Winter feels like the longest season of the year — especially by the month of fickle February when low temperatures fluctuate and snow could blanket our region anytime.
But take heart: Spring is only a month away, which means now is a great time to explore ways to get out more in ’24. And by “out,” we mean experiencing the wealth of trails and rivers in the outdoors-rich Ozarks.
What if you’re new to the Ozarks, or new to outdoor recreation like hiking, camping and floating? How do you start?
“Those of us who have grown up in the Ozarks may take it for granted that we live in a beautiful place. And that there is lots of nature to access, both in town and out of town and within easy reach — and for not a lot of money,” said Jenny Fillmer Edwards, public information administrator with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. “But not everyone is from here. And not everyone has had those experiences. And it can be a little intimidating to think ‘I'm just going to drive out to destinations unknown and walk around or poke around.’”
Park Board offers guided experiences and tours, even in winter
That’s why the Park Board hosts guided outdoor experiences and tours — even during winter. Most guided tours require a fee, but some are free to participants. Adventures through the Park Board — and through other organizations — ramp up significantly as temperatures warm. Some activities offered through the Park Board include hiking, camping, paddling, caving and more, both in Springfield and regionally. Many of the guided adventures are for all ages; others are for youth only.
“Having tours like we offer provides that level of assurance that you're going someplace that you're going to enjoy, and you're with people — not just other folks but guides that know what they’re doing and how to best enjoy the experience. And how to be safe on the experience,” Edwards added.
That includes simple things an inexperienced person might not know, like what kind of shoes to wear, what to put in your backpack and what to expect from the experience. Those things are second nature to people who hike and float every year, but you don’t know what you don’t know until you learn from someone with experience.
Springfield-based 37 North leads adventures for all skill levels
That’s one reason Danny Collins co-founded 37 North in 2018, said company spokesperson and marketing director Michelle Bazis. The Ozarks-centered outdoor guide company based in Springfield presents a variety of fee-based public and private outdoor adventures. Led by certified guides, outings feature hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, trout fishing and more. There are even some overnight adventures.
Some outings are geared specifically for beginners and most can accommodate all skill levels, Bazis said. Guided tours provide a level of security, especially for beginners, people intimidated by starting outdoor activities, and people new to southwest Missouri, she said: “Or just people who are looking for something to do outside.”
37 North also provides gear needed for outings and advice on what to wear and what to bring. Participants can sign up for an open adventure, or if they have a group or visiting out-of-towners, they can book a private guided adventure.
“We really try to create experiences that are flexible for people of all skill sets,” Bazis said.
Organizations plan a wide variety of activities
In addition to the Park Board, 37 North, state parks and other organizations with staff-guided activities, several local and regional volunteer social groups plan outdoor activities together. Leaders in these organizations plan hikes, floats, bike rides and other outings that members can sign up to join.
These social or civic groups are not in the business of guiding, and participants join group activities at their own risk. However, these groups provide a way for people to meet others who enjoy the outdoors, or to try a trail or section of river they’ve never done before with someone who knows the way.
To help you find a group adventure that’s right for you, we rounded up two lists: One features outdoor adventure businesses and government agencies; the other features clubs and social groups that invite public participation. Click to expand each category list.
Reminder: Bugs, snakes, ticks, wildlife, cliffs and other hazards may be encountered in any wilderness area. The Hauxeda presents these outdoor resources without endorsing them. Readers must determine their own abilities and engage in outdoor recreation at their own discretion.
Guided adventures
These organizations offer staff-guided hikes and other Ozarks area adventures (click to expand list)
Springfield-Green County Park Board
Type: Government (City of Springfield)
Outdoor activities: Hiking, floating, camping, variable
Fees required: Yes, for many guided activities; free for some
Home base: Springfield
Online: parkboard.org; a general calendar is available on their website
How to sign up: Many hikes, cave and camping adventures are organized by the Outdoor Initiatives department; kayaking events are typically planned through the Lake Springfield Park & Boathouse (although there is crossover). To sign up, click on an event and follow registration instructions.
Contacts: Outdoor Initiatives: (417) 833-8647, jerome.brauner@springfieldmo.gov; Lake Springfield Park: (417) 891-1550, bhdesk@springfieldmo.gov; Parkboard general: (417) 864-1049, parks@parkboard.org
37 North
Type: Tour business
Outdoor activities: Hiking, floating, horseback riding, variable
Fees required: Yes
Home base: Springfield
Online: 37northexpeditions.com; an adventure list is on their website
How to sign up: Find an adventure; click to expand; read itinerary, travel info, recommended gear list, etc.; choose date and quantity; add to cart and pay.
Contacts: (417) 501-5455; explore@37northexpeditions.com
Springfield Conservation Nature Center
Type: Government (Missouri Department of Conservation)
Outdoor activities: Hiking, variable
Fees required: No
Home base: Springfield
Online MDC general: mdc.mo.gov
Online Nature Center: Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website; Find an events calendar on their website.
How to sign up: Click on the events page, then click on “my profile” near the top to log in or create a profile before you can register for an event. Once you are logged in, a list appears to choose events. Click upcoming events for a selected category like “Nature Programs.” The next list will include programs from conservation centers throughout the state, but you can filter for just Springfield and for a type of program like hiking. (Tip: you may find programs of interest at other regional centers, too, and are welcome to sign up.) Once you find an event, click the blue “register” button.
Contact: (417) 888-4237
Missouri State Parks
Type: State government
Outdoor activities: Hiking, variable
Fees required: No
Home base: Varies by park
Online: mostateparks.org; guided hikes are listed on their website
How to sign up: Click on the events page, then click on the activity and follow registration instructions for the park location.
Contact: Find contact information for each park on its website page.
Arkansas State Parks
Type: State government
Outdoor activities: Hiking, paddling, variable
Fees required: No
Home base: Varies by park
Online: arkansasstateparks.com; search events on their website
How to sign up: Click on the events page, then filter for activities such as hiking or paddling. Click on a guided event to find details and registration.
Contact: Find contact information for each park on its website page.
National Park Service / Missouri & Arkansas
Type: Federal government
Outdoor activities: Hiking, paddling, variable
Fees required: No
Home base: Varies by Missouri and Arkansas locations
Online: nps.gov; search guided events at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways on their website; learn about guided activities at the Buffalo National River here; find a list of authorized guide services at the Buffalo River here
How to sign up: Click on an event page and follow contact and detail information.
Contact Buffalo National River: Tyler Bend Visitor Center, (870) 439-2502 or send an email
Contacts Ozark National Scenic Riverways: Varies by location; click here for a list.
Buffalo National River Area Professional Guides
Type: Businesses
Outdoor activities: Hiking, paddling, fishing, variable
Fees required: Yes
Home base: Varies by business; adventures take place along the Buffalo National River
Online: Visit the National Park Service website for a list of approved Buffalo National River guide services.
How to sign up: Follow directions with each service.
Contacts: Varies by service
Volunteer/Social/Civic Outdoor Groups
These organizations offer social and volunteer-organized group activities (click to expand list)
Ozarks Area Outdoor Meetup Groups
Type: Social volunteer groups
Outdoor activities: Hiking, paddling
Fees required: None or annual donations to help defray Meetup costs
Home base: Varies by group
Online: meetup.com, search specific Ozarks areas or group names, including:
- Springfield Hiking Meetup
- Free Spirits Outdoor Hiking, Biking and Kayaking (Springfield)
- Ozarks Nature Walks (Branson)
- Rogers Outdoors (Rogers, Arkansas)
- NWA Hiking Group (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
How to sign up: Visit a Meetup group and join as a member to sign up for that group’s events
Contact: Varies by group
The Ozark Society
Type: Nonprofit conservation organization
Outdoor activities: Hiking, paddling, variable
Fees required: Optional annual membership fee, plus annual chapter fee (Missouri & Arkansas options) but most OS recreation activities are open also to nonmembers
Home base: Varies by chapter (Schoolcraft Chapter is in Springfield but you can join any chapter and more than one; some chapters offer more group recreation options than others)
Online: ozarksociety.net; some chapters also have Facebook pages; a calendar of activities for all chapters can be found on their website
How to sign up: Visit the website, click on a calendar event and follow details to sign up; or go to an individual chapter site to find events.
Contacts: Find contact information under each chapter page.
Sierra Club Missouri Chapter / White River Group
Type: Nonprofit conservation organization
Outdoor activities: Hiking, education, variable
Fees required: Optional membership fee to support the organization; membership is not required to join an event.
Home base: Springfield
Online: Visit their website, follow them on Facebook, or find events on Meetup
How to sign up: Visit the website, Facebook page or Meetup page to find events; most events focus on conservation and cleanup but the group also hosts occasional hikes.
Contacts: Find chapter contact information on their website.
Takahik River Valley Hikers
Type: Social club
Outdoor activity: Hiking
Fees required: Annual club membership fee
Home base: Russellville, Arkansas
Online: takahik.com, TakaHik River Valley Hikers Facebook group; view hiking events on their website or in the Facebook group
How to sign up: Visit the website to join the club and find events; sign up for hikes via Facebook or by email
Contacts: Danny Hale, (479) 886-2625; takahik@takahik.com
Ozark Mountain Paddlers
Type: Nonprofit club
Outdoor activity: Paddling / floating
Fees required: Annual club membership Fee
Home base: Springfield
Online: ozarkmtnpaddlers.org; or find them on Facebook
Outdoor activity: Paddling / floating
How to sign up: Visit the website and click “Join the Club,” download the application and mail back with membership fee. To join a float, watch the Facebook page or website for scheduled floats and contact the float organizer to sign up. The club typically floats once a month, weather permitting.
Contact: ozarkmtnpaddlers@gmail.com
Springbike
Type: Social club
Outdoor activity: Cycling
Fees required: Annual club membership fee
Home base: Springfield
Online: springbike.org, or find them on Facebook
How to sign up: Join the club and watch for group rides on the website and Facebook
Contact: springbike@springbike.org
Cycle Connect 417
Type: Social organization for women
Outdoor activity: Cycling
Fees required: No
Home base: Springfield
Online: cycleconnect417.com; or find them on Facebook
How to sign up: Watch for group ride events on Facebook, pre-registration is generally not required; Learn more about the organization in this previous Hauxeda story.
Contact: Contact page at cycleconnect417.com; message through Facebook
Tip: Find more cycling clubs through area bike shops.
