Missouri’s lush wildlife and natural terrain is the perfect climate for many types of extreme sports. According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, extreme sports are “sporting events or pursuits, characterized by high speed and high risk.”
Some examples of extreme sports include Whitewater rafting, cave exploring, cliff jumping, BMX biking, mountain biking, and climbing.
There are many more extreme sports, but these ones pertain more to what is available in Missouri. Luckily, if you are interested in exploring extreme sports there are an abundance of options for people who live in the Ozarks.
1. Whitewater rafting
According to the Float Missouri website, which provides information on Missouri whitewater, there are five different classes of whitewater rafting available in Missouri.
For safety purposes, it is important for a beginner to start off with Class one or two rapids. It is also important to practice navigating on easier waterways before progressing to more intense channels.
Utilizing the American Whitewater Website can help you see if rivers are flooded and which rivers near you are currently Class one or two. Never go whitewater rafting on your own, and make sure you research how to safely whitewater raft before doing it. It’s recommended to go whitewater rafting with a trained professional, especially if you are a beginner.
Many businesses near us offer whitewater rafting. For example, Southeastern Expeditions offers tours on the Chattooga River. They are located just eight miles away from Clayton, Missouri. You can visit their website to explore their tours further.
If this tour doesn’t strike your interest, there are hundreds of options available in Missouri to choose from. Just look up “Whitewater rafting near me” and you can explore these options further.
2. Cave Exploring
Cave exploration on your own isn’t recommended, but there are many opportunities to explore caves with professional guides. Caves near us that offer tours are Fantastic Caverns, Smallin Civil War Cave, and Talking Rocks Cavern. There are many different types of tours offered on their websites. This will still give you the adrenaline rush of cave exploring, but keeps you out of danger.
3. Cliff Jumping
According to 417 Magazine, there are many places to cliff jump at Table Rock Lake. The so-called “Swings” are a place that many lake dwellers flock to in the summer as a place to cliff jump.
If you need specific directions to places to cliff jump, it is recommended to look at the Table Rock Lake Website . Only cliff jump unless you know it is safe to do so, since some areas are deceptively shallow and oftentimes have rocks jutting out. Never cliff jump by yourself.
4. Bicycle Motorcross (BMX) and Mountain Biking
BMX bikes are smaller than the average bike, and are a cross between normal bikes and motorbikes. This makes it easier to perform stunts. Although you can practice BMX biking anywhere, most people like to practice on tracks. To find a BMX track near you can utilize this website: (https://www.usabmx.com/tracks/find-tracks). Fortunately there is one located in Springfield.
Normally people are more familiar with mountain biking. Mountain biking is similar to offroad biking where you bike on trails instead of pavements. There are many places near Springfield that you can mountain bike on, or if you are interested in a weekend getaway, you can visit Bentonville, Arkansas. Bentonville is the so-called “capital of mountain biking” and is the perfect place to enjoy biking. It’s only two hours away from Springfield.
