Francois Mountains are composed of intrusive igneous rocks, specifically granite and rhyolite. Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of magma or lava and are primarily classified into two categories: intrusive (formed inside the Earth) and extrusive (formed outside the Earth). The volcanic and erosional activity that shaped the landscape over time resulted in unique geological features, such as Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. These mountains are primarily made up of Precambrian igneous rocks, which are around 1.4 billion years old. Francois Mountains, part of the larger Ozark Plateau, are an ancient mountain range located in the southeastern region of Missouri. When planning a trip to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, prepare to be amazed by the rich history, breathtaking scenery, and endless opportunities for adventure. These shut-ins provide visitors with a chance to immerse themselves in Mother Nature’s hydraulics, as they play in the shallows or shoot through the water-filled passages. With its intriguing geological features that span over 1.4 billion years and an array of outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and horseback riding, the park is a must-see destination for nature enthusiasts.Īt the heart of the park, you will find the renowned shut-ins, where the East Fork of the Black River flows through ancient volcanic rock formations, creating natural water chutes and pools. What a nice activity to enjoy together and connect the generations.Nestled in the beautiful wilderness of Middle Brook, Missouri, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park offers a unique and exciting outdoor experience for visitors of all ages. Later, they showed us their drawings which were excellent. While sitting here, we saw a young girl with her grandmother walk in, both carrying sketchbooks. After our hike, we enjoyed this area to eat lunch and to play some Scrabble. Right off the parking lot, there are a number of picnic tables among the boulders. There are a couple of alternate paths which ensures the path is wheelchair accessible. The walk through the elephant rocks is a paved trail which is about one mile long. However, we were able to practice social distancing without any issues. We visited this Missouri state park on a Wednesday, and we were surprised at the number of cars in the parking lot. This day-use state park is about 14 miles from Johnson Shut-Ins, and we visited there on our best weather day. There are also some nice displays out front. The Visitor Center is on the bottom floor of the building. We also enjoyed looking at the displays in the Visitor Center, including some short videos. The nice thing is the path goes under the state highway, so no worries about crossing the sometimes busy road. One day, we walked the concrete path from the campground to the Visitor Center. Good thing they didn’t hit their heads! My pictures don’t do the justice to the beauty of the area, but here are just a few to give you an idea. We saw two people slip on the rocks while walking just a bit into the water. Water shoes are a must along with a ton of caution. In the summer, this state park can become very crowded as people love playing in, what is commonly called, nature’s water park. We enjoyed the fall colors during our visit, a time when the park is a bit more peaceful. There is a second store located here, and in front is a beautiful stone mural depicting nature in the Ozarks. We felt it too far to walk, so we drove to the shut-ins area parking lot and walked in from there. However, it is 3.74 miles to the “entrance” to the shut-ins area, and then it is a small hike to the shut-ins. There is a concrete path from the campground to the shut-ins. The main draw of the park is the shut-ins area. Next to the store is a very nice laundry facility. There is a campground store which was open only on weekends during our fall stay. There is no wi-fi or over the air tv channels available, so we brought some DVDs for nightly entertainment. There is a gravel trail which runs all through the campground which is great for walking and provides an easy access to the campground’s facilities. There are a number of pull through sites although, we didn’t have one. We stayed in Loop 2, the loop with full hook up sites. There are 5 campground loops at Johnson Shut-Ins, a Missouri state park.
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