Branson, Missouri, well-known for its big-name shows and attractions, has another side, a side that you have to experience to truly connect with the community, the history, and the culture of the area. I call it Branson’s Natural Side.  

Many Branson visitors are time-share owners or guests familiar with Big Cedar Lodge, a large timeshare property located in Ridgedale, roughly 10 ½ miles south-southwest of Branson on Top of the Rock Road. But if you’re a newcomer to the area and your trip itinerary doesn’t already include a visit to the Top of the Rock attractions, immediately add it to the top tier of your vacation plans.

Top of the Rock, officially known as Johnny Morris’ Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve, is situated at the highest elevation in all of Taney County and provides an unobstructed view of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake. There’s golf, dining, and shopping there but it’s also home to two must-see attractions: the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum and the Top of the Rock Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail.

These attractions are so important to the appreciation of the area that you have to see them both. Fortunately, you can buy the Top of the Rock’s Adventure Pass for admission to both and save money compared to paying the individual ticket prices.  Each attraction deserves its own separate post in order to adequately delve in-depth enough to do it justice. There are plans for a future Breeze Traveler post about the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, a vast, spectacular collection of Native American, Civil War, regional, and prehistoric artifacts but this post is dedicated to the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail.

Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail

The Nature Trail is a 2.50-mile walk or golf cart ride through the Lost Canyon Cave, over bridges suspended above high drop-offs, past nine waterfalls, and several lookout points to pause and take in the magnificent views. Buy your ticket or Adventure Pass in the Top of the Rock Welcome Center. The price is the same whether you walk or drive.

If this is your first time on the trail, you may enjoy driving rather than walking so that can you can determine if you’re fit enough to complete the trail on foot.

If you’re driving, you’ll complete the required paperwork, check out an assigned golf cart, and be on your way. The drive is self-paced and there’s no time limit so you can enjoy it as slowly or as quickly as you like. Just avoid losing a bumper on a hairpin curve and return the cart at least 45 minutes before sunset.

The tunnel entrance to the trail blends in with the surroundings and belies the natural wonders that wait on the other side of it. Make sure your cart lights are on, the top is up, and enter the tunnel slowly and carefully as your eyes adjust to the dimness.

Before long you’ll reach the entrance to the Lost Cave carved into the middle of mountainous table rock.

 

One of the unique features inside the cave is the Bat Bar. I’m not sure how the idea of offering wine and beer to people driving along steep passageways overlooking deadly descents came about but I can heartily recommend the Arnold Palmer Chardonnay, which is served in a handy lidded plastic cup to prevent spills. You’ll also find a huge ancient bear skeleton and tall waterfalls showering down inside the cave.

Outside, take in scenic views of waterfalls, natural pools, and table rocks jutting out of the landscape. Metal sculptures along the trail are so life-like in their details they almost appear real.

Covered bridges offer a view of the breathtaking heights and water streams in the valleys below them.

You’ll drive past waterfalls that cascade down so far you can’t see their end and later, you’ll drive past the natural pools that waterfalls flow into but you won’t be able to look up and see their origin.

Big Bear Cave is just off the trail. Stalactites grow from its ceiling and it has an interesting shadowy shape inside. What shape does the silhouette look like to you?

Several waterfalls have multiple falls flowing down into a single pool.

A hairpin curve allows drivers to pass over craggy boulders with water flowing over and around them. Table Rock Lake, visible in the background, was created over 50 years ago when the White River was dammed.

Drive onto the large lookout point that juts out far into the landscape to get a panoramic view of the scenery.

This waterfall flows over a table rock ledge down to an abyss dizzying depths below its source.

Some waterfalls flow from between table rocks. The name “table rock” is said to derive from the stones’ resemblance to tables. To me, the flattish large rocks resemble stacked plates.

There are many amazing features in the Lost Canyon Cave and along the Nature Trail and you can spend as much time there as you wish within their operating hours.

If you’re going to the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum after the trail and need to purchase a ticket, just return to the Welcome Center. If you already have your ticket or Adventure Pass, you can catch the shuttle to the museum by waiting in front of the Welcome Center.

Good To Know Before You Go

• This post does not include all the features of Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail and the photos are not posted in order of appearance on the trail.
• The trail is handicap accessible to the extent of guests who can be safely transferred to a golf cart.
• If this is your first time on the trail, you may enjoy driving rather than walking so you can see the challenges walking might present and determine if you’re fit enough to complete the trail on foot.
• Drivers must be over the age of 18. Carts can hold up to four people and are available on a first-come, first-served basis – no reservations are required or taken.
• There is a $5.00 entry fee, payable by card only, to Top of the Rock. With payment, guests receive a $5 voucher redeemable at all Top of the Rock venues.
• Big Cedar Lodge guests can catch the Top of the Rock Shuttle Loop. Tickets cost $5.00 and must be purchased at the Guest Services booth inside the Big Cedar Lodge Registration building. Click on the drop-down Shuttle Loop Schedule for departure and arrival locations and times from within Big Cedar.
• Purchasing the Top of the Rock Adventure Pass is a good value. For example, at the time of this writing, separate purchases of an adult ticket to Lost Canyon costs $30.00 + tax and an adult ticket to Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum costs $12.00 + tax. An adult Adventure Pass costs $38.00 + tax.
• Both attractions are extraordinary experiences and I highly recommend you visit each of them.
• A third natural attraction at Top of the Rock, the Cathedral of Nature, is in its excavation phase. A sinkhole, originally 70 ft. wide x 100 ft. long and 40 ft. deep, opened at Top of the Rock Ozark Heritage Preserve in May 2015. It is currently being excavated to discover what secrets may lie beneath the surface.
• Top of the Rock is an attraction at Big Cedar Lodge. Contact info for both can be found below.

Johnny Morris’ Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve, 150 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, Missouri 65739, 800-225-6343, Top of the Rock. Hours 9:00 am to 45 minutes before sunset.

Big Cedar Lodge, 190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, Missouri 65739, 800-225-6343, Big Cedar Lodge.

View or Download the Big Cedar Lodge property map (to save or enlarge for easier viewing):

VIEW THE TOP OF THE ROCK GALLERY

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