We are renting a 5 bedroom house on Table Rock Lake 7/14-7/18 this year. It is waaaaay on the the south side of the lake almost to the Arkansas border. GPS 36degress30'41.56"N 93degress44'50.11"W.

This will be the first time to this lake. I would like to know some good places to go on the water, like the cliffs that you jump off and such. GPS cordinance would be cool.

Also, is there going to be anyone from the forum planning on being there at that time want to meet up?

A bunch of us that couldn't make/didn't want to attend the Crownline rally made plans to be down there that week. We're all staying at or around Kimberling Inn.
Are you guys staying over by the dam or way west?
The cliffs across from Emerald Point are where we've always done our jumping from. There's also the "swing" that's cool to do. It's between lake markers 9 and 10 about 2 miles north of where the James river arm intersects the main body.
The marinas sell a pretty detailed lake map that's a real stress saver...it's pretty easy to get turned around there since some of the fingers are huge and can go on for ever!!
There's a few other threads you can search where other regulars to TR have given good pointers too...

TS, I will be staying all the way on the southwest side of the lake close to Chain o lakes. I do plan on explorig as much of the lake as I can in the 4 days that I will be there. Crownline Rally huh? So my crownline will fit right in with you guys. I did buy a gps unit that I can use in the boat so I don't get lost, but geting a map will also be a good idea if it has points of interest on it. What days do you all plan on being there and how many groups are planning on going? Kimberling City is one of the places I planned on checking out.

You will have to watch out for standbars. They float around more often on the west/south end of the lake. Just drive the lake, you'll find the islands where people are chilling and the other popular hot spots. Check them out!!

Hey D-Rod. Thanks for replying. Hope school is going good with you. Was that a typo? Standbar? Maybe not since you said that they float around? Did you mean sandbar? I'm sure that I will find many interesting places to see. I have heard much about TRL but have never been. I hope I don't get spoiled after this and not want to put my boat back into Cheney.

Would still like to hear from more people about their favorite places when they go to TRL and exectly where it is located.

Sand bar is what I met. There is one turn as you head south, give me a few minutes to think of landmarks and location that the sandbar sticks out in the channel further than the "open" part of the channel. My point is that GET A MAP. A GPS won't help you with avoiding these underwater issues. Since the lake is near full pool, they're more hidden then they used to be.

There are tons of things to see. The clifts are always fun to jump off. Again, i'll have to stop and think what milemarker i'm used to jumping off. I just woke up and numbers are not in my brain yet. I like the islands in the middle. You can sit in knee keep water in the middle of the lake, let the kids swim while you chill out. The dam is a sight to see. There is an old wooden bridge that is beautiful to look at. There are a couple of good restaurants.

Fortunately, the lake is not commercialized to the point you can't find what you want to do. You can pretty much drive around and find the things that interest you.

Oh and you will not want any part of Cheney after your visit.

Haven't decided on whether to go to TRL this year or not. It's probably that or back to lake Powell.

We went to TRL for the the first time last summer and had a great time. We stayed at Stillwaters Resort, Indian Point, Branson, and I have no problem recommending this resort though I'd love to find a house that's right on the water.

When I went last year and tried to find the cliffs, the lake map I had didn't show Emerald point anywhere. In case you have the same problem, the cliffs are ~2.5 mi south of the Branson bell (near the Dam) on the western shore.

Also, a couple of quick comments on the swing:

1. Don't confuse markers found on the shore line with mileage markers on the lake maps.

2. The rope swing is more for younger children. My children are 16 & 17 and they felt out of place at the swing that was crowded with much younger and smaller children. The swing was made from a discarded ski tow rope and they were also afraid that it might break if they used it and it would spoil it for everyone.

Have a great time on the lake!

D-Rod, I was hoping that if I buy some software for my GPS that shows the channel and depths that it would help avoid dangers. And if anyone knows a good software that works with Lowrance XOG I would like sugjestions. I do plan on buying a map though. Are the islands that you are talking about due south of the dam? I don't have any reference on mile markers of the lake. I tried to search on the net for a map that shows the markers, but failed.

Colorado2718, I would like to get the cordinence to the swing. I will have three small kids with me, two nine year olds and one seven year old. I think that they would enjoy the swing.

Please keep the comments coming.

The islands are on both sides of the dam. There is an island that is nearby Cambell's Point that we spent a lot of time at last year. I will try to dig some stuff up for you this afternoon.

My map is at work so I'll try and remember to look up where the swing is tomorrow. At nine and seven years old, the swing will be perfect.

You are definitely on the southwest end of the lake. This is the quiet end of the lake and just happens to be my favorite part of the lake.

There are many places to go and have good time. Here's a few. "The Swing" everyone talks about is located at GPS coordinate 36°38'14.03"N by 93°29'15.95"W. There are some cliffs to jump off at 36°31'54.98"N by 93°41'10.63"W. If the water is up near full pool you can venture down into Arkansas to the town of Beaver and see a one lane suspension bridge over the channel, nice place to eat lunch. It's located at 36°28'18.82"N by 93°46'6.92"W. Just make sure you stay in the river channel because it gets narrow and shallow down there (15ft) and Table Rock has a lot of trees and stumps in the water outside the channel.

If you are looking for some places to eat Big M Marina has a good restaurant at 36°33'33.60"N by 93°40'39.56"W. They also have an ice cream stand that is good on a hot summer day. Then there's Pizza Hut at the bridge in Shell Knob that has boat access 36°37'0.49"N by 93°36'52.24"W. Campbell Point marina also has a restaurant.

Well there's some places off the top of my head for you. I might think of some more later. Kind of depends on how far you want to travel on the lake.

Len

Kenny, we're heading down on the 14th and hauling home on the 20th. We usually don't get much further west than Shell Knob but if you guys are gonna explore things to the east we'll probably be churning up some of the same water.
Paul is spot on about the swing...it's usually crawling with younger kids!!! We did see a few high school boys using it this last summer though. I've also saw people jump from above the swing but personally don't have the nerve for that heighth!! The cliff across from Emerald Point has 3 or 4 different levels so your little ones can build up their nerve before trying the highest spot.
A couple of other spots...there's a Pizza Hut just a little east of the 39 bridge in Shell Knob. They've got docks you can tie up to but bring fat fenders as it can get pretty rough there.
Campbell Point Marina has an excellent restaurant also if you guys tire of sandwiches. It's all the way in the back past all of the slips.
State Park Marina, just south/east of the Branson Belle has an awesome gift shop and a good grill too with nice protected slips.

Lastly, as Paul said, you'll see large orange signs with numbers on them along the shoreline. These are the lake or location markers. Their numbering has nothing to do with mileage from the dam or each other...they're just reference points. Again, getting one of the lake maps will show you this and all of the outdrive eating danger spots.

Sorry 'bout the double info...Len and I were typing in unison it seems!!
Kenny, I just dug through some stuff and found a lake map from one of the CL rallys held there. Shoot me a pm if you want and I'll send it to ya.

LenC and T-Squared have given you some good information. The restaruant at Big M Marina is good. And, it is close to where you will be staying.

The Pizza Hut Dock at the Hwy 39 bridge is easy to find it has a square, red, roof like the the traditional Pizza Hut restaraunts. It's also a climb to get to Pizza Hut.

In addition to the Pizza Hut at the 39 bridge, there is a BBQ place on the other side of the lake (B&J Smokehouse). Their dock is back in a small cove immediately south of the Pizza Hut dock. Not much for signs, but it's there. Be prepared to walk though... it's quite a climb up to get to the restaraunt.

The restaraunt at Campbell Point is called The Port Grill and Oyster Bar. Go past the gas docks, and you'll find it. Sometimes they have a band on the deck on Fridays and Saturdays.

I'm in Shell Knob every weekend. If you and T-Squared, and anybody else, want to get together, let me know. The 39 bridge is an easy place for everyone to find and meet up.