Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area

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Located about 18 miles south of Springfield, Missouri off highway 65 between Springfield and Branson (about 14 miles north of Branson).

Directions: From the junction of highways 60 and 65 in Springfield, take Hwy. 65 south for 18 miles to the area entrance on the left. Follow the gravel road to parking lots.


Admission is FREE

Most of this 2,505 acres is forested, and a wide variety of activities are available, including camping (by permit only, call 417-895-6880), hiking, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding. Hunting and target shooting are only allowed on the west side of the area.

The target shooting range is unstaffed; get there by taking the entrance road to where it forks on the east side of Highway 65; take the right fork in the road which dead ends at the shooting range. Paper targets only.

Woods Fork Creek flows the length of the area. It's a beautiful stream that always runs clear. The trails are nice and wide, but can be rough, so wear good hiking shoes or boots. Wildlife is everywhere, too, so keep an eye out for deer, bobcats, boars, squirrels and turkey.

This area is not wheelchair accessible.