Up and down; round and round. The roads leading to Branson will remind you of a roller coaster, but that’s just part of the adventures in store for you in this quaint Ozark town. In a town renowned for it shows, Branson Bell, and adventure parks, the outdoor adventures are often overlooked. Would you believe that in minutes from your motel room you can be fishing for trophy brown and rainbow trout, or zipping down a world class zipline on one of the premier Eco-Tours in the world.

Lake Taneycomo is located between Ozark Beach “Powersite Dam” near Forsyth, Missouri, and Table Rock Dam. It has 22 miles of shoreline with an average temperature of 48 degrees making it the ideal place to stock trout. Knowing this the Missouri Department of Conservation took advantage of this and built the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery near the shallow side of Table Rock Dam to grow trout. Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery produces 1,235 million trout a year and stocks around 750,000 into Lake Taneycomo every year. The rich, fertile waters of Lake Taneycomo along with a Trophy Trout Release area allow trout to grow big. The Trophy Trout Release area is 3.5 miles long stretching from the dam to the mouth of Fall Creek. In that area of the lake rainbow trout have to be released after being caught between the 12-inch to 20-inch slot limit.  Only one brown trout can be kept if it measures over 20-inches. Your first cast; the first bite, you set the hook and land that trophy sized trout. You anticipated this moment all your life. It’s sweet, but even better as you release it so another angler can catch it and experience that thrill. 

Above Lake Taneycomo is Table Rock Lake. This warm water reservoir is well-known for its largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth bass fishing. Part of the White River channel of lakes, Table Rock Lake is a highland reservoir surrounded by high majestic bluffs. Like Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake is located just minutes away from Branson. Both of these reservoirs have public access points for anglers to utilize or fishing guides like Captain John Sappington (www.fishingguidebranson.com) or Captain Steve Dickey (www.anglersadvantage.net) are available; in addition to great accommodations at Lilleys' Landing (www.lilleyslanding.com) for anglers wanting to stay right next to the lake.

After the fish stop biting then it’s time to experience the thrill of zipping. The Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve will have you cheering, laughing, and discovering the Ozark Mountains like you never have before. There is a tour for everyone and it doesn’t matter how old or young you are. The Ozarks Xplorer Zipline Canopy Tour has seven ziplines, 10 Sky Bridges, snack break, and takes almost three hours to complete. The Flying Prospector Zipline Canopy Tour has 4 ziplines, seven sky bridges and lasts around two hours. The Blue Streak Fast Line & Free Fall Xpress is Branson Zipline Canopy Tour’s longest zip with an amazing freefall to finish up the tour. Depending on how many are in your party it may last from 30 minutes to one hour. The Canopy Adventure Combo has eight ziplines, 10 sky brides, Free Fall Express and lasts around three to four hours. The Wolfe Creek Photo Safari Walking Tour takes you on a journey through Wolfe Creek Preserve with a knowledgeable guide. The tour takes around two hours and includes a snack break. The best part is it’s all downhill. A Pinzgauer Swiss Army Troop Carrier takes you to the top of the trail to begin your track downward. The Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve is open from March 1 thru December 31. For more information on The Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolf Creek Preserve call (800)712-4654 or www.BransonZipline.com.

Up and down; round and round. The rugged Ozark Hills surrounding Branson can take you on a wild journey from Lake Taneycomo chasing trophy sized trout to Table Rock Lake after largemouth bass or deep in the Ozark Mountains experiencing a premier Eco-Tour.