17 replies to this topic

[Dave F]

Hi everybody - I’m going to be going to Branson/Springfield, Mo. in a couple weeks, returning home alone on the drive back and I see a big fat juicy MTB ride in my future.

With that in mind, what would you suggest to be the best place to ride along the I-44 corridor between Springfield and STL as I’m coming back?

The only trail through there I have ridden is Berryman, and that was just an eight-mile segment of it, not the whole deal.  I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it again but I know there are other good choices.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or recommendations.

Cheers -

Dave F.

[rockhound]

Mill Creek outside of Newburg

(null)

[ssalmons]

You could ride the new trail in St James where they just had the SS race.

[itsboz]

Sac River on the NW corner of Springfield.  Haven't ridden there yet, but have scoped it out for this coming weekend.

Edited by itsboz, 05 June 2012 - 06:12 AM.

[MikeB]

If you are in Branson, you owe it to yourself to hit up the trails at Table Rock Lake State Park.  I rode there for the first time on the way back from Syllamo, and its dope.  11+ miles of brand new flowy goodness.

[Falasi4]

ssalmons, on 05 June 2012 - 04:48 AM, said:

You could ride the new trail in St James where they just had the SS race.

+1 - that is some sweet single track with a little bit of everything
Just a couple minutes off 44

[Dave F]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions!

Gonna hit the White River Trails at Table Rock State Park first before I boogie out of Branson:  http://mostateparks....able Rock_0.pdf

then put in a couple hours behind the wheel then go to the Forest City Trail in St. James next:  http://www.route66bi...forest_city.pdf

Thanks again, and happy riding!

[James75]

Reply back as to how you like the trails at Table Rock State Park.  I'll be down there the first week of July with the family on vacation and wonder if I should take the bike with me.  Hopefully I could get out for an early morning ride before the family wakes up.

[mcompton]

Thanks for posting those links to maps, they are printed and into the "bucket list" folder

[Big Jim Mac]

Here's a video I shot on the White River Trails. They are essentially a series of loops, with connectors to the next loop and also connectors to let you cut across the loop to ride a new direction or to shorten the ride. Nicest trailhead I've ever seen for a MB trail across from Table Rock State Park. Only concern, they were dumping white chat on the trail last time I was there, April 2012. Really fun trail. Also can vouch for St. James trail, haven't been there since it opened but it supposedly a lot of new stuff has been added. Sac is a great trail too, it's a work in progress on some new stuff there but was a fun ride before. If you ride it beware of thorns, bring spare tubes or hopefully you are tubeless with some sealant.

[James75]

Thanks for the video.  I am going to take my bike on vacation with me and ride those trails.  Thanks Dave for originally asking the question as I had no idea there were trails in Branson, and I would have missed out.

James

[Falasi4]

Good video - definitely working the bike into the future Branson trips - I gave up on Busiek after riding there 2x.

[Big Jim Mac]

With the exception of Hannibal and Hermann, all of Missouri's major tourism destinations now have MB trails. Check out Warsaw (Truman Lake) sometime. Lake Ozark has Honey Run, St. James has trails and wineries. Even Poplar Bluff (Wappapello Lake) has a new trail. Good times!

[Dave F]

Okay, so I got out there yesterday and hit the trails. First I rode the White River Trail System at Table Rock State Park in Branson yesterday morning and it was great.  Nothing real technical, just fun sweeping trails.  Some good climbs in there, but you know it is hilly there, especially by the lake, and so that's to be expected. Plus you get rewarded for the uphill pain with some fun downhill bombing.

The trail system is a series of loops (red, blue, green loop, etc.) all strung together with connector trails.  I started at the Trophy Run trailhead and basically stayed to the right on each loop and took the connector trails as they came. That way I worked my way all the way through and total mileage was 10.5 or 11.  Trails are well-marked with both signposts and blazes on the trees.

My favorite part was the blue loop where it runs along the water below the dam in a deep woods, very shady river-bottom type area.  The other parts are lots of ozark forests with pine and hardwoods, and the occasional power cut crossing.  There are only a couple minor water crossings on the trail. The trail is hard-packed dirt, with some small rocks.  I am sure that it dries out quickly after a rain.

I intended to hit the trail at St. James next but actually broke my frame about .5 mile from the end of the Branson trail, so that was all the riding that day for me.  Regardless, the trails at Table Rock Lake State Park are highly recommended and I'd love to ride them again.

[James75]

Thanks for the update.  I'll be riding them in two weeks and can't wait.  Sorry to hear about your frame though.