Experience the Ozarks Winter from a Trail
Category Spotlight On | Posted on January 23, 2019
Lake Springfield and the James River Water Trail are incredibly picturesque places to experience the serenity that winter can bring - right inside the city! Steve Ross took this photo of his wife, Corine, on the water trail.
Experience the Ozarks Winter from a Trail
There’s no need for cabin fever in the Ozarks. The Springfield area offers convenient access to a variety of nature experiences—right outside our back door. Each season showcases its own beauty on the trails. Some of our favorite winter trail activities include kayaking and canoeing on the James River Water Trail and Lake Springfield, bird watching at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center and at The Watershed Center, or simply strolling along any of our community trails. Winter’s also a great time for nature photography and creating artistic images of unique landscapes and the wildlife that live in them. What’s your favorite trail to explore in the winter?
A River Runs Through: Experience the Beautiful 6-Mile James River Water Trail
Springfield’s incredible James River Water Trail is a unique type of trail—all on the water. Six miles of river was designated 10 years ago in partnership with OG, Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Ozark Mountain Paddlers. The “water trail” flows from Crighton Access to Lake Springfield. Whether you’re canoeing with family or kayakingwith buddies, this river section is a great introduction to Ozarks riverways. Our local rivers serve as important wildlife habitat and public water sources.
Check out opportunities to learn, participate, and volunteer at ozarkmtnpaddlers.org. For information about renting kayaks and canoes at Lake Springfield, call the boathouse at (417)891-1550, or visit parkboard.org.