Elephant Rocks Natural Area

pbpd81
pbpd81
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Elephant Rocks Natural Area

  • January 4, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by dwsmith78 from St. Louis, Missouri
Okay, so there aren't real elephants, but some of these free-standing pink boulders would dwarf an elephant! As soon as you enter the parking lot, you will see large boulders on the right - perfect for tree-climbing and picnicking. But don't stop there! At the end of the parking lot, just beyond the playground, is the largest collection of boulders I have ever seen. While you wind your way through, be sure to take the spur up to the top, where you can really get a sense of the enormity of this natural collection of boulders.

From journal Summer Weekend in the Ozarks

Elephant Rocks

  • September 26, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by pbpd81 from Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Elephant Rocks

Elephant Rocks State Park is located on highway 21, about 5 miles south of Belleview, Missouri. The gigantic granite rocks were formed over a billion years ago when hot magma cooled, forming coarse red granite. Years of weathering left the huge, rounded boulders we see today.

One of the largest boulders, known as Dumbo and weighing 680 tons, sits atop an outcropping with a line of other boulders that look like a train of circus elephants, hence the name of the park. The huge boulders can be seen while walking the one mile trail winding through the park. The trail is handicap-accessible and offers signs in Braille. The trail leads past an old quarry where the granite was removed in the 1800s for the building and paving of the St. Louis levee and downtown streets.

The park is open April to October from 8am to 8pm and November to March from 8am to 5pm. The picnic area, public phone, and water fountains are all handicap-accessible.

From journal Elephant Rocks and Missouri State Park

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