Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park

The East Fork of the Black River squeezes through hard volcanic rock here, forming chutes, slides, and pools that make a natural water park. The 9,400-acre park, assembled largely by Joseph Desloge and opened in 1955, also has a campground, cabins, stores, hiking trails, and the Black River Center. In December 2005 the Taum Sauk reservoir on a neighboring mountain failed and flooded the park, destroying the campground; the shut-ins reopened in 2009 and a new campground in 2010, and the scour trail now crosses the boulder field the flood left. In July 2026 the river hit the highest flow in the park’s history. The day-use area and campground reopened that month, but some trails, cabins, and the north day-use area stayed closed — check status before you go.