Take your pick of both in Table Rock Lake
Table Rock Lake, located just minutes from Branson in the Missouri Ozarks, is an outdoor playground above, below and around the water. The lake’s expansive, clear waters and welcoming shoreline heed the calls of adrenaline junkies who like to push it to the limit, as well as laid-back fellows looking for some R and R...
For those who are fearless
Parasailing at Table Rock Lake is a fun activity for adventurers in the family—even those of the little variety. American Parasail at State Park Marina offers flights for anyone five years of age and older. Fitted with a harness and life jacket, you’ll take-off from the boat’s platform. Flyers stay dry, if desired, but most folks like to take a quick dip in the clean, clear waters of Table Rock. The parasail rig at State Park Marina holds up to three passengers per flight—weight and weather permitting. For about 10 minutes, you’ll soar up to 250 feet above the water on 500 feet of line for a one-of-a-kind view of the lake. Strap on your GoPro® and head out with a captain for a thrilling adventure.
Ziplining is a popular activity for visitors because the terrain here, with its steep hardwood covered hills and deep hollows, is ideal. Branson Zipline is located just seven miles north of Table Rock Lake and offers an exciting ecological zipline canopy tour of the Ozark Mountains. Whether you’re a seasoned zipline enthusiast or a newbie, this neat operation provides an inviting experience complete with knowledgeable guides, who will make the most of your time while providing detailed information on the local flora and fauna. A full-blown Branson Zipline Guided Canopy Tour is approximately 2.5 hours, covers more than one mile, and features a series of seven ziplines, walkways, bridges and platforms, offering a unique perspective of the Ozarks from the canopy. It’s an amazing place that offers great times and plenty of photo opportunities.
If swimming trunks and thrilling rides are more your style, check out White Water—13 acres of water rides with more than two million gallons of fun for the whole family—located just minutes from the lake on the Hwy 76 strip in Branson. For thrill-seekers, the newest and most fearsome of all White Water rides is KaPau Plummet—twin 245-foot, enclosed slides that launch you from a drop-floor into a 70-degree plunge. You’ll also want to check out the seven-story thrill slide Kalani Towers, and the double-speed slides at Raging River Rapids. Float the 800-foot-long Aloha River at Hula Hula Bay to get your heart rate back down to normal.
For those who are zen
Paddleboarding and kayaking are both very popular at Table Rock, and for good reason. The lake offers hundreds of serene coves ripe for exploring in stealth mode. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the amount of wildlife activity when you take time to quietly explore the shoreline around Table Rock.
Another popular, laid back activity at Table Rock Lake is simply motoring your pontoon—or any boat—to an isolated cove and anchoring down for a day of relaxation. Pack a lunch, your swimming trunks and gather the family. Listen to some tunes, take a dip, a nap—whatever floats your boat. Table Rock is perfect for all of the above. Daily boat rentals are available at most Table Rock Lake marinas and lakefront resorts.
Stillwaters Lakefront Resort, located just minutes from Silver Dollar City on Indian Point, offers its guests free use of kayaks, paddle boats and tubes, and they also have a quiet cove adjacent to the resort for floating.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park—created by Bass Pro Shops’ founder, Johnny Morris—is a one-of-a-kind experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers of all ages. Covering nearly 10,000 acres of the Ozark Mountains on the south side of Table Rock Lake, the park has miles of crystal-clear trout streams, dozens of cascading waterfalls, unique hand-built bridges and bottomless, blue-green pools. There are dozens of family-friendly activities. If you want to spend a day of quiet, low-stress exploring, this is it. Amazing walking and biking trails, along with a wildlife tram and Segway tours, will have you up close to nature to view elk, bison, deer and a plethora of wild critters. There’s a great visitor center for snacks and supplies. Be sure to check out the new treehouse as well—created by Pete Nelson and featured on the television show Treehouse Masters on Animal Planet.
Check around—several other resorts also offer complimentary use of personal watercraft. Many of the resorts and marinas also offer hourly and daily rentals. It’s always nice to have your own lake toys for flexibility, but don’t underestimate the convenience of having something at water’s edge waiting for you.
These are but a few of the activities you’ll find at Table Rock Lake—truly one of America’s great family destination lakes, so add this to your vacation short list for A and R: adrenaline and relaxation.
