Adventure Outdoors

Fellows Lake at Miller Park offers a plethora of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, both on land and water! You can explore the trails on foot or by bike, play on their new accessible playground, or go bird watching if you enjoy being on land.

Interested in the lake? While swimming isn’t allowed (and for good reason—did you know it’s Springfield’s main drinking water source?!), there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water! Watershed Committee of the Ozarks runs the marina, which offers kayak, canoe, sailboat, and motorized boat rentals. The shop is also stocked with bait and tackle, drinks, and more.

The best part? There has been a focus on making the whole area accessible for all, so everyone can get out and have fun.

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board oversees Springfield’s park system, which offers more than 100 public parks ranging from peaceful neighborhood green spaces to expansive destination areas like Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, with its botanical gardens and scenic trails.

Outdoor enthusiasts can explore spots like Sequiota Park for caves, Ritter Springs Park for hiking and wildlife viewing, or Jordan Valley Park for fountains and open-air events in the heart of downtown. With playgrounds, sports complexes, gardens, ice skating, trails, lakes, pools, tennis complexes, golf courses, and even a zoo, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board provides year-round opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and connection to nature.

If you enjoy riding a bike—or want to get into cycling—Springfield has a number of cycling groups for beginners and enthusiasts alike, for road and mountain biking. If you’re looking for a fun, casual large group to ride with, look into Bigfoot Social! They welcome all skill levels and ride about 10 miles each Wednesday with a mid-ride stop for snacks and socializing.

Is mountain biking your thing? Springfield Youth Cycling Club is a great fit for those in grades 6–12. They have “try-it-out” pre-season events that are free to attend, beginner-friendly, and even have loaner bikes available so students can try it out before committing to the club. During race season, student athletes train and compete, but if you’re not into competing, you can still join the team and train with them.

If you’re interested in riding and helping maintain local trails, you should consider joining Missouri Off-Road Cyclists (MORC). They offer riders of all skill levels a welcoming way to explore some of the area’s best trails while building skills, confidence, and friendships. By joining, you’ll get access to group rides, trail work days, and events that not only make you a stronger rider but also help keep local trails fun, safe, and sustainable for the whole community.

Let’s look into some women’s focused groups! If you’re looking for a social group of women to explore Springfield through hiking, join the 4 By 4 Women’s Hiking Club! They organize hikes regularly on our local trails and wrap up with a social at our local 4 By 4 Brewing. You can find their scheduled hikes on Facebook.

Is trail running more your speed? Consider joining Trail Sisters Springfield, whose mission is to increase women’s participation and opportunity in trail running and hiking through inspiration, education, and empowerment.

If you’re more of the cycling type, Cycle Connect 417 is the group for you! They’re for all women, all levels, and ride all types of trails: road, mountain, and gravel. They post their rides on Facebook, so check them out to join them for your next ride!

Are you looking for a group that is made up of cyclists, runners and triathletes? SBC Athletics is an endurance sport team that is just that! Whether you plan to compete, run your first 5k, or just want to be a stronger, healthier version of you, SBC Athletics strives to be a positive group to help and encourage you along the way.

Our local Springfield Conservation Nature Center features over three miles of hiking trails that meander through diverse Ozark habitats, offering a refreshing nature escape without leaving our city limits. Inside the visitor center, you’ll find engaging self-guided exhibits, a wildlife viewing window, educational classrooms, and more. Their free year-round programs—including guided hikes, wildlife workshops, and seasonal events—make it a perfect spot for both solo nature lovers and families alike. You can find a list of their programming on their website.

Zenith Climbing Center is your go-to spot for an energizing blend of climbing, fitness, and community—all under one roof. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been scaling walls for years, no reservation or experience is needed. The center features state-of-the-art Walltopia climbing walls, a workout area, yoga studio, gear shop, a kids area, and even devices for climbing on your own if going solo.

Looking to take a nice stroll or ride your bike? Ozark Greenways is the driving force behind over 110 miles of built trail, connecting our community to streams, parks, businesses, and neighborhoods. So put on your tennis shoes or grab your bike and helmet—there’s something for everyone regardless of age or ability when it comes to our trails!