Branson Missouri is very well known for a vast playground for nature lovers out there. It may be a small town but the experience you can have in Branson is totally limitless. Of course, you may have heard or read about Branson’s live music shows and that it is the live entertainment capital of the world, but there is certainly more to Branson than that. For your Branson vacation, dare to do more by keeping in touch with nature. Visit Branson’s Busiek State Forest to experience nature at its best.
The Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area is located off of Highway 65. It is one of the best places you can go to so you can see Missouri’s rugged landscape. This breathtaking forest will surely leave you at awe whether you are a hiker, trail rider, bird watcher, naturalist, or something else. For the activities that you could do in Busiek Stare Forest and Wildlife Area, let this serve as a guide for you.
Hiking is one of the famous activities in Busiek State Forest. This beautiful forest is every hiker’s heaven. It has a range of 2,505 forested acres, and it also has fourteen miles of trails. It doesn’t matter whether you are a novice hiker or a professional one, because the Busiek State Forest has several trails varying in their length and difficulty to suit every hiker’s skill. The trails are also marked very well so you can navigate easily inside the forest. Just a heads up for those who are planning to go hiking, be careful of the loose rocks in some of the trails as these might get you injured. Also, if you are hiking during a warmer season, be careful of the snakes that come out in some trails. Nevertheless, you have every reason to enjoy these trails and get a thrilling hiking experience in Branson.
You can also do some horseback riding in Busiek State Forest. You also get to choose which trail will you ride, and tehse trails also differ in their degree of difficulty. The most challenging trail is the Silver Trail and the trail which is fit for beginners is the Red Trail. There will also be obstacles along the way such as creek crossings, mud holes, and many others to make the trail even more exciting.
For the naturalists, the Busiek State Forest is a perfect site for camping to observe the plethora of flora and fauna in the area. Some of these are seasonal so you are sure of something new to see for every season you visit. For the spring season, you can find Redbud and Dogwood trees. For the summer, you can find sycamores. Busiek State Forest also serves as a home to many different species of birds like the Red Tailed Hawks, finches, Blue Jays, and many more. If you want to go camping in the area, you must secure a camping permit from the conservation department of Busiek State Forest.
