Updated July 2026
Castor River Shut-Ins
A rhyolite shut-in where the Castor River rushes and cascades through Missouri's only pink granite boulders, located in the 1,630-acre Amidon Memorial Conservation Area near Fredericktown. A short trail leads to the shut-ins from the parking area.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Missouri Department of Conservation for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
No measured height is on record for Castor River Shut-Ins in the land-manager and survey sources this inventory draws on. We list it without a height rather than estimating one.
The Castor River Shut-Ins Loop Trail reaches it about 1 miles (loop), rated easy. The nearest town is Fredericktown. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Missouri Department of Conservation for closures and current conditions.
Spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Missouri waterfalls
- Grand Falls · 12 ft
- Hickory Canyons Falls · 40 ft
- Klepzig Mill Shut-Ins
- Mina Sauk Falls · 132 ft
- Prairie Hollow Gorge Falls
- Rocky Falls · 40 ft
Sources
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