White River Valley - Blue Loop, MO

Overview
When people think of Branson Missouri, hiking usually does not come immediately to mind, and this is with good reason. There are a lot of activities to keep your interest. However, if hiking or biking is on your radar, then Branson does have a nice system of trails that can help you connect with Missouri nature. The White River Valley (WRV) trail system is composed of four looped trails (Green, Orange, Red, and Blue) with multiple connectors, allowing you to either shorten some of the larger loops or to connect from one loop to another. The trail system has three TH, all easily accessible by car. The Blue Loop has paved parking for about 15 cars, and there is a map of the trail system at the beginning of the trail. However, there are no other amenities at this TH, so come prepared.


Though it is not mandatory, the park encourages all users to go in a clockwise direction.Hike
Two trails take off from the parking area. One is a short trail that leads down to the Taneycomo River, and the other has a covered trail map and is the beginning of the Blue Loop. The Blue Loop trail quickly crosses a bridge and at 0.15 miles reaches a split in the trail. This is where the lasso begins. Continued to follow the trail to the left. This will have you doing the lasso in a clockwise direction and allow you to see the periodic blue chevrons nailed to the trees. ( The chevrons are not positioned so that they are easily visible if you do the trail in a CCW direction). Going left will have you parallel the river for about 0.25 miles, though you only get brief glimpses of it. Around 0.4 miles, you gradually start to climb a slope, and at 0.65, you reach a juncture for Connector 4. (Following Connector 4 is 0.6 miles long and will bring you to the Orange Loop. This is one of only two trails that will get you to the Orange Loop.)

The Blue Loop is marked and will turn to the right (west). Depending on the season, there may be a couple of stream crossings (there were on this visit) along with some minor ups and downs. The views are limited by the surrounding forest and the gradual rising slope to the south. Around 1.60 miles, the trail will juncture with Connector 3. This is a 0.05 connector that will shorten the Blue Loop by about 2 miles. Continuing on the Blue Loop, the trail will hold its elevation for about another 0.4 miles before starting a gradual climb. The trail will gain about 300 feet with some mild to moderate climbing. Along the way, there will be several “powerline meadow crossings”. The trees are too tall and the slopes too gradual to provide much of a view. Around 2.7, you’ll reach your 3rd meadow crossing. With this “crossing”, the trail will actually twist down the center of the meadow, just touching the forest on both sides. You’ll lose most of the 300 feet that you had gained, and at 2.85, you’ll juncture with Connector 2. (This Connector is 0.5 miles long and connects to the Red Loop).

The Blue continues past this juncture and quickly enters the forest. There will be a couple more “meadow” crossings with some minor elevation change. There will also be some nice water features along the way. Worth a picture, if you’re willing to risk the mosquitoes. At about 3.25, you reach the other end of Connector 3. Shortly after this juncture, you reach the end of the Blue lasso, and at 3.68, you have returned to the TH.


Synopsis
Timing may be everything for this loop. In reviewing other descriptions for this hike, I read it was a beautiful, but buggy stroll through the forest or a treacherous, buggy adventure on the wild side. For my visit, it fell somewhere in between. A buggy, semi-muddy trail with a couple of easy rivulet crossings. The trail is easy to follow, and the forest views are a treat for a desert dweller. There are a few distant views when you reach the “meadows”, but they are limited to the corridors and don’t offer much. The biggest treat was the streams and mini waterfalls that dotted the landscape. Not sure how seasonal that may be, but definitely worth a “mosquito tortured” picture.

2025-08-03 mt98dew