Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area
Located in Branson Missouri, this Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area is often greatly underrepresented when it comes to nature areas in and around the tourist town.
Trails:
Bluff Trail (blue) - 7/10 miles, Ridgetop Trail (red) - 1.5 miles, Owen Drive Trail (yellow) - 2/5 miles, Stone Wall Trail (green) - 2/5 miles, South Loop Trail (orange) - 1/2 miles, Bent Tree Loop Trail (purple) - 1/2 miles. Trail map can be found here. I highly recommend the Bluff Trail.
Recreation:
No camping allowed. Picnic tables and playground located near the parking lot.
Other info:
This park was once a homestead established in the mid 1800's. The park lines the banks of Lake Taneycomo and has 315 hand-laid stone steps that give park goers access to the bottom of the high ridge where the parking lot is located. The park is home to large bluffs, a wet-weather waterfall, and caves. The park was founded in 1998 and is 113 acres. Here is a link to a pamphlet providing interesting info on the history of the park.