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Amidon Memorial Conservation Area

and Castor River Shut-ins, also known as Pink Rock

There are several areas in Missouri to see shut-ins. The Missouri Department of Conservation describes them as "Shut-ins typically occur in Missouri where streams flow through softer sedimentary bedrock materials such as dolomite or sandstone and then encounter the more resistant igneous rock. The rocky slopes and outcrops above the Castor River support igneous glade natural communities."

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Most people head to Amidon for Castor River Shut-ins, also known as Pink Rock. I have been guilty of doing the very same. However, this time we decided to explore the entire Conservation Area. There is a beautifully maintained camping area across from a huge wildflower field. It was so quiet and peaceful. I really wanted to set up camp and bring my Missouri Wildflower book to stroll around. However, I think the areas is mainly for hunters. A car might make it, but I would not guarantee it for you and we were glad to have our four-wheel drive on some of those hills.

 

This is the part of the map to the camping area above. There are three parking lots. If you miss the big hill to the left to turn down off of County Road 248, you will come to private property and have to turn around (as you can see in my video above.) Note the big white area on the above map next to the campsite. This is a huge wildflower or glades field. It was beautiful!

There is a second place to access the Current River at Amidon Memorial Conservation Area. It is not as exciting, but it is a quieter place to sit for a while. It is steps away from a parking area. To reach the parking area is a bit tricky.

The photo above is at the parking lot under the purple box. To get to it by car, you have to drive County Road HH to County Road 298. We did drive out on 298 and there were at least three low water areas with water which would be intimidating for someone in a vehicle and we were there the very end of August. It would be worse in the Spring. You can also reach it from County Road 208, but the water would need to be low to cross the Current River. We did cross it in our 4-wheel drive truck. However, you could stop at the water and park on the road if you thought it would not impede traffic. There was a truck pulled onto the gravel banks of the river on that side while we were there. From this parking lot is a trail. We were told it goes upwards into a mountain area. As seen on this map, it eventually takes you to another parking lot down County Road 298.

 

I believe the parking lot under the green box is Old Hahns Mills trail. We did park there, but did not hike when a couple met us and said they had just hiked all over the area and that there were no water features.

 

In the above image the part of the Cedar Glade Trail marked in purple is the part we explored in our video above. This is traditionally all that people explore of the well-known Castor River Shut-ins, also known as Pink Rock. You can walk down the shut-ins (in the water of course) quite a distance further than we did or you can take the trail. Some day I need to go back and hike the rest of it myself.

The shut-ins are often crowded. However, if you go early enough or off season you have a better chance of viewing the area in peace and quiet. All the huge rocks are a great set up for water features as the water rushes past them.

What most people from Cape Girardeau County do not realize is that Castor River Shut-ins is a natural area within Amidon Memorial Conservation Area and that there is so much more to the area than the amazing shut-ins. To further confuse things, many locals call the shut-ins "pink rock." Having three names for one location can be confusing.

This is the helpful map that I created for those traveling because GPS will take you to the wrong place. Our GPS coming from Cape Girardeau took us up the green line on HH to 928. While we were there, some unfortunate folks from out of the area had also been taken to that location. There are several dips in the road covered by a stream of water on 928 which are intimidating, but in the end, you have to cross Castor River itself to get to Caster River Shut-ins. They were not able to do so in their vehicle (we did in our 4-wheel drive truck) and had to make the trip all the way back down HH to 72 and travel towards Fredericktown. What an ordeal they went through! So plan before you go! Look at the maps.

 

My tip is to take Madison County Road 208 which is marked in purple. No GPS takes you this way and I am not sure why! It is the straightest route, especially if you are coming from Cape Girardeau County. I have to laugh sometimes when I drive out of Cape Girardeau, through Jackson, and through Millersville, and all the way to Fredericktown and beyond into Iron County and never turn off the same road! Ah! The directions are so easy! Just for fun, you will see turning to the left on 208 takes you directly to the square in downtown Fredricktown, although the road is gravel, so taking Highway 72 and making a left to the square like most people do is the better road. Turning right on Highway 208 is also mostly gravel road, but it is flat and an easy travel. When you get to where the purple and green lines meet on this map, make a left onto County Road 253 to find the main parking lot for Castor River Shut-ins.

 

The main sign that can be seen on Highway 72, and the other way GPS will take you, is up Highway J and down Highway W, where it meets with Highway 208, making a left onto 208. Thereafter, turn left onto County Road 253. As you can see, coming from Cape Girardeau County this is an unnecessary longer distance.

 

September 1, 2013, Labor Day

These are a few photos that I took in 2013. We took our chairs and wallowed in the river with the dogs. The dogs did not like it too much!

This is looking upstream. I need to walk up that way one day.

Note that the rock is pink. There is a phrase "pink rock" that is used as a nickname for Castor River Shutins.

I wonder if that is the sunrise or the sunset.

August 14, 2001

Here are a few photos from when we brought our young sons here in 2001.

 

 

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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