Johnson's Shut-Ins SP Rules and Tips
Food, Drinks, Pets and Containers: Food, alcohol, pets, coolers and disposable drink containers are not allowed within the shut-ins recreation area or on the trail to the shut-ins. Visitors should plan ahead and bring reusable water bottles. Pets are allowed in most other outdoor areas of the park, but owners must comply with Missouri State Parks' pet rules. Pets should not be left unattended or in vehicles.
Shut-Ins Access: The southern area of the park containing the shut-ins is considered a limited-access area. The shut-ins parking area has a 100-car capacity for day-use visitors. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the parking lot normally reaches capacity by 10 a.m. The northern part of the day-use area remains available even when the shut-ins parking area has filled to capacity. When the river discharge reaches 75 cubic feet per second, access to the shut-ins is closed to protect visitors.
Restricted Areas: Any person found within an area signed as restricted area will receive a fine of up to $500 and be ejected from the park.
Fishing: Fishing is permitted only in waters without swimmers.
For More Information: If you have any questions, please call the park office at 573-546-2450. To see a complete list of closures and advisories, please visit our Park and Site Status Map.
Park History - Johnson's Shut-Ins
The rugged terrain and rushing rivers of the St. Francois Mountains once attracted Osage hunters, but did not appeal to most settlers from the East. They often preferred to settle first in the flatter, more fertile Mississippi and Missouri River valleys.
The Johnston family was among the early Scots-Irish settlers in this area that came west from the hilly countryside of Appalachia in search of better land. Here they found fertile valleys, vast uncut forests and plenty of room for homesteading. By 1829, they had established a farm. Three generations of Johnston (the “t” was later dropped) families once worked this land and 36 members of the family are buried in the small cemetery in the park. By 1900, many of the families that formed the self-sufficient community of Monterey moved away. Eventually, St. Louis resident Joseph Desloge bought much of the land, donating it for a state park in 1955.
In December 2005, the main use area in the East Fork of the Black River valley was changed dramatically. The nearby Taum Sauk Reservoir, a hydroelectric power station, breached, sending 1.3 billion gallons of water down Proffit Mountain. The water, carrying tons of trees, debris and boulders, scoured the mountainside and destroyed or extensively damaged facilities in the park, including the campground. It also altered the landscape of the valley and the East Fork of the Black River in the park. This event changed the park forever and has become part of the history of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. This area of the park has been redeveloped and many of the features and facilities in the main day-use area are the result of this