Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

Perfect place for a weekend getaway. You can camp as well and get some splashes in the water, take your bike on the beautiful trail or even pack a bag for picnic or a good hike. The views are beautiful and there's variations of activities and possibilities. They have a restrooms and parking and it is a dog friendly place..

Pretty dangerous but worth it. A fun filled natural waterpark. Highly recommend wearing water shoes, and you might even want some knee protection. Some of the water can get swift, deep and watch for whirlpools. Keep going beyond the main shut in for more fun downstream. A popular park with limited parking at the hotspot. There is a gift shop offering swim gear and snacks. Tons of trails, picnic areas and we'll organized roads. I'll go back for sure for another adventure. Be Safe out there

Early fall and still 90 degrees outside. We did the Blue Trail around 10am and then spent a couple hours playing in the shut-ins. The trail is a moderate intensity due to the elevation, otherwise it's a pretty straight forward hike eith a mix bag of rock, roots, and dirt path. You will climb stairs regardless of the direction you choose to begin.
The Shut-ins are SUPER slick, make sure you have grippy water shoes. Yes, it gets deep enough that you can't touch.
I do not recommend this area for small kids.

My husband and I and our 2 boys camped in a basic camping site for 1 night to try it out. We had 2 tents and it fit perfectly in our site. There where trees surrounding each site providing shade. We had a blast. There were lots of other kids running around as well. The bathroom/ shower house was clean and well maintained. It was just a short drive down to Johnson shut INS access to swim. Would definitely recommend. Great for the price.

Very cool place. 1st access spot is easy to get into for those that may not be able to climb around on slippery rocks. 2nd access was where a lot of people were. A bit rough to climb down into but fun. Rocks in the water are extremely slick. Wear water shoes. It is mostly shallow in the shut-ins but random parts are deep. You can't really swim hardly anywhere so don't try, you'll just smash a knee or foot into a rock. We didn't go to 3rd access or any others if there's more. It was a bit more of a walk to those. Would love to spend a day here and see it all.

Super fun place to explore with or without kids. We chose to bring our two with us 😄. It's maybe a quarter mile walk to the shut-ins. Make sure you have water shoes. Lots of places to explore and climb. The rocks are slick! Do not step on any rocks you think look slimy. You might consider bringing a small tube if that's your style. Goggles for the kids. Places to carefully jump off rocks into the water. Fun times! There is a River Shop right at the entrance for souvenirs, water shoes, ice cream and such. There are also changing rooms and restrooms at the beginning.

Johnson's Shut-Ins is a unique park with lots of waterfalls you can sit in and enjoy. They have a swimming hole at the top and bottom of the rocks for anyone that has trouble climbing. Great views! Clear water! This park is quite the experience. They do not allow pets on the trail to or near the water falls. They are ok to be in day use areas 1 and 2.

Had to be one of the most gorgeous parks i have ever seen. I would definitely recommend visiting if you have never been. Even though it was chilly and rainy it was still breath taking.

Park is amazing with a paved hiking trail. Water was moving fast tho, so they had the river blocked off to swimmers.

Secluded state park in MO, with hiking, trails, look-outs, and rolling hills.
Cliff jumping, picnic areas, local camping and cabins nearby, gift store with ice cream and local crafts.
The rocks have been molded thru water erosion to Create a hidden paradise with tons of ways to enjoy nature and have a day.
This place is a summer tradition for the locals, and should be for every one around!

Park activities include camping, hiking, swimming, and rock climbing. Park trails include a paved quarter-mile walkway to an observation deck overlooking the shut-ins,the ten-mile (16 km) Goggins Mountain Equestrian Trail loop, and a section of the Ozark trail.

An extension to the park provides an auto tour that passes by the ongoing recovery effort, as well as the recovered endangered fens area, terminating at a shaded overlook of the flood path accessible from the park entrance. From this one can walk a path through the boulder field created by the flood. The boulder field contains many examples of the minerals and rocks that make up the St. Francois Mountains of the Ozarks.

Goggins Mountain

Goggins Mountain is a summit in northeastern Reynolds County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The summit is at an elevation of 1,483 feet (452 m).

The mountain lies within the northwestern portion of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park.

Goggins Mountain has the name of the local Goggins family.

Never knew how truly neat this place is. Johnson’s Shut-Ins is an absolute necessity to visit. It was such a short walk to get to the rocks. You can easily spend all day here. You’re able to climb all over these giant rocks with pools of water in between. You’re also able to swim in deeper water if you’re not wanting to sit in the pools of the rocks. It was such a great time and we will definitely be coming back.

Excellent place to visit. Definitely a one of a kind place in Missouri, if you’re feeling frisky and brave you can navigate the rocks with water flowing all between and you can slide down. Very fun but not a place to let kids run free, definitely dangerous.

This place was one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid, and apparently 20 years later it is still one of my all time favorites. A summer destination must, and just one of the many beautiful Missouri State Parks! Get out there have fun and explore people. F.Y.I. Make sure to bring the kiddos, snacks and something for lunch, sunscreen, and definitely some type of water shoes.

Beautiful place! Had a great time and can't wait to go back. The water was really warm but once we moved past the first stop.

This place was so much fun, but definitely bring water shoes if you plan on swimming. The water is cold but so beautiful and clear. The rocks were fun to climb on but a little slippery so keep that in mind, if you have young kids. It’s a nice place for a date as well and the best part is that it’s free. 10/10.

This is a beautiful and fun park. There is a good variety of trails and an easy trail to get in and see the shut ins.
The restroom facilities are very nice and there are changing rooms by the shut ins entrance as well.
We had a ton of fun wading around in the Shut ins!
The visitor center was interesting.
The State Park with the Shut-Ins and The Campground are at two different sites - FYI.
We tent camped at the campground with our four kids. It was a great time! If you former anything, the camp store likely has it - plus ice cream.
We recommend!

My first time was yesterday. It was absolutely breath taking and perfectly quiet. Everyone was nice. So many cultures came out to chill. I'll definitely be back.

Such a fun family place to visit. Lots of exercise! Tons of walking and climbing but there's nothing else like this anywhere around here. Just wear shoes that are appropriate for the water if you're visiting to enjoy the river.

What a cool place! Huge, naturally formed boulders form an otherworldly riverbed for water to flow.

Tip: When walking down the river, stick to either the dry rock surfaces or if you step in the water make sure you place your feet on gravel - NOT on the big slick rocks! Easy to turn an ankle or slip and get a nasty injury.

This isn't a place for those with poor balance or mobility issues. If you are adventurous, you'll be rewarded with a terrific exploration experience! After all the hiking, it's nice to take a dip in the cool, deep pools that dot the riverbed.

Keep younger kids in lifejackets and enjoy the unique experience!