5 Ozarks Adventures in Missouri That Prove Conservation Can Be Fun

As an ecologist, I was enthralled by the foundation’s Ozarks adventures and eager to patronize a nonprofit with a conservation mission. Here’s how you can, too.

Catch a sunset at the Top of the Rock

I started my adventure in the late afternoon at Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve, which contains a view from the highest point in Missouri’s Taney County. Every evening between April and October, a Sunset Celebration signals the sun’s setting over the sweeping vista of Table Rock Lake, a dammed portion of the White River. After bagpipes hum, a Civil War cannon sends a billow of smoke into the sky, which drifts past the striking statue of a member of the Osage Nation astride a horse (a replica of “End of the Trail” by American sculptor James Earle Fraser).

If you come before sunset, you can drink or dine at the Osage Restaurant and be well positioned for the Sunset Celebration. The restaurant has its own kind of majesty, crafted from massive timbers and rocks, and adorned with artistic touches in glass and metal. The elegant dining experience starts off with homemade breads, including flatbread crusted with seeds, which I chased with wood-fired artichokes and a melt-in-your-mouth macadamia-nut-crusted sea bass. A couple of other restaurants on site offer more casual dining.

Top of the Rock: 150 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO 65739

Cruise through the Lost Canyon

I returned to Top of the Rock the next day. There’s a lot that you can do there, but my husband and I opted for the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail: 2.5-mile golf cart tour that sticks to a paved trail while riders take in a variety of natural and manmade landscapes along the way. The trail passes waterfalls decorated with lights and larger-than-life animal sculptures. In some spots, you see stacked dolomite rock formations that are typical of the region’s geology. The tour’s eponymous limestone cave no longer houses bats, but you drive right past the on-theme Bat Bar in case you need refreshments. So, while it’s anything but “lost,” the experience is fun, imaginative, and accessible to people with physical limitations.

Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail: 150 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO 65739

Dive into the history of the Ozarks

Also at Top of the Rock is the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum. You start in a dramatic atrium dominated by a wooly mammoth skeleton and flanked by fossil skeletons of other animals that long ago inhabited the Ozarks, including the short-faced bear. Then you descend into a maze of displays that tell a story of Osage life through a remarkable collection of artifacts, including arrowheads, peace pipes, clothing, and pottery. I was drawn to the hand-painted dioramas showcasing specimens of the intimidating animals that live alongside humans, like the Titanis “terror bird,” an apex predator that stood about six feet tall.

For history buffs, as you continue through the museum, you encounter artifacts from Indigenous tribes across the country, as well as Civil War objects.

Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum: 150 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO 65739

See where elk and bison roam

A half-hour drive west from Top of the Rock is Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, encompassing 10,000 acres of Ozark Mountain habitat. You can tour the park on foot, bike, or horseback. Regardless, you’ll be immersed in a forest that harbors native wildlife; I saw several armadillos, pond slider turtles, and my first mink. To see the herds of elk and bison, you go by tram (also a great option for anyone with limited mobility). The tram crosses state lines into Arkansas, where you have unobstructed views of the captive herds. Fall was a great time to visit since it’s mating season when the elk males keep their harems of females in line by strutting around and bugling (making a loud wailing sound to mark their territory and attract mates).

Dogwood Canyon is a favorite haunt of fishermen; its streams are maintained as optimal habitat for rainbow trout, which gather in greenish pools under waterfalls that give them natural aeration. We also popped our heads into several places near the entrance to Dogwood Canyon. There’s a working mill offering a glimpse of the way things were done in bygone days. The miller explained how the machinery was assembled – including a heavy grinding stone – to grind the reddish corn into “bloody butcher grits.” Outside, powered by the flow of Indian Creek, the water wheel turns the gears.

We climbed the spiral stairs to the Treehouse, a lovely, educational hang-out spot. The staircase featured labeled wood and bark from local tree species, while cupboards contained information about area birds. From the Treehouse, you cross a footbridge to the Conservation Center, an expansive building offering classrooms and lots of educational materials, including sticks from a real bald eagle nest, as well as animal specimens, books, and interpretive signage.

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park: 2038 State Hwy 86, Lampe, MO 65681

Get farm-fresh fare at the source

We ended our trip at Finley Farms & The Ozark Mill, a restored property along the banks of the Finley River most of the way northward toward Springfield. Perched unexpectedly at the corner of commercial streets, it’s a serene oasis from modern life, a working farm with flowers, bees, crops, and opportunities to learn about sustainable agriculture.

Several restaurants on site feature the farm’s fresh produce. We dined at The Garrison, a secretive, dim space under the mill that required a password to enter. You’re like a time traveler to the 1920s inn that was purportedly busted several times for serving alcohol during Prohibition. I ordered the Pisco-based Millpond cocktail (light and delicious), while my husband savored the rich Ozark Beer Company Cream Stout. The dinner was spectacular, starting with a whipped honey goat cheese, plus beet and blackberry salad, followed by a main of red snapper bathed in red curry broth. By the time we dipped into the persimmon crème brulee for dessert, we were bowled over by the chef’s talent.

Breakfast at Finley Farms the next morning was equally inspired. We ate at The Workshop, a 1930s industrial garage transformed into a cafe doubling as a workshop space (where you can learn to make elderberry syrup, for example). In the beautiful fall weather, the garage doors were wide open, offering a view of the rows of crops. My avocado toast came on homemade bread topped with arugula from the farm. With aromatic coffee in hand, you could browse a small gift shop of handcrafted goods or go outside to play cornhole (which I won, by the way).

Finley Farms & The Ozark Mill: 802 Finley Farms Ln, Ozark, MO 65721

Where to stay on your Ozarks adventure

Angler’s Lodge, Hollister

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One of two Bass Pro lodges in the area, this one is well-located for exploring the attractions south of Springfield. When you enter the commanding building, you’re transported to a space where Teddy Roosevelt might have felt comfortable. The décor pays homage to natural resources, from the photographs of wild areas to deer antler ceiling fixtures. But there’s no lack of modern amenities, including an indoor pool, fitness center, and fast WiFi. The 24-paned windows in the bedrooms let in lots of light.

Angler’s Lodge: 291 Financial Dr, Hollister, MO 65672

Calm Waters Resort

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For budget travelers who fancy a rustic experience where you can use an outdoor grill or indoor kitchenette to prepare their own food, these cabins are perched right on Table Rock Lake. Each cabin has a porch with seating and a dock nearby with free access to paddleboards, kayaks, and other watercraft.

Calm Waters Resort: 1043 Jakes Creek Trail, Branson, MO 65616

Getting to Springfield and around the Ozarks

I flew into the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), which is small and easy to navigate, and rented a car. The best way to get around is by driving since the Johnny Morris attractions range from Springfield to more than an hour south.