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Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 758 Google reviews · Running trail in Branson, Missouri · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- 5.3 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
140-acre nature park with trails & a waterfall & picnic tables, overlooking Lake Taneycomo.
What runners say about Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area
“They also have nice clean restrooms, picnic areas and a kids play area in the front.”
“This is a beautiful hidden gem right in the heart of Branson.”
“There are multiple trials clearly marked - they have the historic homestead and also more strenuous trials going up and down the ravine to the lake.”
Great hiking trails and enjoying mother nature all together. It could use better markers and more signage showing the path you’re on. And some trails aren’t for beginners, and it’s not advisable to go when it’s wet or rainy. No guard rails along the edges. But there are caves, spectacular scenery and a nice inlet.
During our visit over the Columbus Day long weekend, we were thoroughly impressed by the trial routes. These routes offered a variety of difficulty levels, and we had the pleasure of experiencing the red, purple, green, and yellow trails.
Hidden gem! Great place to stumble upon as a tourist to the area. Beautiful sites and great info on the history. Children ages 6 thru 16 enjoyed it! Stairs were super fun. We didnt climb back up them we hopped on a different path to head up again!
This is a beautiful hidden gem right in the heart of Branson. I found it here on Yelp and my friend and I decided to stop by and walk during one day we were in the area in October. It was fall and there were lots of leaves on the ground, but we could still make out the trails which was nice.
Trail conditions & character
“Regrettably, the waterfall was not present, possibly due to the water drying up; however, we were still able to descend the rocks to reach the lake.”
“The red and purple trails presented the greatest challenge, featuring steep staircases and rocks that were both slippery and unstable.”
“There are decent restrooms at the beginning of the trails along with ample amount of free parking.”
“The trails were well marked until crossing from the waterfall to purple.”
“When we finally came out of the dense woods, we checked Apple maps and found that we were at the edge of Sunset Park almost 1 mile away from the unmarked “end” of the trailhead.”
Plan your run at Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Distance5.3 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitebransonparksandrecreation.com
- Phone+1 417-335-2368
- Social Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Branson
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Stockstill Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 870 reviews
A dog-friendly park with a playground, a baseball field, a creek and a skate park.
Sunset Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 205 reviews
Flat, well-maintained park featuring a disk golf course and a lake.
Waterfall Hiking Trailhead
4.4 ★★★★☆ 816 reviews
Short natural surface loop trail with a small waterfall and a larger one.