The White River Valley Trail in Table Rock State Park near Branson has been recognized with the 2011 Coalition for Recreational Trails award in the Multi-Use Management and Corridor Sharing Category. The Coalition for Recreational Trails is a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations. Each year, the coalition presents achievement awards to projects that make outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program funds.
The White River Valley Trail, a 10.25 miles natural surface trail outside of Branson, is the first designated mountain biking trail system in the area. The trail is a joint land-use project between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with part of the trail within Table Rock State Park and the rest on USACE land. The trail was partially funded with Recreational Trails Program grants in FY 2007 and FY 2010.
“Our primary goal for this trail is to provide a new recreational opportunity for people who enjoying hiking and mountain biking, which is a growing sport in this area,” said Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks director. “The support we received for this trail is amazing and building this trail would not have been possible without assistance from our partners and the community. That’s what makes this award even more special.”
In addition to the Corps of Engineers, the trail received support from the Branson and Hollister chambers of commerce and visitor bureaus, local city governments, Volunteers for Outdoor Missouri, students from Hollister school and College of the Ozarks, Boy Scouts working on Eagle Scout projects, and other volunteers.
The land around Table Rock dam is under increasing demands for development and this trail will help preserve some of the scenic attractions in the area. The trail will take users through various natural community types, near old homestead ruins and relics of the Table Rock Dam construction during the 1950s. Table Rock State Park plans to host adventure events and mountain biking races on the trail. The trail is expected to be a major draw for visitors, which will help boost the economy of the surrounding area.
Table Rock State Park is located at 5272 State Hwy. 165 southwest of Branson. For more information on the trail, call the park at 417-334-4704 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information on Missouri state parks, visit mostateparks.com.
