Dogwood Canyon

Our last day with our son's family, we drove both vehicles about 30 minutes west from Branson to Dogwood Canyon, by Lampe.  If you have never been, this is very much worth the time!  I am guessing a really good time to go there would be when the dogwoods are blooming!  But the fall was wonderful too!!

We each picked out a bike to ride the 6.4 mile round trip through this canyon.  You can bring your own bikes, but we hadn't.  Dogwood Creek runs through the canyon and they have made bike trails all along it.   The trail runs from Missouri into Arkansas. 

I don't ride a 2 wheel bike any longer.  I have a Schwinn 3 wheeler (above).  But they didn't have any of those available.  I found one that was close to the ground so I wouldn't have too far to fall and perhaps be able to keep myself from falling.  Maybe??

For those who have trouble walking or riding a bike, there is a tram, but you have to book it ahead of time, at least during busy seasons.

Long Pine Crossing is a bridge handcrafted by Daniel Y. Schwartz and his crew, Amish from a nearby community.  The bridge beams were salvaged from a century old warehouse in Chicago prior to its demolition.

Hope Wilderness Chapel.  It is a replica of churches of the 1800s.  You can choose this spot for a small wedding of about 120 guests.

I liked the intricate carving on the benches.

From the balcony, we spotted a couple kissing. 

"How I praise the great Creator, Who did make this world so fair;

As I scan the realm of nature I can see His image there."

"Bubbling spring andd swirling river, lapping lake and tossing sea,

All declare the might and greatness of the One who cares for me."

"How I praise the great Creator, Who did make this world so fair;

For I too am His creation, And I love Him for His care."

- Hymn by David George Bell and John H. Landgraf, 1955

Beautiful torquoise water

Yes, there are restrooms along the way.

A little primitive, but they work!

End of the trail.  I was able to talk with a lady who was walking/jogging the path.  She lives close by and does it 3 times a week.  What a beautiful place this would be to work out!!

We turned around and went back to where we started.

 It was here, on the Arkansas/Missouri border that I actually did take a tumble.  Scars (that will fade) to show for it, but thankfully no broken bones.

Rainbow trout

The tram showed up and all the people got off.

The tram driver fed the fish.  He explained that if you throw the food close by, 

the fish will actually swim right up onto the rocks.

I saw them do it, but wasn't fast enough to get the shot.

See the sign?  See my husband?

Rule breaker.

We ate lunch at the Canyon Grill.

After eating, we took a look at the tree house built by Pete Nelson and the 

crew of Animal Planet's hit TV show, Treehouse Masters.  I've never watched it, but it would be fun to see!  This treehouse was pretty spectacular!

Look at all the birdhouses attached to the side of the house.

Then we said our byes to the kids and they headed home, back to Arkansas.

And we went home to Kansas. 

On some of the roads back north, it felt like we were on roller coasters again at Silver Dollar City!  

 (Thanks to Josh and Eli for sharing some of their photos to add to mine for this post.)