Visitor Center - Black River Center

at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

exterior of the visitor centerAccessible Symbol

restroom symbol

 

The Black River Center is a great place to stop on your way into the park. You can watch videos on "A Billion and a Half Years in a Nutshell," "The Power of Water," "Rebuilding Johnson's Shut-Ins," prescribed burns or wild hogs. Interactive exhibits include "Songs of the Shut-Ins Song Birds" and "The Johnston Family History." You can also see exhibits explaining "Water Life of the River," "How the Shut-Ins was Formed," "Glade Life" and "Landscape of Voices."

A conference room within the Black River Center can be rented for $150 for a full day or $75 for a half day

interior exhibits inside the visitor center interior exhibits inside the visitor center interior exhibits inside the visitor center

 

Hours

April through October (on-season)

  • April
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
  • May through Wednesday before Memorial Day
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • Thursday before Memorial Day through Labor Day
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • Tuesday after Labor Day through September
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • October
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

November through March (off-season)

  • Closed

Coordinates

37.548056, -90.847500

Park Hours

For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, click here to visit our Park and Site Status Map.


On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Valley Day-Use Area

The main park gates open and close at these times.

  • March 1 through the Wednesday before Memorial Day
    8 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily
  • Thursday before Memorial Day through Labor Day
    8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily
  • Day after Labor Day through Oct. 31
    8 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily
  • November through February
    8 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily

Park Office hours

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

Closed Saturday and Sunday

On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day. 

Store - Campground hours

April 1 through the Thursday before Memorial Day
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday
12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
8 a.m. to noon Sunday
Closed Monday through Thursday
When the store is closed, firewood may be purchased with only cash or check near the campground store.

Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day
8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily

Tuesday after Labor Day through Oct. 31
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday
12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
8 a.m. to noon Sunday
Closed Monday through Thursday

November through March
Closed – Firewood may be purchased with only cash or check near the campground store.

Store - River hours

April 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Closed Monday through Thursday

Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily

Day after Labor Day through Oct. 31
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Closed Monday through Friday

Nov. 1 through March 31
Closed

Visitor Center - Black River Center hours

April through October (on-season)

  • April
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
  • May through Wednesday before Memorial Day
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • Thursday before Memorial Day through Labor Day
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • Tuesday after Labor Day through September
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
  • October
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

November through March (off-season)

  • Closed

Gatehouse - Day-Use Area hours

Thursday before Memorial Day through Labor Day 
Hours determined by park superintendent