enjoyed riding Jo and Remi!

This lake is beautiful and is definitely worth exploring. The trails have different levels of…read moreexperience so even for someone without any experience they could go on a beginner trail. There's also biking. You can't go to Eureka Springs without coming here to bask in the glory of nature.

Gorgeous lake. There is one small loop and one large loop. There's also one off trail worth…read morechecking out. I'm sure many will appreciate the well maintained port a potty.

This site is so beautiful with shops tucked around nature. You can't help but have your breath…read moretaken away if you truly enjoy nature.

The drive to PR was calming and scenic. My time to and from PV and the stacked rocks was less than…read more20 minutes, so if you're into short hikes and finding joy in nature, this could be one. Hike has both paved and non-paved trail with an online map or you could take a picture at entrance. If going solo, I wouldn't mind the fee, it gets pricey when you're with a group or with kids, especially for the time spent.