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Shut-ins Trail

Johnson's Shut-ins State Park, Missouri

Johnson's Shut-ins, a state park in the Missouri Ozark's scenic Acadia Valley, showcases a trail leading to a natural water park, and continuing through a hardwood forest of oak and hickory - the highlight being the Shut-ins.

The Shut-ins, a term used to describe a place where a river narrows, its breadth being confined by hard rock that is resistant to erosion, creating cascades that plunge thru chutes and swirl in natural potholes amid a canyon-like gorge of epic proportions - these natural formations make for a fun-filled day of sliding, wading, and swimming in the waters of the Black River.

To access the rocky gorge that the Shut-ins call home, hike the 2.25 mile Shut-ins Trail - a loop trail beginning at the park's main day-use parking lot, adjacent to the River Store.

The first 0.3-mile portion of the trail is paved/elevated boardwalk and is wheelchair accessible - the path will take you to an observation platform with views of the East Fork of the Black River flowing in rivulets over boulders of igneous rock that has been polished smooth by the eons.

Along this portion of the trail, it's possible to access the water at several spots - the park even provides loaner life jackets (hanging in hooks at the observation platform) for those wanting to brave the waterfalls and natural slides.

To complete the loop, continue past the platform to a set of stairs leading to the forest and small glade clearings in the foothills of the St Francois Mountains - the trail eventually leads back to the parking area for a roundtrip of 2.25 miles. If your main goal is to swim in the river, you can end your hike at the boardwalk and return the way you came, for a 0.6-mile roundtrip adventure.

 
 
 
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