Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve

Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve is a mountaintop attraction overlooking Table Rock Lake that combines the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail, the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, dining with panoramic views, and a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course into a premium Branson experience. Owned by Johnny Morris (Bass Pro Shops), it reflects the same investment in quality and natural beauty found at his other properties.

The Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail is the headline family experience. Visitors ride electric golf carts along a 2. 5-mile trail that winds through natural caves, across bridges spanning canyons, past cascading waterfalls, and alongside mountaintop overlooks with Table Rock Lake views.

The trail was carved into the natural landscape with care -- it feels like discovering a hidden canyon rather than visiting a constructed attraction.

The showstopper is a 4-story waterfall inside a cave. The golf cart trail passes through the cave, and the waterfall cascades from the ceiling to a pool below in a dramatic, illuminated display. Kids and adults gasp in equal measure.

The Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum (included with trail admission) houses a collection that spans from prehistoric to present. Full-size dinosaur replicas, a complete cave bear skeleton, Native American artifacts from the Ozark region, and dioramas of Ozark wildlife create an educational complement to the trail experience. The museum is well-designed and engaging for ages 5+.

The mountaintop setting provides some of the best views in the Branson area. Table Rock Lake stretches below, surrounded by Ozark forest. The Osage Restaurant takes advantage of the view with fine dining in a spectacular setting. Sunset from the overlook is genuinely stunning.

Top of the Rock is about 15 minutes south of the Branson strip, near Big Cedar Lodge resort. It represents a different Branson experience -- quieter, more natural, and more polished than the strip's entertainment orientation.