Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

First time here-loved this park. We ventured along all the water access points; beautiful views. Using caution and common sense around some of the slippery areas and water currents, albeit this is an awesome place. We stopped at the camp store (south) and purchased some souvenirs after our hike. The park is clean and well maintained-lots of ways to explore/experience nature here. We didn’t camp here but the sites looked well kept. Looking forward to returning!

Big parking lot, but I would get there early sometimes it might be full of cars. There is a walkway that leads you to parts of the river. It's a decent walk but have benches where you can sit on the way. Halfways thru there is a bathroom . The river is almost divided up in sections by like age the further you walk down you have bigger rocks and currents where you can swim. The water is crystal clear and feels great. They say you can't bring food down but we did but made sure we didn't litter . To be respectful for others and the park. They also have signs just in case the dam would break and go to higher grounds. There is also a trail you can hike if you don't want to swim.

Very nice if you like swimming and climbing on rocks. Lots of variety here of swimming. Low sandbars, climbing on rocks, sitting in wade pools, and just laying out. Bring sunscreen definitely or you will be burnt. There are areas you can bring your chair and lay out. There is no food allowed in but we had a small bad of chips in our carry bag. We brought our personal water bottles too. No smoking but ppl were, kinda disrespectful to the area of you ask me. There is a large club house that you can change and use the bathrooms and get a bite to eat, mostly finger foods that are reasonably priced. Some merchandise available. Locker rentals are $1.00, bring quarters. The club house is at the entrance. We usually stay 3-4 hours. Get there early for close parking. Parking is free.

Amazing place to swim on a hot day. Water is refreshing and fun for all ages. There are relaxing spots and spots for those that like fast running water. Natural slides, deep holes, waterfalls and shallow spots for kids.

Beautiful park. We hiked the Shut-Ins Trail and it had lots of scenic views. There are several access points to swim and the water is clear. There is a gift shop, restrooms, and changing rooms.

This camp was really nice and each spot in loop 4 was mostly surrounded by trees so it felt a bit private. Each spot had a concrete pad to park and was pretty open with a good amout of space. There are a lot of ticks so bring your bug spray! Everyone around us was friendly but stayed to themselves. There is a camp store -open in the later evenings on the weekends- that houses a large shack where you can buy wood using the honor system ($7 each bundle), and also at the camp store are restrooms with AC & a laundry mat open 24/7. Loop 5 has campgrounds that are secluded and you have to hike a ways to reach them (check out 502, 507, or 509). They are set back in the forest. Super cool. Go check out the Shut-ins. They are beautiful but dangerous so please be careful. We walked through the river and climbed the rocks. Had a BLAST! There are leeches in the water so be watchful. They were very small and didn't hurt. The water was really cold but that didn't stop people from swimming in it. There are fish in it with you and they are neat to watch. Elephants Rocks State Park is within 20 minutes and was AMAZING. Go in the morning though because it gets incredibly busy in the afternoon and you will not be able to find a parking spot. There is Mal's Snack Shack there for "carnival like" food (hotdogs, nachos, shaved ice) and is reasonably priced and good. Don't forget to leave them a tip! They take cash or card. Both the Shut-ins and Elephant Rocks have picnic tables and grills. The bathrooms are better at the Shut-ins. I would recommend you bring your own TP and hand sanitizer for Elephant Rocks. You will probably need it. Overall my family and I had a great time and we were sad to leave such beauty and peace to return to the the hustle and bustle of daily life. We will probably go again within the next few years! Hope you enjoy your trip here as much as we did 😊 PS... if your wood here is damp, charcoal and lighter fluid will be your best friend. That is the only way we could get our fire going. It rained the day before we got there and the humidity held on. It was almost impossible to get our fire going both nights without it. We got a huge bag of charcoal and went through it and 1 1/2 bottles of lighter fluid. There was no cell service for me (T-Mobile) but my sister's phone (AT&T) worked just fine.

Have been going there the last 55 years, it's and amazing park. Make sure you wear old tennis shoes while in the water.

This was by far the nicest state/national park campground that we have stayed in. The toilet/shower houses were an unexpected surprise. They were amazing. The sites were concrete and well maintained. The Shut-ins are a hike of about 3.5 miles, and the trails are well maintained. There's no cell service which can be unnerving during a severe thunderstorm, so take precautions. We will be back.

Gorgeous. If you have little ones, be careful because it is quite slippery and a ton of climbing.

Campground is highly recommended. We stayed in pet friendly C5 camper cabin. There is a microwave, fridge, a foldable couch, queen size bed inside and a fire pit, grill outside. Bring your own sheet set for the bed. Restrooms and bath houses are outside of the cabins from walk distance. there is hot and cold water. Toilet has water saving option. And there is diaper changing station inside of the restrooms. There is a nice pond in front of the cabins.

Between the trails and the views over the water it is an incredible place to see. I would highly recommend paying attention as you get closer because your GPS will take you farther than the actual park itself. The trails get really loopy and I would say it's a moderate trail enough to be out of breath and stop and take some breaks but doable and about an hour to an hour and a half. The water aspect is very need I would highly recommend water shoes because the rocks are very slippery. You can also not bring food or coolers down there so try to eat before coming. They also state no pets but I've seen pets several times and I've seen pets in the water

My favorite hiking trail in Missouri. I've been to many hiking trails in the area but none are as beautiful as Johnson's Shut-Ins. Essentially its this area near a large water pathway where you could play in the water as well as hike in the nearby mountain while looking at beautiful valley views all around. It is a drive from St. Louis, but very do-able in one day. Here are some of my top tips: - Came the day after St. Louis received a tornado warning and was worried this place would be muddy, disgusting, cold, and ugly. It was slightly muddy but the sun came out and it was absolutely beautiful! Would not be so worried about bad weather. - Come during the Fall for the beautiful Fall foliage to change color. - Bring sunscreen as there is shade but a lot of sunlight does come through the trees. - Would definitely recommend bringing some sort of swimsuit to wade around the water ways especially during low tide. The water is extremely clear and beautiful, makes for great pictures. However, I really would not recommend cliff jumping here as a lot of people do because the water is way too shallow and you could easily hurt yourself. - Bring good shoes as the walking trail isn't very distinct and you're often times walking on trails that don't look like trails. I promise you that it does loop back at some point, but it will feel like you are just walking through the mountain aimlessly. - Visit Elephant Rocks while you are here as they are only a 20-minute drive away from one another. Overall, fantastic place for families and friends. Would also recommend camping at Taum Sauk and making a whole weekend out of it as the night views are beautiful here and you can come nice and early and avoid all the crowds although its not very crowded in general.

This park has been on my to do list for years. Several trails to do and of course the Shut-ins. We hiked the Blue Trail 1st which is considered moderate so plan footwear accordingly. Some overgrowth on parts of the trail and plenty of elevation at times. It is shaded for a good portion. Reward yourself with the shut-ins and cool water to relax in. Even in mid October with it in the 70's the water is very enjoyable. We did not swim or partake in any chute & ladder activity but there were a few all in. Carefully climb out and find your place to soak your legs and enjoy some vitamin D and the rushing water massage in those tired free & legs.

We were so thankful for our recent camping trip at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park - wonderfully remote, no cell service, end of fall foliage, clear, star-studded night skies - we couldn't have asked for better! Campsites range from hike-in to cabins and all loops include flush toilets and hot showers. Tent sites include a shared, drinkable water spigot, paved parking, fire-ring, and picnic table. The shut-in's are in the day use portion of this park which is separated by a mile or two from the campgrounds. There are many, nearby historic and geological marvels as well! In fact, nearby Elephant Rocks State Park was one of the highlights of our visit - scrambling across and between giant rounded rocks like kids on a playground! **Just grab an area map from the campground store and put those rusty navigational skills to use in case you're not able to navigate using cell service!** Highlights of our 4-mile Shut-Ins hike were rock-scrambling in the shut-ins (geological feature where river is shut-in by narrow rock passages), basking in the sun by the river, and spotting a racer and rough (or smooth) green snake!

Very nice place. Food truck on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Great place to walk the trail's. See a lot of wild life at any given time.

One of our absolute favorite vacation spots! I have three teenage boys and this place keeps them entertained all day! Pack light, as it's a bit of a walk to the shut-ins, and you just have to leave your belongings sitting on a rock near the river. I only take towels, sunscreen and water bottles. Younger kids will want life jackets but if you're lucky, they let you check them out at the entrance if they have some available. The campgrounds are really nice and clean. We were in loop 3, and all the spots felt private with woods in between. Bathrooms were individual locking rooms, and clean but smelled like dirty diapers the whole time, even right after the cleaning crew got finished. The store is really nice and a fun place to get ice cream and any other necessities you want. There's only WiFi at the store (we didn't have ANY cell service there at all), but there are benches out front if you need it when they are closed. We'll definitely be back if we can get reservations, despite the bathroom smells.

I've been going to Johnson's Shut Ins since I was a child. It's fun and relaxing but I have once complaint. Even though there's No Jumping signs, parents allowing their kids to jump near close rocks. I almost watched a young boy crack his skull open. The adults do jump off the high rock in the back where it's restricted but, at least it's not children. I like that glass and food is not prohibited near the water. This helps with maintaining a clear water hole. This is very family friendly.

Johnson's Shut-Ins is like nothing else I've seen in Missouri. Missouri has some beautiful scenery, but this area reminds me of somewhere in Colorado, not Missouri. It's a great little getaway place from the hustle and bustle of city/suburban life for me. The main attraction of rocks and water do not disappoint, but they also have camping, hiking, and other activities in the park. In the summer this is a great place to cool off getting in the water and walking around on the rocks. There are some other really great places to visit in the area including Elephant Rocks State Park.

Very cool views of what water can do to rock over time. The boardwalk part of the trail gives you much of the best view, so even if you're not really a hiker, this is a good one. The trail really does loop, though we questioned a few times if we'd lost our blue trail markers. It's a perfectly moderate trail: enough to huff and puff a little, maybe sweat a little, but totally doable in just over an hour. It was steady traffic wise entering, but we only saw a dozen people on the trail itself, after the boardwalk. Peaceful and distant. We set out chairs in the parking lot after and ate lunch. Signs say no pets, but we saw some dogs on the paved part of the trail. There are bathrooms thank goodness!

This place is a must-do on your summer destinations list. It's been years since I visited and I was impressed with all the improvements at the park. Some of the amenities include: - Changing rooms - Lockers - A store that sells "river day" necessities such as sunscreen, water shoes and even goggles. We had a great day there and spent about four hours swimming, climbing on rocks and looking through the pretty river rocks. I can't wait to go back. Here are some suggestions for a successful day. 1. DON'T bring pets. We almost brought our dog. Pets aren't allowed. 2. Bring lawn chairs -- you can put them in the river and have a comfortable place to sit. 3. Where water shoes. NOT flip flops, not crocs. Old tennis shoes with grippy bottoms would work, or even hiking boots that can get soaked. But water shoes are best. You'll be climbing on wet, slippery rocks. 4. No coolers and no drinks or food in disposable containers are allowed. Also no alcohol. I took my Yedi filled with iced tea and we took a water proof backpack with containers of fruit and chips. 5. There are plenty of picnic spots and tables near the trailhead where you CAN bring coolers. We saw a lot of people having a full picnic out there. 6. If you leave enough time, you can go to nearby Elephant Rocks or The Old Mercantile ice cream parlor and candy store In Caledonia.

The Boy Scout troop camps as one would expect. And in February, when it's typically cold, we welcome new Webelos, who soon cross over and become Boy Scouts, to join us on a campout... a campout in cabins at Johnson's Shut-ins State Park. We pick here because they are the closest park to us with cabins. The cabins are simple and awesome. All-wood interior. Table and chairs for six. Futon in one room and a full-size bed in the other; plenty of floor space for many adults in sleeping bags. "College dorm" refrigerator/freezer, and microwave, and a counter. Fire pit outside. AMAZING views of the pond. Much peacefulness On Saturday, after breakfast, the Scouts typically plan to visit Elephant Rocks, have lunch, and then visit the Black River in Johnson's Shut-ins. The same was the case this year. While not cold, it also wasn't warm, to the Scouts were surprisingly not typically eager to go and get wet. BUT they did quickly start climbing all over and around the rocks that are the shut-ins. They are called shut-ins because the volcanic rock takes a very long time to erode, so the water is constricted to flow through the rocks. Some Scouts had fun building a temporary dam that was good at rising the water level in that pool. Our son captured some neat GoPro videos, putting the HERO under water and looking back up at the sky, still under water. Much fun was had by Scouts and the Dads. A great park. A unique park and a great place to enjoy the beauty of Missouri. Thank you, Missouri State Parks!

Beautiful park. Stunning views! Well kept and maintained. Bring great shoes for climbing the rocks around the water!

Great spot to swim. Have to hike down though. Which isn't a problem for me, but might be for some. It's free to enter which is great. Always come out here in the summer at least once.

Absolutely love this place, can't wait to go back! Short walk to the actual shut-ins, but absolutely worth it. I recommend bringing river-shoes and Goggles if you're into swimming (water visibility is really good!) Rocks can be slick/unsteady if you're climbing so use common sense & watch where you're walking. Would also like to note this place is always very clean.

Absolutely a must go to swim, camp or picnic! What a beautiful area and so well maintained! This state Park is one of the best in the area. The camping spots are manicured to perfection! KUDOS on a great Park!

As a getaway from the city and the heat we stopped at Johnson Shut-In. We had a wonderful time and the water was crystal clear. Social distancing was an issue as the park seemed very crowded. Additionally, we highly highly suggest bringing WATER SHOES! I would be cautious bringing small children as the rocks can be very slippery and the current was a bit strong at times. Overall, the scenery was great and the water was a blast.

The park is nice but parking is limited. You cannot bring any food or drinks into the walking trail or river area. The water is the main attraction but its difficult to swim there. People jump from cliffs and there are huge rocks everywhere. There is a new visitor center there that is extremely nice with a small museum and excellent restrooms.

This is one of MO's most favorite parks so crowds will be a problem , go mon tue. or wed if you can it will still be crowded so go early as you can and enjoy your self . don't even think about not wearing tennis shoes or water shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is one of MO's very best parks we stayed in the campground foe 3 nights with our RV it was $23 per night and the new camp site was beautiful very quiet and privet very clean bathrooms and showers beautifully kept grounds. Elephant rocks State Park is 9 miles away and also great fun and beautiful full of geology , history , and nature these are my favorite Mo Parks!

My boyfriend and I LOVE to come here in the summer! It's perfect on a hot day, you will spend hours here in the water! It's pretty much like a natural water park. We swim, snorkel, jump off rocks, explore and more! Definitely one of our favorite places to go to when we are in Missouri! ***TIP*** BRING WATER SHOES OR TEVAS FOR CLIMBING/JUMPING OFF THE ROCKS! Your feet will thank you later! ***

Awesome place to visit! Very well maintained and great campsites. The pools are perfect for kiddos to play in. Something for everyone.

Amazing natural formations and also a great campsite and tourism center nearby. Definitely a go to spot for anyone here in the area. Do It! You have to Do It!! Have some SMores and look at the milky way, or have a Milky way while observing sMore wildlife. Just Do It!

This is one of my favorite parks in MO! I go there and spend my best time of the summer!

Haha I love this place. Don't take the trail down to the shut ins - take the main paved route. You'll get lost. It sometimes rains too : intermittently. Which is kinda freaky if you're from NJ because we run away from a little rain here. But once you're there it's amazing. MO is the only state here that has shut-ins due to the river. Make sure you follow the trail all the way down and not embark from little makeshift landings because I did that....and I fell. And yeah guys; I had water shoes! Man-made stuff vs the algae on the rocks? Nature wins. You can also cliff jump here which I did; off the tallest part too! It's prohibited and you've got to jump out otherwise you'd hit the edges of the rocks underneath. It's not exactly safe which is why it's prohibited. Don't come here alone. Go with friends. It's a trip you'll remember. You've got to go!

I've never been to a place that so defied my expectations as this park. It's a great place and I'm excited to go back. Just be aware that no amount of photos or internet research can fully prepare you for this thoroughly unique experience. **BRING WATER SHOES** People will tell you that the shut-ins are like natural water slides. Mother Nature's Ozark Water Park! Yes! But no. Imagine Hurricane Harbor without all the safety precautions engineered into the design, without lifeguards, without...soft things. The shut-ins are rock, y'all. HARD. ROCK. It sounds great when you hear about it, it looks fun in pictures, but your jaw will drop when you're faced with it in real life. If I had been under 12, I would have been in absolute heaven. Kids are unfazed by the potential dangers and jump into the rushing water with reckless abandon. As an adult, I looked at the slippery rocks and asked myself, "Do I like my teeth? Do I like my unbroken hips? I do? All right then..." **BRING WATER SHOES** Ultimately, what's so awesome about the shut-ins is the fact that it's so wild, so untouched and yes, so dangerous. The closest park ranger is a few hundred yards away. There's no official supervision whatsoever. Except for a walking trail, man's hand has done nothing to alter the landscape. It's straight up dangerous and you are free to be as reckless as you want. If you are an old lady such as myself, there are some lovely, deep blue pools just past the shut-ins that make for great swimming. You can go through the shut-ins to get there, but that would require you to actually go through the shut-ins. Another way is to climb up the stairway to the top until you find part of the railing that opens into the woods. Climb down the trail and you'll be on the other side of the shut-ins. This is also where people jump off a cliff into the water below. Again, you can be as dangerous as you want. **BRING WATER SHOES** Finally, a comment on the park grounds/newly built structures. This is hands down the NICEST state park I've been to in Missouri. The recently reconstructed facilities are very nice. Except for the bathroom, which stank like urine. But on the other hand, the bathroom had actual running water and toilets, and was NOT a splintered seat perched precariously above a festering hole in the ground, so hey, progress!! **BRING WATER SHOES**...and a picnic.

+ Sober fun? Sober fun! + Natural "waterslides" + Great summertime activities for families At just under 2 hours away from the heart of Saint Louis, Johnson's Shut-Ins is a GEM for summertime fun for kids, adults, and adults who think they are still kids. This is one of those experiences where you can make it as safe or as dangerous as you please. Want safe fun? Wade in the shallow areas away from the cascading rocks. Want to be a dangerbear? Then go exploring and find yourself some slippery slidey rocks that have been shaped into natural slides and go wedge your bottom in for a whirl. More dangerbear fun you say? There are some tall rocks that you can jump off of into some pretty deep pools of water. It's one of those things where you pretend you have no fears of death by cracking your head open and ignore the fact that you can't see the bottom of the pit of water. But it is sooooo good. To jump off a terrifyingly high rock into a questionable but refreshingly cool pool of deep, dark water. This is a great place to go exploring with a group of friends. You could easily spend an entire day here clambering over the rocks and pools of water. Further downstream you'll hit a larger body of open water. Some parts are so deep you can take a leisurely swim. For families, you could easily stay in the shallow areas and keep a close eye on your kids. Just don't let them near the sharp, mossy rocks. Water shoes are definitely recommended as the rocks can be sharp and/or mossy underwater. Flip flops will get lost easily! And don't forget that sunscreen. I saw many a lobster-colored body the afternoon that we went. We went on a Friday afternoon in late May and it was not crowded at all. Can't vouch for the rest of summer, but I'd definitely like to come back before summer is over. TIP: Make sure you watch out for road signs for when to turn as you get near the park as google maps may be unreliable with cell service going in and out around the area. And don't forget the speed limit is a measly 60mph on the way there from STL... *grumble*

Love this place! Water is pretty clear and the park is very well maintained. If you plan on camping here definitely make a reservation well in advance because they book up really fast. You are not allowed to bring disposable drinks or food to the actual swimming area so keep that in mind. Also, no pets allowed. Remember to wear water shoes or some type of shoe that has good treading. The rocks are slippery so it's easy to slip and fall. Over all I really enjoy this place and come to it whenever I can! Highly recommend :)

I really wish Yelp would start doing half stars, because I never know what to rate places. I would want to give it a 3.5, but I'm rounding up because I came during the awkward time when it isn't quite winter and it isn't quite spring. It seems like it'd be much more gorgeous once there was more greenery around. The park is really well maintained and is definitely worth a trip down there. It's easily a full day's adventure if you like hiking and are an outdoorsy person. We spent the majority of the first day hiking on two trails. While there wasn't much greenery, the views of the "mountains" were spectacular and made for some great picture opportunities. There's also a huge area by the river that was a lot of fun to wade through. The nice thing about this park is that there is a huge gradient in terms of how adventurous you want to be. Some of the inclines are especially steep, so you can get a vigorous walk. Others are fairly low, so it's a nice leisurely pace. Even though we came the day after a rainstorm and before spring really hit, we still had a great time. Yeah, we probably didn't get the best experience possible, but it was still fantastic and I had an enjoyable time! Definitely recommend this place for a day trip from STL!

John has come in the same way I cannot is a life and not having any more friends or not being with us and I wanna talk is not one of my best days in my whole week to be honest and I'll let him do that and he wants it but I'll just give it a little more than anything and I'm sure you will get him back in there when I can come home with me some food I cannot even more to do is the same boat and you cannot I cannot even though we have never had anything like this and we cannot we have never had any problems in our lives that you can get the money to make sure you have every other week and I will be able for you to come over and get your kids ready for you to come home and then I'll let ya go back in the morning and I'll talk to you yo

Great campground, staff is superb! Water shoes definitely needed. Need to book reservations six months out if you want to camp here in the summer at all. WARNING: No cell signal, so if you use GPS to navigate to the park or the shut ins, do NOT TRAVEL on Highway O/County road 216. Some GPS systems navigate you this way if you have a default setting of "shortest route." Highway O/county road 216 is a death trap for cars/trailers, because it turns into a gravel road that contains 4-5 concrete culverts that dip sharply down and then back up again with no warning signs. We totaled our 40K camper/trailer on this road. Beware. Take Highway 21 to Highway N, by way of Elephant Rocks.

Campgrounds - too inconsistent with their lots. We stayed in the basic loop and got an ok lot but there were much better ones available so its a good idea to get some info on which lots are best. i may even include the list we came up with later on. The camp store is nice, air conditioned (including the bathrooms which are better than the loot bathrooms) and free wi-fi, but odd hours. I believe it was open from 8am - 11am and then 5pm - 9pm. but wi-fi and bathrooms are available all night and day. Shut-ins park - i think the water level was pretty low but it was fun, especially in the 110 degree weather. Go early/late morning to avoid the crowd and "stupid" people. college kids bust in around noon, at least in the summer. beautiful rock formations and amazing history. you wouldnt even know that some of the deep areas that you think are 20+ feet are closer to 60 feet deep. great places to jump also. definite must see

This was a very cool park with a lot of helpful staff at the visitor's centers and nicely marked trails. I'd previously seen a lot of professional, retouched photos of the shut-ins which made it look bizarrely beautiful so it was a bit of a let-down in real life. I honestly think nearby Elephant Rocks park was more breathtaking for me, personally. They're both great places though. We came to Johnson's Shut-Ins on Memorial Day weekend when Elephant Rocks was extremely crowded, and did not encounter the same crowds here which was very nice. There seem to be a lot of different areas for camping, picnicking, etc, along with gift shops and two nice visitor's centers to check out. We took advantage of a very clean and neat covered picnic area. A lot of people were trying to bring food and/or beverages into the shut-ins and were stopped by park staff. I didn't mind whatsoever as this is a beautiful well-kept State Park and it's nice that it is free of garbage. I wish others could see the benefits of that, too.

Pros: Best state park ever; play on the rocks Cons: Hard to get in As far as I know, this park is now closed since the bursting of the reservoir. However, if things ever get back to normal, this place is a must visit for the outdoors type.

It's a cool state park, with a short walk to get to the swimming area. I guess the 3 stars is because we drove halfway to Arkansas in order to do this, and I was ready to go after about 20 minutes. There was very little wildlife, probably because it was during the day and it was about a zillion degrees outside. Chalk one up for nature being smarter than the people. Overall nice, impressive to see, but a little overrated for the length of trip that I had to take.

Loved it! My family and I stayed for 8 days and had a wonderful experience at the campground, despite 3 days of rain and 90 degree + weather. Excellent shaded and grassy lots (we stayed in a basic lot), great campground store, and polite and helpful staff. The bathrooms were clean and checked regularly. Staff patrolled often. Quiet times were respected. Perfect for families and close to some cool activities!

Sharp rocks and strong currents. Not bad if you don't mind scraps and scratches. Probably won't go again.

Haven't been since the reservoir flood, but this has always been one of my favorite spots in Missouri. Loses a star only because of the omnipresent crowds.

Once upon a time, three 30-ish year olds went on a summer daytime adventure to Johnson's Shut ins. It was AWESOME! We had so much fun laughing at each other slipping on the rocks and jumping off rocks and exploring cool coves and attempting to climb things. We woke up the next day with a few bruises and really sore muscles, so a few recommendations are to wear closed water shoes, swimwear under some quick-dry shorts and top, SUNSCREEN, and the ultra-cool and sleek fanny pack. That's right. One out of three of us wore a fanny pack for car keys, photo ID, sunscreen, granola bars, and a waterproof watch. Two out of three of us brought drawstring bags to carry the same items. I bet you can guess which two adults complained a few times about not knowing what to do with their drawstring bags when they wanted to jump in the water. The other kept her sweet fanny pack clicked at the waist in the water. Boo yah! Those two chose "hipness" over convenience. I recommend going first thing in the morning on a weekday, keep your lunch cooler in the car, wear water shoes, and bring clothes to change into before driving back (that was an uncomfortable ride home).

On June 21st, my husband and I were excited to start a long weekend hiking and camping with our dog Bella. We started over at Taum Sauk Falls and were planning on hiking through to Johnson Shut-ins park. My family used to camp here when I was a child and my husband and I have done several hikes in the area as well. This particular trail was only 14 miles and we planned to take it pretty easy with an overnight off the Ozark Trail. Unfortunately, as the day progressed the temperatures continued to rise and the water sources that we assumed would be along the trail were not running. This wasn't an issue for my husband and myself (as we packed sufficient amounts of drinking water), but for our 80 pound dog, she needed the creek to cool down in throughout the hike. The first few miles were great, minus a 400 pound wild boar chasing our dog down the trail (another story in itself), but as the miles continued, Bella couldn't cool herself down and was looking for every shady spot possible to stop and lie down. If you have ever hiked that portion of the Ozark Trail, you know that a lot of the trail is up on the rocky glades so shade is hard to come by. After taking several small breaks, my husband made the decision that we would have to stop for a good 2 hour break so Bella could recuperate. We found a shady spot right on the trail, laid out a sheet and sat around for close to an hour and a half. While my husband was looking for ticks on Bella (there were an insane amount of ticks out) he rolled her over and that's when we noticed it. Poor Bella was bleeding out of her paws! Each paw had blistered and the padding on her paws had peeled away. It was horrible! We have taken Bella on some serious hikes and run some serious miles as well as exposed her to the heat and nothing like this had ever happened! We knew Bella couldn't walk- she wasn't even lifting her head up - her energy was gone. At this time, I took out my cell phone and somehow had one bar of service. I googled "Johnson Shut-ins Park Ranger" and a number popped right up (thank goodness for Google). I called the number and got through to a lady that connected me with the park ranger on duty, Andrew McCallahan. Luckily, we knew exactly where we were on the trail so through our less than perfect phone connection; I explained this to the ranger. At that point, Ranger McCallahan and two others packed up their four wheelers and began a 2 hour journey to get to us out on the trail. While we waited for the rescue, my husband and I talked about many things ranging from how embarrassing it was to have to get rescued on an easy 14 mile trail to how thankful we were to have them coming because we couldn't carry Bella with 7 miles left to go! The first ranger that found us was Allen! We could hear his four -wheeler and hear him yelling for us. When he finally got to us, his warm smile put us at ease. Unfortunately, our usually hyper dog just laid there and looked at him. Soon Ranger McCallah and another young gentlemen named Garrett came down on another trail. These guys were so kind and really made us feel like we weren't morons for coming out on the trail and calling for help! We loaded up on the four wheelers (yes, our 80 pound dog was on a 4 wheeler) for our 45 minute drive back to the road. With Garret as our trusty trail guide back, we all arrived at the vehicles safely! We then loaded up into a van to head back. The kindness of these rangers didn't stop there... We hadn't reserved a campsite since we were planning on camping off the trail and the Johnson Shut-ins campsite was full for the evening. Allen eased our minds and told us he would open up a special reserved site and make sure we were taken care of for the evening. Additionally, our car was 30 minutes away at the Taum Sauk's Parking lot. As if these guys hadn't already done enough, Ranger McCallahan then offered to drive my husband to the other park to get our car while I stayed at the campsite with Bella. Throughout the remainder of our stay at the park, Allen and Andrew checked on us several times asking how we were and how Bella was doing. When my husband and I asked how much do we owe you for your services, these guys said we didn't owe them anything and all of their help was just part of their job! If this isn't a prime example of why we should have more funding for our state parks, I don't know what is! These wonderful workers went beyond their jobs to ensure my family was safe. These guys never made us feel like we had inconvenienced them in any way and were so kind and helpful. Without them, I am really not sure what we would have done. We are so grateful for their service and dedication to the park system. In the future, if we are ever asked about the Johnson Shut-Ins park rangers, we will always share our very positive story! My husband and I can't say enough good things about the Johnson Shut-ins park rangers and workers! Thank you Andrew, Allen and Garret!!

You'll have a blast at this state park. They have camping so you can stay overnight, and there are lots of big rocks to climb on and play in the water. It's use at your own risk, so watch for the slippery rocks. Tons of fun on warm summer weekends. Sometimes crowded.

If you decide to take young children, put them in life vests. Seriously. Every intelligent parent brought them for their kids. The water is extremely deep in areas and the water rushing through can be very rapid. Also wear river shoes and lots of sunscreen. It was a lot of fun and really beautiful.