Castor River Shut-Ins

Absolutely gorgeous… one of my most favorite places to hike and swim 💕 The current is very light, but kinda hard to hike down to the water because it is steep and rocky. However, the trail is not bad at all.

Out of all the places I’ve visited during my weekend getaway in Missouri, this is my favorite. This blows the Johnson shut in and Tiemann shut in out of the water (definitely no pun intended 😅) words can’t describe how much I love this area. Its got similar features and natural wonders like Johnson shut ins and elephant rocks. There are multiple access points to get good views of the Castor River Shut Ins, get close to beautiful waterfalls, and if you’re lucky like me you’ll spot some wildlife like this crayfish. Definitely be careful and be sure wear some good waterproof hiking shoes or boots as some of the rocks are slippery. It can be quite a workout but the payoff is worth it. Whenever I move to Missouri, I’ll definitely spend my free time in this area to get some peace and solitude! 😊❤

So freaking cool!! There really isn’t a place to set up for a picnic per se, but the pink granite rocks are huge, cool to look at, and neat to crawl on. Crossed river to other side. Bit of a current so if you’re not a strong swimmer don’t risk it. Very cool spot. Will be back!!!

Loved this spot! Great place to explore and relax My husband and I decided to look for a swim hole on Memorial Day…parking lot was packed, but when we got down to the water (just a short walk) it did not look or feel crowded at all. There is plenty of room to spread out and claim your own little pool of water. I think a tube would be fun! Taking my kids back soon!

AMAZING PLACE. I've lived in Missouri all of my life and I had just learned about this place. It was so beautiful. It was like Johnson Shut-Ins but maybe a little bigger and the rocks are a pink granite. The water was clear. There was not a large amount of people there but the water was pretty cold. The path is a little more challenging than Johnson Shut-Ins but not too difficult. There was plenty of parking.

It is not easy to find. One must be comfortable driving over dirt roads. Beautiful place, all nature, there are no facilities at all. It is a 3/4 of a mile hike from the parking area. Ensure to put on your bug spray, ticks, and mosquitoes are rampant.

Came across this place randomly because we are staying in the area and so glad we found it. Beautiful shut-ins with crystal clear water. The rock formations and foliage around the river are equally compelling. Highly recommend anyone come by if in the area.

The trail to get here is somewhere between a quarter and half mile I reckon. We were here on a Tuesday in very late August and saw two other groups, but there are enough spots to spread out and not even see other people. Next to no shade of you are hear midday and it can get warm amongst the rocks. Was was cool, but not cold.

Found one deep hole and fished a bit. Caught a very small smallmouth and like a creek chubb.

Parking lot at the beginning was fairly large.

Results may vary depending upon river level. When the river is medium to high, the rocks are a fun slide. When wet, they are like walking on round ice. Expect to fall. Wear water shoes and bring some kneepads if you have some. This is a park with no amenities. I'm not complaining. Just letting you know. There is no bathroom, changing area, concession stand, life guard, or park ranger. You are at the mercy of nature and the people you came with. Pack the stuff you will need. Drinking water, sunscreen, wet wipes, food, towels. These Shut-Ins don't have the high jump cliffs of Johnson's Shut-Ins, but they go on longer than Johnson's Shut-Ins. There was just one spot at Castor River Shut-In with the depth necessary for jumping in. I recommend it. It's free.

Gorgeous hidden gem! Not crowded like Johnsons. Perfect place to relax and escape! Benches along path. Pet friendly. Keep your Dog on leashes though. A guy driving had a dog unleashed that attacked me and my dog, while walking through parking lot. Wasn't happy..

What a great place to visit in the summer to swim and hangout. You can bring food and drinks along the river. There's a small parking lot and then you must walk about a quarter mile path to get to the river. There aren't beach areas really but lots of large rock slabs you can setup on. The further down the river you go, the less people there are.

Castor River Shut Ins is a great place maintained by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The water flowing through the reddish-pink rocks makes for great scenery. Nice cool, clear water even in the middle of summer. Similar to Johnson Shut In’s, but it doesn’t have that steep elevation drop across the rock mass. Less rocks to climb through. More small pools of water allow for more wading and swimming. Probably a better place for smaller kids.

There are no amenities. No drinking water, no picnic tables, no changing building, no toilet (not even vault). No trash receptacles so pack out your trash. Also no cost thanks to MDC. Help keep it that way by keeping it clean.

Remember, all massive rocks below the water line should be considered slippery. Try to walk on the gravel and maintain hand contact with the rocks as you walk through the water.

Parking is limited and weekends can be a little crowded, but they’ve expanded the parking.

Very beautiful place. We were the only people out there, enjoyed the place to ourselves :) Love the pink rocks.

Me and the family enjoyed it! Second time out here and this time was the best it wasn't packed like last time and it was very clean.. and the swimming was great... We're making this our family yearly spot

This is a must see place! Nice parking lot with an easy trail in, but no restrooms. Watch out for the slippery rocks in the clear water. The falls are a favorite, so get there early!

This place is out of the way for anybody coming from St Louis.

It's a great place for taking pictures.

The parking lot is okay.

This particular trip, everything was flooded. Which made for a different atmosphere compared to what I normally see when they come here.

I love this hidden place ! It’s so beautiful ! You can relax, swim, sun tan, fish, ect... a fyi there is climbing/walking up and down big rocks to get in the river. Some rocks are slippery. Wear water shoes because you will need them. There is no bathrooms so you might want to bring something to wipe with. There are no trash cans so bring a bag for trash. There is no where to change so come ready. There are no bbq pits so bring sandwiches and snacks. There is a 6 minute trail walk to the river so my advice to you is bring a wagon so you don’t have to carry everything you brought other than that have fun and stay safe !

This place was absolutely gorgeous!! Short walk to the shut-ins and pink volcanic rocks!

This is an AWESOME shut-in to see. Kid friendly, beautiful scenery, well worth the trip!! The trail to where it is, is about 1/4 or better miles, so pack lightly! Be careful because the rocks are extremely slick when wet!! Doesn't matter what kind of footwear you have. The pink granite was absolutely beautiful, we had a great time!!

Great swimming spot a few minutes from Fredericktown. Very similar to Johnson Shut Ins, but the rocks are pink and the access to the river is way easier thru the tree shaded trail. Water is clean and full of fish, parking is limited and no public restroom.

I love this gem hidden in the woods. I feel comfortable bringing my 2yr old and the water is usually between 4 and 5 ft deep