![]() ![]() This means a brand new (13 year or less) park with a new visitor center and a state of the art, clean, well laid out camping area. The utility company's insurance obviously had to contribute a lot to the rebuilding. The park itself has been forever marked by a catastrophe that happened in 2005 - a reservoir broke and the lake flowed down the mountain in a tsunami which washed away the old park. There is plenty of parking and a bathhouse with lockers and store/canteen available at the entrance to the river swimming area. This is a fun place to play in the river, there are little children here but caution would be advised in the falls area, and the water in the swimming hole drops off quickly to "over-your head" when you get away from the rocks. I would recommend this for adults and older children who swim well and can be under loose supervision safely. From the second overlook, there is a set of stairs that takes you up the mountain face to a point above the "swimming hole" where you can go down a steep dirt path to the water - this path can also be reached from a trail beyond it. The water flow is gentle and spread out usually which allows the able bodied to climb around in the rocks and down the falls like a natural stairway. If you go down the stair above the falls you can climb down into the rock area. There are at least three access points to the river - one leading to a flat area above the falls with a short stairway down the second one leading to the river right above the falls.both of these are reached by a handicapped accessible trail to the overlooks ( though the river is not directly handicapped accessible). But I have to say, that moonlit view of one of Missouri’s natural treasures, will always be a treasure in my mind.This park is built around mountain scenery and a unique section of the Black River where the stream flows over a falls of right angled rock pieces into a natural swimming hole. It’s a good thing – putting safety first. Also, along that concrete path, there are a number of gates where areas, including the shut-ins, can be closed off. ![]() They told us from their campsite to the bike rack at the “entrance” to the shut-ins was 3.74 miles. There is a paved, concrete trail from the campground to the day use area and then onto the shut-ins area. It’s a beautiful campground with gravel walking trails throughout the five loops. The campground has been moved out of the valley and is far removed from the shut-ins area. I have to think we weren’t the only campers who had this idea. Then we saw the white rushing water lit up by the moonlight under a clear night sky. First, we heard the water rushing over the rocks. I am not a rule breaker and while going to the shut-ins after dark was prohibited, I went along with the group. Another night, after dark, we all walked down to the shut-ins. One night, we all took blankets or sleeping bags, and laid down in the empty parking lot and looked up at the stars. It was the campground, then a parking lot, and then a trail which led down into the shut-ins area. I remember the layout of the park at the time. My twin boys, Zachary and Michael, were 13, and we were there with a group of families. Only three years before the breach, we camped there. Had the breach occurred during camping season, this disaster would have been so much more tragic. Only the park ranger, his wife and children were on the grounds, and amazingly, all survived. When the reservoir broke in 2005, in happened in December, so the campground was empty. But before I write the post about all the activities we enjoyed there, I just have to reflect a bit on how it was and how it is now. This was our first time to visit the park since it reopened in 2009. For those from Missouri and those who are not, do you remember?ĭan and I have recently returned from Johnson Shut-Ins state park, our last camping trip of 2020. So, for me, it was personal, and I remember it well. I’ve lived in Missouri my whole life, and I had visited Johnson Shut-Ins growing up and grown up. I’m talking about the breach of the Taum Sauk Mountain reservoir which destroyed Johnson Shut-Ins, a Missouri state park. It happened in 2005, and for awhile it was called the worst state park disaster in our nation’s history. ![]() On the Campground to Visitor Center Trail ![]()
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