Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a 10,000-acre nature park in Lampe, Missouri, south of Branson. You can spend the day hiking or biking, book a narrated wildlife tram tour, or add activities such as horseback riding and trout fishing.
- Location: South of Branson, with the entrance on Missouri Highway 86.
- Park hours: The official visit and tickets pages give different opening times; check the park's site before you go.
- Admission: Prices vary by date, and tram tours and other activities cost extra.
- Trails: The park has 6½ miles of paved paths and 2½ miles of unpaved nature trails.
Where Is Dogwood Canyon Nature Park?
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is in Lampe, Missouri, south of Branson. The entrance is on Missouri Highway 86, about 16 miles west of U.S. Highway 65.
The park combines outdoor recreation with conservation and local history. Its grounds include a mill, restaurant, conservation center, bike barn and treehouse, alongside hiking, biking, wildlife tours, horseback riding and trout fishing. Park history also includes settler cabins dating to the 1830s and lead-and-zinc mining at Hobbs Creek in the early 1900s.
How Do You Get to Dogwood Canyon from Branson?
From Branson, head south toward Lampe and follow Missouri Highway 86 to the park entrance. The entrance is west of U.S. Highway 65, so plan your route around that highway connection.
Because the park is in a remote location, cellphone and internet reception can be limited.
Admission, Hours and Reservations
Dogwood Canyon admission varies by date, and activities such as tram tours require an additional charge. The park recommends buying admission online in advance: a date-specific purchase qualifies for a $2 saving per person, and entry may be denied if capacity is reached.
The park's official pages give daily hours ranging from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. for opening, with closing at 5 p.m.
The park says it is open year-round, weather permitting, but closes on Christmas Day and for a couple of days in January and February. Hours can change without notice because of attendance or weather, so check the official site before you go.
Tram tours and trail rides have limited availability and can sell out for same-day purchase. Reserve these activities ahead of time if they are part of your plan.
Trails, Tram Tours and Cycling
Hiking is included with park admission. The park has 6½ miles of paved paths, 2½ miles of unpaved nature trails and the half-mile Hickory Ridge Trail. The main canyon trail is paved and level, while the nature trails offer an unpaved option.
The Wildlife Tram Tour is a narrated, open-air, two-hour ride with stops that include Hope Wedding Chapel, Thunder Falls Crossing and the Glory Hole. It enters the bison-and-elk pasture across the Arkansas border; hiking and biking trails stop before that pasture, which is accessible only by tram or private tour.
The tram requires separate admission and a timed reservation. Children aged 3 and older need a tram ticket, and anyone aged 14 or younger must be accompanied by a supervising companion over 18.
Starting prices are $38 for adults and $24 for children, with seasonal pricing starting at $30 for adults and $20 for children; prices may change and are not guaranteed until booked.
You can rent bikes and burley carts on arrival, subject to first-come, first-served availability. A burley must stay attached to a park bike, so renting one also requires a bike rental.
Accessibility and What to Bring
The park describes its level, paved main canyon trail as suitable for wheelchairs and ADA scooters. The mill, museum and restaurant have a wheelchair lift and ramps, and the nature center has an elevator and ramp.
If you need to remain in a wheelchair during a tram tour, call the park to reserve and give at least 48 hours' notice for tram assistance. Leashed dogs are allowed on trails and the restaurant patio, but not inside buildings or on trams.
You can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks, but glass bottles are prohibited. Picnic tables are located near the parking lot and throughout the canyon. Drones, outside vehicles on trails and motorized conveyances other than wheelchairs or ADA scooters are not permitted.
Building a Full Day Around the Visit
For a day focused on the canyon, start with a trail walk or bike ride, then fit in a reserved tram tour if you want access to the wildlife pasture. Hiking is covered by admission, but the tram and other activities cost extra, so factor those into your plans.
Leave time to pause at the park's creek and waterfall scenery, or to visit its mill, conservation center or restaurant. If you plan to rent a bike or burley cart, remember that rentals are made on arrival and depend on availability. Branson-area outings also include Top of the Rock near Branson.
A visit to Table Rock Lake and Dam is another area outing to consider.
FAQs
Do you need to reserve Dogwood Canyon admission?
The park recommends reserving admission online to help ensure entry. Capacity limits can mean visitors without advance tickets are turned away.
How long is the Wildlife Tram Tour?
The narrated, open-air tour takes two hours. It requires a timed reservation and separate park admission.
Can you hike to the bison-and-elk pasture?
No. The hiking and biking trail ends before the pasture, which visitors can access by Wildlife Tram Tour or private tour.
Are dogs allowed at Dogwood Canyon?
Leashed dogs are allowed on trails and the restaurant patio, but they cannot go indoors or on trams.