Ozark, MO Outdoor Activities

Chopper Charter Branson's flights range from aerial photography to scenic tours and hands-on instruction and training. Each student learns on the Robinson R44 helicopter, touted as the most popular helicopter in the world. The FAA-certified air carrier meticulously maintains their choppers, taking all safety precautions and plopping them onto a treadmill for at least 30 minutes, three to five times a week.

At Greatest Adventures Miniature Golf, an Egyptian sphinx, a towering dragon, and a waterfall cave present fun challenges for anyone from casual mini golfers to skilled putters competing in the US Pro Mini Golf Association, which has been hosted at the 36-hole facility. The USPMGA rated facility showcases two distinct 18-hole courses, both with their own themes and characters. Knights and a giant dragon roam the grounds of the medieval course, whereas a giant ape heckles players as they putt around Egyptian structures at the jungle course. In 2011, the USPMGA invited players to put their skills to the test at Greatest Adventures Miniature Golf for the US Open Championship. Though competition was fierce, the then-16-year-old Olivia Prokopova took home the win with her precise shots, determined swing, and ability to pick out the luckiest color golf ball.

Between games, guests can visit the onsite Pizza Haus for sustenance. The menu features pasta, meatball hoagies, wings, and from-scratch pizza made fresh daily and baked in a brick oven.

Adults and kids immerse themselves in southwest Missouri’s natural beauty at Indian Point Family Fun Park, where tree-skimming ziplines are supplemented with a grocery convenience store. A recent expansion more than doubled Indian Point Zipline's length. Its six ziplines employ a sitting harness trolley system that safely secures riders as they zoom 2,700 feet through the forest and receive picturesque—albeit slightly motion-blurred—views of the treetops.

The guides at Moto-Zip of Branson show how to navigate the treetop canopies year-round. While zipping between platforms at speeds up to 50 miles per hour, guests get unique views of the surrounding Ozarks and the unsung puppeteers that control them. The secure lines use a backup-cable system that prevents accidents, ensuring trips along the 2-mile tracks occur without snags.

Rated a 5-Star Gun Range by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Sound of Freedom USA’s 16-lane indoor range gives marksmen a clean, friendly environment to hone their firearm know-how safely and responsibly. NRA-certified instructors lend their experience in Sound of Freedom's classes, offering guidance on everything from cleaning a firearm to nailing an Elmer Fudd impersonation. The facility also extends to a pro shop, where staff members rent more than 60 guns for guests to shoot printed silhouette targets, empowering guests to eliminate paper-based foes without the hassles of bringing a shredder to the range.

For 30 years, the staff at Cliff Hartman Farms Quarter Horses has been breeding, showing and boarding steeds, including the nationally renowned stallion Good Terms. The equestrian family channels their expertise into lessons conducted in an insulated indoor ring, two outdoor arenas, a circular pen, and more than 1,000 acres of trail-laden land in the Ozark Hills. The farm's weekly lessons—molded around English and Western techniques—teach beginners how to groom and saddle horses before an hour of riding and a brief cool down. Day and summer camps afford the same opportunities for youngsters. And for those who own their own horse, the facility maintains a robust line of boarding stalls, all of which accommodate equines better than the antiquated storage zones such as the family garage or the family high-dive.