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4.5
78 votes

Rocky Falls Shut-in

Eminence, Missouri USA

Free
Free to Visit
  • Independent
  • Not Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
  • No Wifi
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“where dolomite meets rhyolite”

Few places in the Ozarks provide a glimpse of earth’s turbulent past as well as Rocky Falls. The reddish-brown rock you see here is rhyolite porphyry. It formed as molten rock deep within the earth and flowed onto the surface about 1.5 billion years ago. At the time, no living thing existed to see the awesome flow of glowing hot lava slowly advancing over the barren landscape. Normally, a stream eroding softer dolomite, a type of limestone, would make a wider valley for itself. Since the rhyolite is harder, the stream tends to stay within whatever cracks that it finds, deepening them only a little by erosion. Thus a “shut in” is formed where the harder rock has “shut in” the stream. Farther downstream, past the constricting rhyolite, the stream valley widens once again. This allows the stream to expand into a pool. Rocky Falls can be visited year round. It is located on Route NN, off of Route H east of Eminence and Winona. It has a walking trail, bathrooms, picnic tables and fire grills.

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Reviewed by
Passepartout

  • 171 Reviews
  • 35 Helpful
October 22, 2023
Rated 4.0

Very remote, & don't count on GPS to get you there. But a beautiful & surprisingly popular swimmin' hole.

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Reviewed by
HelenLaunhardt

  • 14 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
July 06, 2020
Rated 5.0

We love this little hidden gem! Great swimming hole, perfect for young children but also the falls which provides beauty and fun for older folks. Pit toilets in the parking lot.

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Reviewed by
Anna Hider

  • Blogger
  • 1,414 Reviews
  • 636 Helpful
May 17, 2019
Rated 5.0

You can climb up the falls and swim in the calm water below them. There’s some hiking. The beach is very rocky. Bring an inner tube to float. Really basic pit toilet setup. Apparently gets very crowded in summer so get here early!

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Reviewed by
ma2cjnju

  • 2 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
October 27, 2018
Rated 5.0

Picnic area, restrooms, hiking trails beautiful scenery and waterfall. Short walk to falls from the parking area. Trails offer an opportunity to explore the top of the falls as well.

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Rocky Falls Shut-in

Eminence, Missouri
USA
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    Parking
  • Unknown
    Pets Allowed
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    Restrooms
  • Unavailable
    Wifi
  • Unavailable
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
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