The weather in Branson has been unseasonably warm so far this winter, so on a sunny New Year’s Eve, we decided to take a hike on the new White River Valley Trail System, a series of mountain-biking trails on the south side of Lake Taneycomo that opened in 2011. (The new trail system won a national award in 2011 from the Coalition for Recreational Trails.)
This sign marks the beginning of the Red Trail, which is the entry to the trail system from the main trailhead that is across Hwy 265 from Table Rock State Park.
The system is made up of several loop trails (Red, Blue, Orange and Green) joined by several smaller connecting trails. In the few months they have been open, the trails have quickly become a favorite of day-hikers and mountain bikers … and on the day we hiked, we saw more bicyclists than traditional hikers.
The entire trail system covers 10.25 miles and is designated as a mountain-biking trail system. Hikers are welcome, but they need to remember that bicyclists have the right of way. Horses and ATVs are not allowed on the trails.
At the main trailhead (Red Trail) there's a kiosk that displays a map of the entire trail system.
There are two trailheads to the system, both with parking areas. The main trailhead is off Hwy 265, across the road from the entrance to Table Rock State Park. This gives access to northern loops in the system (Red and Blue trails). There is a southern trailhead at the end of Trophy Run Road (off Hwy 265) that gives direct access to the Green and Orange trails.
The day we hiked, the Green and Orange trails were closed because deer season was still going on, and parts of the trails cross Corps of Engineers land (which was open for hunting). So we hiked the Red and Blue trails, and the half-mile connector trail between the two, for a total hike of 6 miles.
Hikers on a switchback on the Red Trail ahead of us
The terrain is level to moderately sloped, which makes it ideal for off-road bicycling, and it’s a fairly easy hike for walkers. Whenever you encounter slopes, switchbacks make the inclines less severe. Elevations range from 1,200 feet to 710 feet where the trail parallels Lake Taneycomo.
The connector trail between the Red and Blue trails leads along the shore of a tranquil pond, which is a great spot for a break or a lunch.
The Blue Trail was the most diverse and also provided the most elevation change… nearly 400 feet. At the lowest point, it parallels the south shore of Lake Taneycomo and then climbs the north slope of Baird Mountain.
The Blue Trail crosses this powerline cut several times as you climb to nearly 1,200 feet in elevation. It offers views of Table Rock Dam, Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and Chateau on the Lake Resort.
It was a beautifully warm winter day, and a very enjoyable hike. We’re looking forward to hiking the Orange and Green trails sometime in 2012!
What you need to know:
Trail Lengths:
- Red Loop: 2.5 miles
- Red-Blue Connector: 0.5 miles
- Blue Loop: 3.0 miles
- Blue-Orange Connector: 0.6 miles
- Orange Loop: 0.6 miles
- Orange-Green Connector: 0.2 miles
- Green Loop: 1.25 miles
Because there are several loops and connecting trails, it can be easy to get turned around. Though you’re never far from civilization or other people on the trail, we recommend that newbies get a printed trail map from the State Park ranger’s office. There’s not a good online map available of the trail system, so if you have no map, we recommend snapping a photo of the map at the trailhead and taking that with you on your hike… just in case.
Of course a GPS is a great idea if you can take one with you, and great if you want to try to find some of the Geocaches located on the trail system.
For trail descriptions and more information, you can visit http://mostateparks.com/trails/table-rock-state-park
Luke managed to “fall” into the water and muddy his khakis. And by “fall” I mean “attempted to walk across a small waterfall”
