Elephant Rocks State Park - Missouri State Park

National and State Parks - Recreational Areas

Home Page
Parks Starting With: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Elephant Rocks State Park

State Park Information

State Park Overview
Imagine giant granite rocks standing end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Thats what youll 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 youll never forget!

Picnicking

More Info

Department of Natural Resources, Information concerning state parks and state historic sites in
Thats what youll see at Elephant Rocks State Park. About 1.5 billion years ago, hot magma
...artment of Natural Resources, Information concerning state parks and state historic sites in
Hwy. 21 in Iron County. Map of Elephant Rocks State Park How to get to Elephant Rocks State Park
...phant Rocks State Park ELEPHANT ROCKS STATE PARK Perhaps one of the most curious geological formations in Missouri is
in Missouri is found in Elephant Rocks State Park. Billion-year-old
...phant Rocks State Park Elephant Rocks State Park is the smallest of the state parks we visit, the trail which forms the
Francisco, CA. The Elephant Rocks State Park forms a geomorphic
...phant Rocks State Park Places Iron County St. Francois Mountains Off-Site Links Elephant Rocks State Park D.N.R .Elephant Rocks Natural Area M.D.C. Map M.D.C. Giant granite rocks a billion
...phant Rocks At Elephant Rocks State Park, spheroidal weathering along joints in the Graniteville Granite has produced a spectacular "herd of stone elephants." The walls of the abandoned quarry
...e Photo Albums Elephant Rocks State Park (Missouri) & Graffton (Illinois) August 16, 2003 Mark and I (and someday Greg too
wanting to go to Elephant Rocks State Park for a long time now
...ck to Get Advertising Elephant Rocks State Park, MO We Need Your Picture Click Below for Seven Day Forecast Directions to park From Ironton, 7 miles north on highway 21, then 1 mile west on
...phant Rocks State Park, MO10-222999 Climbers Indy Scooter Chris Prewitt ...elephants. Elephant Rocks State Park got its name because of these rather large boulders. The park is consisted of 129
Count 1375 Elephant Rocks State Park ...elephants. Elephant Rocks

geological formations in Missouri is found in Elephant Rocks State Park. Billion-year-old giant granite rocks stand end-to-end
Missouri State Parks Elephant Rocks State Park (click on picture

Rocks Natural Area A 7-acre area of Elephant Rocks State Park in Section 15, T34N, R3E, Graniteville 7.5 min. topographic map
the Park Superintendent, Elephant Rocks State Park, Star Route

spring big spring grand gulf greer spring blue spring blue spring alley spring alley spring elephant rocks State Park elephant rocks State Park elephant rocks State Park elephant rocks State Park

Nature Programs
Interpretive programs are conducted every weekend at Elephant Rocks State Park from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Programs include a variety of games and quizzes as well as nature hikes and demonstrations that can be enjoyed by all ages.

The times of the programs vary from week to week and it is best to contact the park naturalist, based out of Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park -t (573) 546-2450 for current information. Special group programs can also be arranged in advance for any time of the year by contacting the naturalist as well.
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 Route W overpass. Exit onto Route W. Travel on Route W for 18 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.