Majestic pines, huge rock boulders creating shut-ins, and rapids greet you at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area. In the spring when the water is high this area is known for its whitewater kayaking competitions.

Starting the Hike

The Tiemann Shut-Ins Trail is a one-mile handicap accessible trail that ends at the Tiemann Shut-Ins on the St. Francis River.

The trail is an easy walk through woods that includes towering pines. It has switchbacks and people have made cut-throughs, just FYI.

If you are wanting to spend some time on an easy trail through the woods then this is the trail for you.

I quickly walked down it then came to the Cat’s Paw Overlook. Here you can walk along the three-mile Turkey Creek Trail to your left to Silver Mines Conservation Area, six miles round trip, or you can take the trail to your right to the boat launch and trailhead. I discussed Silver Mines in a previous blog entry and it includes more shut-ins and a mine.

Tiemann Shut-Ins

I instead headed directly down to the river to the Tiemann Shut-Ins below. This began the real adventure. I had bouldered through large rocks before at Johnson Shut-ins State Park so I was well-versed now of getting around. The water level here was low so I could easily stay out of it.

This area was worth exploring. Lots of rapids and different colored boulders everywhere, light pink, dark black or granite gray.

Shut-In Wildlife

It was worth checking out the river life. Potholes in the rocks were where little tadpoles lived. Small fish moved about in little ponds in-between the rocks. The area was filled with crawdads here and there.

I saw a huge spider crawling along a black rock near a small rapid and was using my camera phone to gain a closeup. Ever closer I came to it until I saw a long narrow reptilian body without a face. It was a snake. I jumped back I never saw its head just a long body. I am not sure how long it was and I didn’t want to find out. So I backed up slowly and headed away through the boulders.

My heart was pumping, but I still wanted to jump around the boulders so I took up talking to myself hoping my jibber-jabber would shake out any more of his friends.

As I jumped around on the rocks and taking photos of cascades around me I began to see an opening in a field ahead of me. This was my destination now. David, I, and Andrew had stopped here once before so I recognized where I was at. Then the water level was high and you couldn’t get into the boulder field.

It was a workout to go through the boulders to make my way to the distant pebble beach, but was jumping around them.

Finding My Way Back to Tiemann Shut-In Trail

I saw a side trail that led along the river but that didn’t feel like the Turkey Creek Trail to get back to the Tiemann Shut-In Trail. So I walked up the narrow path that leads to a shelter and then I saw the Turkey Creek Trail. If I had more energy I would have taken the trail to the left to the boat launch but I was ready to head back home.

I went right and through woods. This walk again led through rocks and cliffs. I stopped for a moment at another lookout with a bench with views of the river below and took one less grand view of the shut-ins before reaching Cat’s Paw Lookout.

The hike back up was easy now. I smelled the pine trees and relaxed. A salamander ran across the trail in front of me darting off through the rocks.

Then I came across some tennis shoes. I had spotted them before. The shoes were relatively new and I wondered why they were left. Strange.

Back at the trailhead, I was tired I had walked the mile down to the river then did probably a mile back and forth along with it with another mile back. I ate a quick lunch before heading back home. Another hiking day under my belt.

Swimming here

When we stopped here the first time I let Andrew wade in the clear water of the small pebble and sand beach not letting him go very far since the water was higher that day. If you wade here be careful of the rapids.

David found a crayfish. I spotted some small fish darting about and then we looked for freshwater clamshells.

We spent about an hour wading around the water. The shut-ins were in high water this day, best to walk among them when the water is lower and easier to get around.

Final Thought

Johnson Shut-Ins has an area like this, but the nice part about here I was the only person in the rocks. This did allow for more snakes, but it was nice to be alone in nature.

Details

Drive: I drove down Highway 67 south from St. Louis and got off at the exit for Highway 72 heading west and looked for the sign for the conservation area and Road 9534 on my left just past Highway K on my right on Highway 72. Once you enter the park on this road the first parking is for Tiemann Shut-Ins trail on you right. The second right turn-off is for the picnic area along the river and connection to the Turkey Creek Trail. The drive to your left leads to a boat ramp

Hours: 4 am – 10 pm

Admission: Free

Address: Ironton, MO 63650

MORE DAD HIKES

Silver Mines Recreation Area

A mineshaft and a cascading river rushing through the remains of a stone cut dam are what awaits you at Silver Mines Recreation Area.

Sunflowers and Ferry Rides

Our family adventure included fields of golden sunflowers and a Mississippi River ferry ride.

Illinois Mississippi River Bluffs

My journey today was to explore two trails along the bluffs on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River just south of St. Louis.

Horseshoe Lake State Park

Walking among the green stalks of a cornfield and admiring the lakeside flowers were part of our adventure on Walker’s Island at Horseshoe Lake State Park.

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park with its huge gray boulders and splashing water slide like rapids is a hiking and swimming destination.

Dad Hikes is a new feature on my blog. Many times I will do these hikes alone to learn the lay of the land before we do it as a family. Feel free to share suggestions for hikes to do. Also, share any questions you might have on the hikes!