What to do Outside
Elephant Rocks State Park
Southeast MissouriActivities: Hiking
Nearby: Pilot Knob, MO
Length: ~ 1 mile
Difficulty: Very Easy
Best Season: Spring Summer Fall
A Missouri must-see is Elephant Rocks State Park. Here you will see hundreds of giant red-granite boulders dotting the landscape, many of which weigh a couple tons. The main trail for the park is paved and accessible for everyone; there are even Braille signs for the visually impaired. For those seeking more adventure, leave the trail as you pass by the boulders and explore the maze of rocks. Climbing around and rock hopping are acceptable activities, but be careful. Also be sure to check out the largest boulder in the park named Dumbo; at 27 ft x 35 ft x 17 ft and 680 tons you probably can’t miss it.
This park is truly a wonder of Missouri and well worth the drive. There are also numerous other sites to see in the area (Johnson’s Shut-Ins, Taum Sauk Mountain, and Mina Sauk Falls to mention a few) making this a good candidate for a long weekend adventure. Plenty of camping in available close by, so bring a tent.
Directions
Take Hwy 63 to Vichy, turn left onto Hwy 68. Stay on Hwy. 68 through St. James. Turn left on Hwy 8. At 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.