Elephant-shaped boulders on a bedrock dome and ruins of an engine house combine for a day of exploration at Elephant Rocks State Park.

Geological History

The formation of these geological features began during the Precambrian era about 1.5 billion years ago.

Molten rock called magma accumulated deep below the earth’s surface. The magma slowly cooled, forming red granite rock.

As the weight of the overlying rock was removed by erosion, horizontal and vertical cracks developed, fracturing the massive granite into huge, angular blocks.

Water permeated down through the fractures, disintegrating the adjacent granite, and rounded the edges and corners of the blocks while still underground.

Erosion caused the rocks to be exposed to the surface and rainwater, freezing and thawing continue to modify the shapes today.

Cultural History

Quarries

Starting in 1869, red granite rock was mined here and some of it was used for the Eads Bridge crossing the Mississippi River in St. Louis.

Former Quarries are in the front and back areas of the park.

Railroad Connection

A spur to the Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad transported the granite blocks. The ruins of an old engine house are along the Engine House Ruins Trail.

Hiking Here

The main trail here is the Braille Trail, which is a mile loop with spurs and is mostly level and paved. It is specifically designed for people with visual and physical disabilities. We began our walk going to the right and passing by ever-larger boulders.

Rock Features

Metal-plated signs along the trail point out features to look for with the first one describing the plant life on the rocks. Papery plants that are a lime green color are lichen and the darker green velvety-textured plants are mosses. These plants mostly grow on rock surfaces in sunny areas and help to break down the rocks.

Bench Break

On a side trail, we came across a natural bench in front of a pile of huge grey and pink rocks. Here we took a break and some photos.  

Heading to the Engine House

We veered away from the Braille Trail and took the .4 mile Engine House Ruins Trail, which connects back to the Braille Trail after passing by quarries.

Here you see the dark pink rock structure of the Engine House.

I picked up my son Andrew who wanted to enter through the open window into the center of the building.

Metal railroad tracks still end at the building. A bench was at the back of the structure. We followed the railroad tracks until they disappeared into trees and plants. It is amazing how the forest is taking it back.

Hiking Past the First Quarry

We’ve never been to the quarry way in the back before, but it was well worth the effort. You first come to a pond filled with boulders and squared rocks left behind from the mining period.

Then we passed by a rock dome and some interesting shaped rocks. One looks like a beached whale and another like a lone manatee.

Andrew walked under a rock that created a small shelter.

Second Quarry

At the second quarry, you connect back to the Braille Trail. Trees around this quarry are starting to change color here in our fall visit adding red, orange, and yellow-colored leaves to the view.

By the quarry on the boardwalk section of the Braille Trail was an iron ring embedded in a granite rock.

Cables once tied to them supported a big crane boom. The crane removed the heavy granite rocks from the quarry.

Up to the Elephant Rocks

After walking back on the Braille Trail we entered the spur to head to the rocky dome topped by the Elephant Rocks.

We first walk through the “Fat Man’s Squeeze,” which is a narrow pathway formed along a vertical joint fracture in the granite bedrock.

 Then come to wooden stairs and boardwalk that pass by the engraved names of early quarry workers, that was often done with a date and marked when they became master stonecutters.

On the Geological Dome

We took our time walking around the boulders on the geological dome, some shaped like the elephants and then many other large circular ones.

Andrew enjoyed walking under and through the large crevices between the rocks.

Panoramic views can be seen on this dome of the surrounding St. Francis Mountains.

Exploring the passageways and then finding some dead-ending and walking back was fun for the kid.

We took a snack break here then spent some time walking back and forth through the boulders and along the rock face. This area is worth exploring since it is a short jaunt back to the main trailhead.

Along the Way Back

We finally headed back to the Braille Trail making a left onto it. Along the way, there were more metal plates with information to learn about mining and rocks.

A one-foot rectangular rock pillar next to the sign had drilled holes in it. Iron pegs were inserted and used to split the granite. One iron peg remains.

Then we walked by a rock embedded on the side of the trail. A sign said this rock weighs 8,500 pounds, which is as much as a full-sized pickup truck or 10,264 cans of soda.

Final Thoughts

Elephant Rocks State Park attracts a lot of families with the paved trail around the boulders and then smaller trails for more adventurous types to explore. My son loves coming here and can’t wait to return.

DETAILS:

Drive: Take Interstate 55 south to Exit 174B for Highway 67. Then exit 67 onto Highway 32 to Bismarck, MO., and heer turn onto Highway N and then make a right onto Highway 21 and look for the entrance to Elephant Rocks State Park on the right.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., April – Oct.; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nov. – March

Address: 7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623

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Dad Hikes — Many times I will do these hikes alone to learn the lay of the land before we do it as a family. Feel free to share suggestions for hikes to do. Also, share any questions you might have on the hikes!