• Shop Now
  • Visit R7 Barn
  • R7 Downtown
  • The R7 Story
  • R7 Event Design
  • Farm Life Festival
  • Coaching + Courses
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

R7 Missouri Getaway Guide

in Family, Travel on 06/07/22

So many of you asked for the location of our quick trip to Missouri last week that I put together a guide for our favorite adventures in Missouri State Parks to help you pull together a fun and affordable family trip to the tropical Midwest!

Elephant Rocks State Park is a perfect way to start your day! For the adventurous you can scramble up the large boulders and spend the morning climbing something just your size! For those looking for a leisurely stroll there is a paved, shady path that circles all the way around the rocks. You can meet your people at the top and no one will ever have to know who climbed and who strolled.

Explore to find some beautiful quarry views, keep an eye out for snakes and take the time to read the signs and history of how Elephant Rocks came to be! Elephant Rocks has some great shady areas for a picnic or head up the road to Caledonia for some lunch and a MUST see candy & ice cream shop at the Old Village Mercantile.

After a morning hike and a sweet tooth fix, we are usually hot and sweaty and ready for the most spectacular afternoon at Johnson Shut-Ins. The only way to describe this place is nature’s best waterpark! From jumping to sliding, rushing water and swimming this is truly a one of a kind place.

Here’s a few things we’ve learned in returning year after year:

If adventure and jumping and rocks make you nervous then stay up on the boardwalk and enjoy the view. If you are ready to splash and climb then here’s the scoop! There are essentially 3 areas for swimming at the Shut-Ins.

  • The first access point is shallow, clear water: a great place for relaxing, taking in the view and swimming with littles.
  • The second access point is where the adventure begins and I suggest going slow and working your way down to the swimming area. There will be veterans and locals to watch so that you can see where to jump and slide.
  • The third swimming area is accessed on the far side of the main swimming area. You can swim back further to a bigger deeper swimming hole. We didn’t know of this area when the kids were little, but it is now our favorite place to spend the day.

An entire day spent at the Shut-Ins can be a bit much so we usually plan to go for 3-4 hours at a time. The trail from the parking lot to swimming area is a nice trek so we usually take nothing but a waterproof case for a phone and keys. Water shoes or tennis shoes are an absolute must! We have snacks and food back in the parking lot for taking a break or to greet us after a long afternoon of splashing and climbing. For the first time I took a float with me this year and that was a wonderful way to take in the view! (However I didn’t blow it up until after my climb back to the furthest swimming hole…)

No Missouri adventure is complete without a float trip down a clear river! There are many to choose from! The Meramac and Current Rivers are always a favorite and we’ve done a couple now on the Black River as well. The #1 key to a fun Missouri float trip is to ask multiple people how much of the river stretch you are considering is floatable vs. walkable. The water is clear because of the rocky bottom and that’s a hike you may not want to make in your bare feet and swimsuit so check the water levels with several people to see if you get the same answer and again — water shoes or old tennis shoes are a must!

Most recently we did a new stretch of the river by starting at K Bridge. This area of the river itself could make for a fun Missouri style beach day! Just south of the bridge is an access point they call “Manhole.” It took some searching to find it, but it is public property and you’ll want a 4WD to get back there. We parked on the riverbank and then took a car back to K Bridge. We aired up the floaties and found it to be a perfect half day float with a surprise swimming hole that was 20+ feet deep and a nice rock for jumping into the crystal water below.

Other features in the area are endless. I enjoy antiquing and picking in Caledonia and Farmington. We enjoy off roading at St Joe’s State Park. Excellent hiking at Johnson Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain. Poplar Bluff has beautiful rivers and Big Spring is absolutely breath taking. Fishing galore and winding roads with beautiful views. Just set out on an adventure and you’ll find one!

About Tenneil

« Plan your #R7RoadTrip
R7 barn Fall Premier »

Be the first to know!

Join our email list of R7 insiders to stay up to date on the latest events & sales.

Thank you,
Cowboy & Tenneil

SHOP FULL R7 COLLECTION NOW
Did you miss our spring opening? Not to worry! We Did you miss our spring opening? Not to worry! We have spring hours for you to make that #R7RoadTrip!
Today is the day!! We still have tulips 🌷 🌷🌷
Open 1-4pm on Sunday.
I think I had more fun today than any spring openi I think I had more fun today than any spring opening before! 🌷 Something about tulips, friends and coffee winning over the weather...

So thankful for all of you who came out ❤️🌷❤️

If we missed you -- good news! Open 1-4 Sunday.

#springtulips #iowaspring #springsnow #iowabarn #iowasmallbusiness #iowaentrepreneurs #iowacity #quadcities #barnshopping
2 more sleeps until we get to welcome you back to 2 more sleeps until we get to welcome you back to the barn and say HELLO Spring!!!!!
We are glad YOU are here! We are a family blended We are glad YOU are here! We are a family blended by grace and a whole lotta grit too. We needed a family name to share and R7 became the nickname for our family and our acreage. We love the underdog, the overlooked and we are passionate about second chances. 

From our tiny town of GrandView IA we share all things “Found. Reclaimed. Loved.”

You can follow along our blog (R7Reclaimed.com) 
Shop our website (ShopR7.com)

Visit us at our reclaimed barn in GrandView. 
(337 Cemetery Ln, GrandView IA)

Thanks for following along with us and we hope you feel like part of the bigger R7 family and know that you too are welcome on the journey of “Found. Reclaimed. Loved.”

And yes we look forward to updating this picture in May now that the youngest is the tallest!
Pencil us into your calendar and send that calenda Pencil us into your calendar and send that calendar invite to your people!! We are ready for SPRING at the BARN!!
We are sweeping out the barn so we can welcome you We are sweeping out the barn so we can welcome you back to celebrate spring this weekend!! Open Saturday 9-3. Sip coffee from JT's Sips and take cinnamon rolls home for your people!
These are calling my name! Do you see the potentia These are calling my name! Do you see the potential too?! How would you use them?
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · glam theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Glam Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Shop Now
  • Visit R7 Barn
  • R7 Downtown
  • The R7 Story
  • R7 Event Design
  • Farm Life Festival
  • Coaching + Courses