Elephant Rocks trails explore a world of granite
Elephant Rocks State Park
Ancient flows of magma and erosion have sculpted the unusual formations that resulted in Elephant Rocks State Park.
Trail Trails at Elephant Rocks State Park
Overview
Elephant Rocks, in southeast Missouri, is one of the state’s most well-known parks. The “elephants” – giant, mostly pink granite boulders – draw people from across state lines. The tallest of these rises 27 feet above ground level, weighing more than one million pounds. How did these rocks come to be? The short history is that they are the eroded remnants of molten rock (magma). At one time, the area served as a granite quarry, and remnants of this work are evident in the park. Stones excavated from it were used to build much of downtown St. Louis and the columns on the front porch of the Governor’s Mansion. Although this park is well known, it’s relatively small at only 140 acres. The trails total 1.5 miles in length. Elephant Rocks is located in a remote part of the state, but it’s near other top attractions such as Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Tom Sauk Mountain state parks.
Length The combined distance of the two trail loops is 1.5 miles.
Address and location
Elephant Rocks State Park, 7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, Mo., 63623
Distance Elephant Rocks is a five-hour drive from Downtown Kansas City. A trip can be maximized by combining it with visits to nearby Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Tom Sauk Mountain state parks.
Conditions
Although the landscape is rugged, this natural surface trail is an easy walk.
Kid friendly? This easy walk should be accessible to most children. They may enjoy playing on the rocks, with some supervision for safety.
How busy? In season, this is a high-traffic area and popular destination.
Pets Yes, on a leash.
