About Bear Creek Trail Rides
Bear Creek Trail Rides is a family-owned horseback riding stable on 330 acres in Walnut Shade, about ten minutes north of Branson. The Caperton family has owned the land since the 1950s, and the trail operation keeps that old-Ozarks character — gentle, well-trained horses, guides who know every bend of the property, and trails that wander through pastures, hardwood forest, and along the rocky bed of Bear Creek itself.
The signature offering is a one-hour guided ride suitable for nearly anyone, including first-time riders; routes pass a small waterfall and creek crossings that make for easy photo stops. Horses are matched to each rider's size and confidence, and the walking-pace format keeps the experience relaxed for kids and nervous beginners while still delivering real backcountry scenery rather than a fenced arena loop.
Riders should book ahead in the busy season, as the small-group format fills quickly. For Branson visitors who want a low-key outdoor morning away from the crowds — or families whose kids have been begging to ride a real horse through real hills — Bear Creek is the closest authentic trail-ride experience to town, and one of the longest-running.
