Favorite places to see wildlife in the Ozarks

🐾 Wildlife Viewing in the Ozarks

Experience the wild heart of Arkansas and Missouri.

The Ozarks are rich with opportunities to see native and reintroduced wildlife in their natural habitats. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or quietly observing from the roadside, these destinations offer unforgettable encounters with elk, bison, bald eagles, black bears, and more.

📍 Top Wildlife Viewing Areas

Elk & Bison

• Dogwood Canyon Nature Park – Lampe, MO

• Buffalo National River (Boxley Valley) – AR

Black Bear & Mountain Lion Sightings

• Ozark National Forest – AR

• Mark Twain National Forest – MO

Bald Eagle Viewing

• Roaring River State Park – MO

• Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area – MO

• Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Dam Access) – MO

• Mingo National Wildlife Refuge – MO

• Lake Taneycomo – Branson, MO

Fish Hatcheries & Aquatic Life

• The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery – Branson, Missouri

• Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery – Heber Springs, AR

• Mammoth Spring Hatchery – AR

• Norfork National Fish Hatchery – Mountain Home, AR

• Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium – Springfield, MO

Sanctuaries & Nature Centers

• Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge – Eureka Springs, AR

• National Tiger Sanctuary – Branson, MO

• Dickerson Park Zoo – Springfield, MO