Rating: ★★★★☆(4/5) - Worth a Trip
Named for the hard rocks limiting the width of the East Fork Black River, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is located just under two hours south of St. Louis and is one of the most popular in Missouri, receiving nearly 400,000 visitors each year. The shut-ins form a natural waterpark when water levels are low, perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. One large campground is available with a variety of different sites, including 6 camper cabins.
The Shut-Ins Trail is the most popular in the park and features views of the shut-ins and the beautiful river in addition to several waterfalls hidden on the hillside. Hike the Scour Trail to witness an area cleared by over 1 billion gallons of water after the Upper Taum Sauk Reservoir broke in 2005. For a long trek, the Ozark Trail travels through much of the park, heading to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri.
