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It is organized by trail, so that it will be easy for people to find information.
Please read our usage notes before starting. You can read reviews without joining the forum, but you have to join if you want to post. Click here to register.
Castor River Shut-Ins Natural Area
Posted by: ladyalite (IP Logged)
Date: October 29, 2005 09:46PM
Distance: 1 1/2 miles
Official Site: [www.conservation.state.mo.us]
My Photos: [www.mohiking.com]
Today I went to 2 beautiful places!
I went to Castor River Shut ins and Millstream Gardens ((Tiemann Shut-Ins).
I did these 2 as a combo because A) Castor River Shut ins is only 1 ˝ trail and
they are generally in the same location, off the same road (72). I wanted to make the 2 hour drive count. I would say it was worth it. All I can say is wow.
Went to Castor River Shut ins at Amidon Conservation Area first. This is a 1 ˝ mile trail. There were 2 cars in the parking lot. After about a 5 minute walk through the woods and over a little bridge, you come to the shuts. For description, see photos that will be on Nicks site one day soon. A lot of rocks in this shut ins were pretty high, with a bluff on the other side, lending it a truly “shut in” feel. A book I have says that this is Missouris only pink granite shut ins.
This place was remote and silent. I didn’t even hear birds! But you can hear the gurgling stream.. All I can say is the place was perfect. I had a deep blue sky and a cool morning. The rocks looked super cool to clime on. The water was crystal clear. The tall dark pines and autumn colored trees scattered against the craggy bluff were gorgeous. The air was tinged with the fragrant smell of smoke from far off fire of leaves or wood. I haven’t smelled that smell for a long time and it was heavenly.
Just when I decided the other 2 cars might belong to hunters, I did run into a few other folks that were out there with cameras, as was I. My dog was a natural as he ran up on big rocks so I could take his photo.
In the book “60 Hikes in 60 Miles” (for St. Louis), the author said he was unable to find the loop trail that goes back to the parking lot. I found it just fine. They may have marked it better since the book was published. You can find the trail by just following the path along the shut ins. It is marked with white squares with a picture of a hiker.
The loop trail was also quite nice. It takes you up to a glade area. For a while, you have glades on one side, and bluff view on the other. Very nice. Then it goes into the woods and over not one, but a total of 3 cute little wooden bridges before depositing you back in the field across from the parking lot.
Edited 3 times. Last edit at 10/30/05 12:53PM by Nick Kasoff.
Official Site: [www.conservation.state.mo.us]
My Photos: [www.mohiking.com]
Today I went to 2 beautiful places!
I went to Castor River Shut ins and Millstream Gardens ((Tiemann Shut-Ins).
I did these 2 as a combo because A) Castor River Shut ins is only 1 ˝ trail and
they are generally in the same location, off the same road (72). I wanted to make the 2 hour drive count. I would say it was worth it. All I can say is wow.
Went to Castor River Shut ins at Amidon Conservation Area first. This is a 1 ˝ mile trail. There were 2 cars in the parking lot. After about a 5 minute walk through the woods and over a little bridge, you come to the shuts. For description, see photos that will be on Nicks site one day soon. A lot of rocks in this shut ins were pretty high, with a bluff on the other side, lending it a truly “shut in” feel. A book I have says that this is Missouris only pink granite shut ins.
This place was remote and silent. I didn’t even hear birds! But you can hear the gurgling stream.. All I can say is the place was perfect. I had a deep blue sky and a cool morning. The rocks looked super cool to clime on. The water was crystal clear. The tall dark pines and autumn colored trees scattered against the craggy bluff were gorgeous. The air was tinged with the fragrant smell of smoke from far off fire of leaves or wood. I haven’t smelled that smell for a long time and it was heavenly.
Just when I decided the other 2 cars might belong to hunters, I did run into a few other folks that were out there with cameras, as was I. My dog was a natural as he ran up on big rocks so I could take his photo.
In the book “60 Hikes in 60 Miles” (for St. Louis), the author said he was unable to find the loop trail that goes back to the parking lot. I found it just fine. They may have marked it better since the book was published. You can find the trail by just following the path along the shut ins. It is marked with white squares with a picture of a hiker.
The loop trail was also quite nice. It takes you up to a glade area. For a while, you have glades on one side, and bluff view on the other. Very nice. Then it goes into the woods and over not one, but a total of 3 cute little wooden bridges before depositing you back in the field across from the parking lot.
Edited 3 times. Last edit at 10/30/05 12:53PM by Nick Kasoff.
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