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    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    4.7 (43 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Gorgeous. If you have little ones, be careful because it is quite slippery and a ton of climbing.

    Evelyn M.

    This park has been on my to do list for years. Several trails to do and of course the Shut-ins. We hiked the Blue Trail 1st which is considered moderate so plan footwear accordingly. Some overgrowth on parts of the trail and plenty of elevation at times. It is shaded for a good portion. Reward yourself with the shut-ins and cool water to relax in. Even in mid October with it in the 70's the water is very enjoyable. We did not swim or partake in any chute & ladder activity but there were a few all in. Carefully climb out and find your place to soak your legs and enjoy some vitamin D and the rushing water massage in those tired free & legs.

    Beautiful racer snake
    Lane T.

    We were so thankful for our recent camping trip at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park - wonderfully remote, no cell service, end of fall foliage, clear, star-studded night skies - we couldn't have asked for better! Campsites range from hike-in to cabins and all loops include flush toilets and hot showers. Tent sites include a shared, drinkable water spigot, paved parking, fire-ring, and picnic table. The shut-in's are in the day use portion of this park which is separated by a mile or two from the campgrounds. There are many, nearby historic and geological marvels as well! In fact, nearby Elephant Rocks State Park was one of the highlights of our visit - scrambling across and between giant rounded rocks like kids on a playground! **Just grab an area map from the campground store and put those rusty navigational skills to use in case you're not able to navigate using cell service!** Highlights of our 4-mile Shut-Ins hike were rock-scrambling in the shut-ins (geological feature where river is shut-in by narrow rock passages), basking in the sun by the river, and spotting a racer and rough (or smooth) green snake!

    Johnson's Shut-Ins
    Heather B.

    One of our absolute favorite vacation spots! I have three teenage boys and this place keeps them entertained all day! Pack light, as it's a bit of a walk to the shut-ins, and you just have to leave your belongings sitting on a rock near the river. I only take towels, sunscreen and water bottles. Younger kids will want life jackets but if you're lucky, they let you check them out at the entrance if they have some available. The campgrounds are really nice and clean. We were in loop 3, and all the spots felt private with woods in between. Bathrooms were individual locking rooms, and clean but smelled like dirty diapers the whole time, even right after the cleaning crew got finished. The store is really nice and a fun place to get ice cream and any other necessities you want. There's only WiFi at the store (we didn't have ANY cell service there at all), but there are benches out front if you need it when they are closed. We'll definitely be back if we can get reservations, despite the bathroom smells.

    Sirens??
    Jessica B.

    Very cool views of what water can do to rock over time. The boardwalk part of the trail gives you much of the best view, so even if you're not really a hiker, this is a good one. The trail really does loop, though we questioned a few times if we'd lost our blue trail markers. It's a perfectly moderate trail: enough to huff and puff a little, maybe sweat a little, but totally doable in just over an hour. It was steady traffic wise entering, but we only saw a dozen people on the trail itself, after the boardwalk. Peaceful and distant. We set out chairs in the parking lot after and ate lunch. Signs say no pets, but we saw some dogs on the paved part of the trail. There are bathrooms thank goodness!

    Rules for day passes
    Michelle C.

    This place is a must-do on your summer destinations list. It's been years since I visited and I was impressed with all the improvements at the park. Some of the amenities include: - Changing rooms - Lockers - A store that sells "river day" necessities such as sunscreen, water shoes and even goggles. We had a great day there and spent about four hours swimming, climbing on rocks and looking through the pretty river rocks. I can't wait to go back. Here are some suggestions for a successful day. 1. DON'T bring pets. We almost brought our dog. Pets aren't allowed. 2. Bring lawn chairs -- you can put them in the river and have a comfortable place to sit. 3. Where water shoes. NOT flip flops, not crocs. Old tennis shoes with grippy bottoms would work, or even hiking boots that can get soaked. But water shoes are best. You'll be climbing on wet, slippery rocks. 4. No coolers and no drinks or food in disposable containers are allowed. Also no alcohol. I took my Yedi filled with iced tea and we took a water proof backpack with containers of fruit and chips. 5. There are plenty of picnic spots and tables near the trailhead where you CAN bring coolers. We saw a lot of people having a full picnic out there. 6. If you leave enough time, you can go to nearby Elephant Rocks or The Old Mercantile ice cream parlor and candy store In Caledonia.

    The pond next to the cabins.
    Mike V.

    The Boy Scout troop camps as one would expect. And in February, when it's typically cold, we welcome new Webelos, who soon cross over and become Boy Scouts, to join us on a campout... a campout in cabins at Johnson's Shut-ins State Park. We pick here because they are the closest park to us with cabins. The cabins are simple and awesome. All-wood interior. Table and chairs for six. Futon in one room and a full-size bed in the other; plenty of floor space for many adults in sleeping bags. "College dorm" refrigerator/freezer, and microwave, and a counter. Fire pit outside. AMAZING views of the pond. Much peacefulness On Saturday, after breakfast, the Scouts typically plan to visit Elephant Rocks, have lunch, and then visit the Black River in Johnson's Shut-ins. The same was the case this year. While not cold, it also wasn't warm, to the Scouts were surprisingly not typically eager to go and get wet. BUT they did quickly start climbing all over and around the rocks that are the shut-ins. They are called shut-ins because the volcanic rock takes a very long time to erode, so the water is constricted to flow through the rocks. Some Scouts had fun building a temporary dam that was good at rising the water level in that pool. Our son captured some neat GoPro videos, putting the HERO under water and looking back up at the sky, still under water. Much fun was had by Scouts and the Dads. A great park. A unique park and a great place to enjoy the beauty of Missouri. Thank you, Missouri State Parks!

    Justin C.

    Absolutely love this place, can't wait to go back! Short walk to the actual shut-ins, but absolutely worth it. I recommend bringing river-shoes and Goggles if you're into swimming (water visibility is really good!) Rocks can be slick/unsteady if you're climbing so use common sense & watch where you're walking. Would also like to note this place is always very clean.

    Tracy N.

    Absolutely a must go to swim, camp or picnic! What a beautiful area and so well maintained! This state Park is one of the best in the area. The camping spots are manicured to perfection! KUDOS on a great Park!

    Johnson's shut ins state park
    David W.

    This is one of MO's most favorite parks so crowds will be a problem , go mon tue. or wed if you can it will still be crowded so go early as you can and enjoy your self . don't even think about not wearing tennis shoes or water shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is one of MO's very best parks we stayed in the campground foe 3 nights with our RV it was $23 per night and the new camp site was beautiful very quiet and privet very clean bathrooms and showers beautifully kept grounds. Elephant rocks State Park is 9 miles away and also great fun and beautiful full of geology , history , and nature these are my favorite Mo Parks!

    A view from the Shutin trail.

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    4 years ago

    Beautiful park. Stunning views! Well kept and maintained. Bring great shoes for climbing the rocks around the water!

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    11 years ago

    Sharp rocks and strong currents. Not bad if you don't mind scraps and scratches. Probably won't go again.

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    Ask the Community - Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    Review Highlights - Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    The shut-in's are in the day use portion of this park which is separated by a mile or two from the campgrounds.

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    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

    4.7(6 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    I've lived in this area all my life and this is definitely my favorite hiking spot, it has great…read moreviews. And for me, great memories. It doesn't have anything too monumental or special about it, but it doesn't have too to be a great spot! once you get to the end of the trail there's a stream/waterfall that's a great place to sit and enjoy the nature. And climb around on some cliffs as you can see in the pictures. Once you're to this spot you can walk to Johnston shut-inns from there, (11 miles) if you're looking for an all day hike that ends with swimming. Maybe have someone bring a car there first so you don't have to walk all the way back Directions to Taum Sauk can be confusing for someone who has never been, assuming you'll be heading south through Arcadia/ironton, you'll keep going south after those towns for a few miles. Then make a right on CC hwy, it's on a turn and a hill so don't be afraid to pass it up and turn around somewhere, rather than lock em up and cause a scene. After you're on CC hwy eventually there will be a Y in the road, to the left is a tower you can climb. To the right is a gravel road, follow that and it leads to the trail. There's a nice lookout on that road on the way to the trail as well. I hope this review helped, and don't forget to respect the land. Happy trails

    Great place to hike with amazing views. The waterfall will only be flowing if you come during or…read moreafter heavy rain, though.

    Photos
    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park - The waterfall

    The waterfall

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park - Beautiful day for a hike

    Beautiful day for a hike

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park - Halfway down the Mina Sauk trail

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    Halfway down the Mina Sauk trail

    Ozark National Scenic Riverways

    Ozark National Scenic Riverways

    5.0(4 reviews)
    38.7 mi

    Great trails and the views are totally worth the trip! Water way for you to relax and camp!read more

    One of my favorite spots on Earth is the Current River, which is a part of the National Ozark…read moreScenic Riverway. If you enjoy nature, water, and outdoor fun then this is a must visit spot! There are several great places to visit as a part of this area, but my favorites by far are the Current River and Big Spring on the Current River, and the campground of the same name. I have a wonderful group of friends that introduced me to floating on the Current when I was in college, and ever since this river has held a special place in my heart. We usually camp at Big Spring Campground. There are both electric, non-electric, and RV hookup's. There are real bathrooms, as well as hot showers within walking distance of camp (not porta potties, but it is a campground - so say hello to your local, resident spiders and their webs). We like this camp, because it's right on the river, family friendly, and close to town but far enough out to enjoy nature. While camping a must do experience for all is a walk to Big Spring. It's a natural cold spring, whose source pumps out enough fresh water to fill Busch Stadium in 33 hours! I like to walk there in the early morning or twilight to see the mist roll in. http://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/big-spring.htm The nearby town of Van Buren offers: - a nice Lodge for those who want a nice dinner and/or whose idea of camping is air conditioning, nice beds, and tv - the local ice cream spot called The Jolly Cone - the local cafe, The Floatstream Restaurant, for your typical small diner food and a pretty okay breakfast - various small shops to stock up on essentials: beer, sunblock, souvenir tshirts, snacks, replaceable float shoes and swimsuits, intertubes, gas, fishing bait, etc. - and a whole lot of other small town amenities The water is spring fed. So it's super cold and clear - perfect for a hot summer's day! The Current has a pretty decent current, with nice deep water and wading shallows dotted with periodic gravel bars. It's great for intertubing and canoe trips. Various campgrounds and businesses offer rentals and trips with pick up and drop off options (2, 4, 6 hour floats, or even multiple day trips). Check out the area and find YOUR favorite spots and recommendations. It will probably become one of your favorite places on Earth too!

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    Ozark National Scenic Riverways
    Ozark National Scenic Riverways
    Ozark National Scenic Riverways

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    Maramec Spring Park

    Maramec Spring Park

    4.8(23 reviews)
    47.2 mi

    My partner and I drove out here from Ballwin, about 1.5 hours away, with our dog when it was nice…read moreoutside one day. I wasn't expecting much, but wow, was it worth the drive! The water in the sanctuary area is soooo blue. I couldn't believe my eyes. We walked along that part first, then walked past the hatchery. It was so cool to see the trout in different stages of life. Dogs aren't allowed to swim in the sanctuary or hatchery, and since we have a lab who's obsessed with the water, we kept walking to reach a spot where she could at least touch it. Lots of people were fishing, so we kept walking until we found a spot where she could splash around. As you can see from the photo, she had a wonderful time. We kept her leash on and I'd recommend others do the same. We didn't want her to get caught on a fishing line or scare any fish away that people were trying to catch. We paid $5 to get into the park as we were driving in, and we were able to pay with a credit card. There was plenty of parking even though it was the weekend. Definitely recommend for a day trip from the STL area!

    From Manchester, MO I can be trout fishing in 90 minutes. I wanted to make one more trip before the…read moretrout fishing season closes on October 31. First time catching a bluegill at this park. The leaves were falling continuously from the trees which made the experience more beautiful. We had a blast.

    Photos
    Maramec Spring Park - Me and Juneau at Merrimack Springs

    Me and Juneau at Merrimack Springs

    Maramec Spring Park
    Maramec Spring Park

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    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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