Hiking and biking, as well as, horseback riding and swimming are all available at the park. A walkway leads to an observation deck overlooking the scenic pothole shut-ins and gives great views of the shut-in and valley. It is one of Missouri’s most outstanding examples of a shut-in and is the principal feature of the 180-acre Johnson’s Shut-Ins Natural Area. The signature feature of the park is the shut-ins with its spectacular chutes and waterfalls confined within the canyonlike gorges of the East Fork of the Black River. Together, the Goggins Mountain Wild Area and the Bell Mountain Wilderness makeup the largest tract of wilderness in Missouri. A trail in the Goggins Mountain Wild Area leads to Mark Twain National Forest’s 9,000 acre Bell Mountain Wilderness. Beginning in Ironton, go East on Russell Street toward S Knob Street for 0.2 miles. Most of the park’s geologic and biologic diversity is protected in these areas. Visit Johnson Shut-Ins State Park for your next family adventure, located less than half an hour from Ironton, Missouri. Covering more than 6,000 acres, the East Fork Wild Area and Goggins Mountain Wild Area have no road access, paved trails or park amenities, making them an outstanding opportunity for experienced backcountry hikers and campers. The park supports two outstanding areas designated as Missouri wild areas because of their wilderness qualities. These account for 40 percent of the plant species of Missouri. The park itself has 17 different natural communities and supports more than 850 plant species. These include woodlands, as well as, glades and rivers. The Missouri Highway Patrol investigates drownings and boating fatalities on state waterways but park. Francois Mountains and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is home to many natural landscapes. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is in Middlebrook, about 80 miles southwest of St. The rocks have potholes and plunge pools below small waterfalls, as well as, chutes that form wild, natural waterslides that delight visitors. Natural Features: The story of Johnson’s shut-ins starts over a billion years ago when the igneous rocks here, pink granites and blue-gray rhyolites, were.
Admire the tenacity of the plants eking out a living on the granite rocks. Marvel at the forces of nature responsible for creating this shut-in. The park is named after the “shut-ins” where the rushing waters of the East Fork of the Black River are “shut-in” by hard volcanic rock. Points of Interest: Take a dip in the famous shut-ins surrounded by billion year old rocks. This park is a unique place to visit today with a mix of ancient geology and recent influences with modern amenities. The park officially opened as a park in 1955. Francois Mountains are a special place to visit. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and the surrounding St. ** To keep up to date with any park changes, alerts and to plan your MISSOURI STATE PARK GETAWAY go to the official Missouri State Park website by clicking HERE.**