Elephant Rocks State Park

 

    

   

Imagine giant granite rocks standing end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. That's what you'll see at Elephant Rocks State Park. About 1.5 billion years ago, hot magma cooled forming coarsely crystalline red granite, which later weathered into huge, rounded boulders. Standing atop a granite outcrop, one of the largest elephant rocks, Dumbo, tops the scales at a whopping 680 tons!

Visitors to Elephant Rocks State Park can easily view the granite boulders from the one-mile Braille Trail, designed to accommodate people with visual or physical disabilities. The trail passes by a quarry pond, which now supports a variety of animal life. A short spur off of the trail takes visitors to the top of the granite outcrop, where they can explore the maze of giant elephant rocks.

A second spur brings visitors to a point overlooking an old quarry site. This red granite, first commercially quarried in the late 1800s, has been used as building material and as paving blocks for the St. Louis levee and downtown streets. Today, "Missouri Red" granite is cut and polished mainly for use as monuments. Thirty picnic sites allow visitors to rest and have a cool drink among the stone pachyderms. Come see for yourself why Elephant Rocks State Park is a place you'll never forget!

       

 

 

 

 

Picnic Area/Playground

Thirty picnic sites among the giant red boulders provide ample opportunity for picnicking and exploration of the elephant rocks. A children’s playground is also available to visitors, making a trip to Elephant Rocks State Park perfect for a family outing.

Other Amenities

An informational kiosk on the park’s geology is featured in the park.

 

Directions to Elephant Rocks State Park

From St. Louis
Take I-55 south out of St. Louis to U.S. Hwy. 67, just south of the Festus (Route A) exit. Turn right (Exit 174) onto southbound U.S. Hwy. 67 and drive past Bonne Terre, Park Hills, Leadington and into Farmington. On the south side of Farmington is the State Road 221 overpass. Exit onto State Road 221 and travel for 9 miles.  When you reach the intersection with Route NN, go straight onto Route NN.  Continue for 8 miles to a flashing stoplight at a three-way stop. Turn right onto northbound Hwy. 21 and travel two miles. The park entrance is on right side of road. The trip is about one and one half hours long.

From Jefferson City
Take U.S. Hwy. 50 east out of Jefferson City to U.S. Hwy. 63. Turn right onto U.S. Hwy. 63 and travel to Vichy. At the junction of U.S. Hwy. 63 and Hwy. 68, turn left onto Hwy. 68. Stay on Hwy. 68 through St. James. South of St. James at the junction of Hwy. 68 and Hwy. 8, stay to the left. You will be on Hwy. 8. Travel on Hwy. 8 to Potosi. As you leave Potosi, turn right onto Hwy. 21. About five miles south of Belleview on Hwy. 21 is Elephant Rocks State Park on the left side of the road. The trip is about two and one half hours long.

From Springfield/Joplin
Take I-44 out of Springfield toward St. Louis. Exit at St. James Overpass (Exit 195) and turn right onto Hwy. 8. Stay on Hwy. 68 through St. James. South of St. James at the junction of Hwy. 68 and Hwy. 8, stay to the left. You will be on Hwy. 8. Travel on Hwy. 8 to Potosi. As you leave Potosi, turn right onto Hwy. 21. About five miles south of Belleview on Hwy. 21 is Elephant Rocks State Park on the left side of the road. The trip is at least four hours long.