Elephant Rocks State Park

Absolutely love this place. Such a beautiful and peaceful experience. We have been three times now in the last year and plan to keep this on our calendar. Great place for people of all ages. Pet friendly. Wheelchair accessible, which I think is amazing. Everyone is able to enjoy.

Elephant Rocks State Park is the kind of place where the best “move” is simply showing up—then letting nature do the rest. 🌲♟️ ​ We went with cousins and family and spent the day climbing and exploring the giant granite boulders, and I honestly felt young again. 🧗‍♂️✨ Those elephant-shaped rocks are the stars here—massive granite formations that line up end-to-end like a train of circus elephants—so kids and adults both end up laughing, scrambling, and taking way too many photos. 🪨📸 ​ If you want an easy, accessible walk between climbs, the park’s Braille Trail is a paved loop designed to help more visitors experience the boulder field comfortably. 🚶‍♀️

I SWEAR the plan was to first scope out the entire park/trail by walking the entire loop, but then the kid in me saw the massive collection of awesome large rocks that the trail encircles and plan schman: playtime was on! The trail itself does, in fact have some cool/pretty highlights, but the real draw is the fun of the rocks in between, and as a cherry on top the pretty great views you can get from atop some of them. Choose your adventure and enjoy! Easy 5.

Definitely an awesome park to explore. Tons of natural beauty here especially the amazing boulders. We came across a lot of people bouldering and a few traditional rock climbers. Super dog friendly area. We really enjoyed walking the area, but to our surprise saw a few trail runners. There’s a good amount of scrambling if you want or most things were easily bypassed for traditional trail walking. Overall this is a great place to explore nature and get some beautiful photos.

A unique formation and massive collection of granite boulders which allow for hiking, climbing, jumping, sliding, and running over, across, under, between, and around these massive structures. There are some beautiful vistas at various points. What and how you do it will depend upon your level of ability and adventure (risk???). Have fun!

Arguably the best natural structure in the state. Great park that offers all sorts of hiking, light climbing, and even some fishing. Most of the trails are defined but not exactly mapped, so you can get turned around just exploring. There is a paved trail that can get you back to the parking lot. This park can get super busy on a weekend/nice day. It's about 90 minutes from St. Louis so you get a lot of day trippers that make a whole day of it. Highly recommend a visit. Good for all ages. Parking lot can get busy/full, but there is usually a steady flow of people leaving where you may not have to wait long.

Stopped in on our family getaway and it was my first time seeing this amazing place. I am a tad bit afraid of heights and didn’t venture up to high on some of the rocks but that won’t stop you if you have the same problem from soaking up the beauty of this place. We ventured off pretty far back into the woods until the rocks were few and far between. It was a truly beautiful and peaceful place to sit and appreciate all nature gives us. The littles loved climbing all over and getting that energy out. Great little daytime or overnight trip for sure if you’re in the area check it out.

The boulders are colossal and the trail is flat and easy to walk. Only thing is the trail has no sign or direction at all.

This is one of my favorite places to go in the summertime! It's handicap accessible, and a pretty easy trail to walk. Although it's easy, there are tons of huge and beautiful rocks the kids love climbing on. It's just a really peaceful place. The trail is approximately 1 mile long.

A really cool place to spend a day or afternoon. About 2 hours from STL. I did not climb the rocks or swim in the lake, but simply I walked on the trail. The trail was about a mile long. You can also go off course and check out a historical part of the park, which is the old train station(?) - that being close to a skeleton. You can also go all the way to the top and check out the elephant rocks, while getting a somewhat great view. I say "somewhat" because the trees block a great view some of us are missing. I'm guessing it would be different visiting during the wintertime when there are no leaves on the trees.

Can't believe it took me until now to visit, fun for kids and adults. Geologists must love this place. Amazing nature, and the granite! Rocks as big as RV's.

What a fun park and it's Free! We stopped on our way south from St Louis on a recommendation from a friend. The park was practically empty on a weekday morning. After reading the very good information panels at the start of the Braille trail we headed off on the easy to follow paved path. The excellent printed park map was helpful as were the signs along the way. The rock formations were interested as was the old engine house but the star of the show were the Elephant Rocks - super cool. We only spent a bit over an hour here but it was well worth the detour.

Such an amazing place I went with my eight-year-old and my nine month old mini Goldendoodle .

It was a short easy hike. A must visit if you are in the area. I loved the maze through the rocks. So much fun and easy. Great views.

About 90 minutes from St Louis near other State Park areas. This is a several hour stop based upon only doing the 1mile paved loop or added in some of the trails off the Braille Trail. Also you can bounded as well. Several beautiful Quarles to sit and enjoy the view. Plenty of partying but open mainly sunset to sunrise

I loved going here as a kid and teen. And now as an adult returning here takes me back to those childhood memories. I still enjoy climbing on these giant boulders and squeezing through some tight spaces between rocks. If you're not up for that much adventure there are paved trails around the park that still give you excellent views of these unique rock formations. This is an incredibly beautiful area of the country. Living in St. Charles we don't go to this area often enough, but with Covid restrictions we didn't take a summer vacation and decided to do short trips around our great state of Missouri. We've hit several state parks this summer and this is at the top of the list. A must see!

Walking through this park was like being transported to a beautiful new world. Thank you Missouri for making this park so accessible. Great Job

This place is amazing, the hike is easy and the views are just beautiful. I love walking in and seeing all of nature.

Went here for the first time in a while recently after going there all the time growing up. It's just as much fun as an adult as it is a kid!! So much fun hiking and climbing around. Pack a picnic and eat on top of the boulders. Can make a day of it or do a couple hours and then hit up Johnson Shut-ins or Tom Sauk mountain.

Very cool rock park -- sheer size is impressive! More impressive is the care they've taken to make the park accessible. You can take a left fork or right fork anywhere a wheelchair would not do well. Each sign is also in Braille. It's also super kids friendly: lots of climbing encouraged, the path itself is very easy and pretty short, there's a playground at the entrance. That said, it was also very busy for it's size. We went Sunday, Nov 8 around 2pm and we're glad to have our masks handy for some parts of the trail. Everyone was respectful, just a lot more of crowd than I've seen anywhere in a while!

The Boy Scout troop camps regularly. And in February, when it's typically cold, we welcome new Webelos, who soon cross over and become Boy Scouts, to join us on a campout... a campout in cabins at Johnson's Shut-ins State Park. This is our lone "inside" campout of the year, because it's during winter. On Saturday, after breakfast, the Scouts typically plan to visit Elephant Rocks, have lunch, and then visit the Black River in Johnson's Shut-ins. The same was the case this year. The forecast called for 70 degrees at home, a possible record high for February... but that was home... rain stalled over us, but it was more of a light drizzle. So we went to elephant rocks, which turned out to be clearly not dry, but also not slippery. The Scouts typically have fun playing hide and seek in the maze of large rocks (always paired with a buddy!) Not this time, but some did enjoy "disappearing" from the others in a couple large piles of rocks... we could hear them but not see them (and all was well and fun!). This trip, we started exploring at the upper right of the parking lot, and saw many areas for the first time. We still wound up on top, where we learned from the Missouri State Parks' Pocket Ranger app (app store) that "'Dumbo,' the patriarch of Elephant Rocks Site Park, shows that he is 27 feet tall, 35 feet long and 17 feet wide. At a weight of 12 pounds per cubic foot, Dumbo tips he scales at a hefty 680 tons." WOW! A great park. A great example of igneous rock (LARGE granite rocks!). A great place to enjoy the beauty of Missouri. Thank you, Missouri State Parks!

This was out of our way but worth the trip. We did the braille trail on this beautiful cool afternoon and we're not disappointed. The scenery is beautiful and there are some plaques that tell you a bit about the rocks and how they came to be. If you're in the area for a few days then head over to this free park and spend some time there. You'll be glad you did.

First time going to Elephant Rocks State Park. So much fun climbing huge boulders. We started with a picnic before entering the park. There are several tables under shaded areas so you can enjoy lunch. Such beautiful views!

Beautiful State Park with so much to do. If you like HIKE and Seek this is the best park for you. Surely, you will hard to find when hiding in those huge rocks.

Cool place. Lots to see and do! Elephant Rocks is a playground for young and old! This was my first visit. I didn't know what to expect, but spent all day hopping from rock to rock. Lots of fun and a great workout.

Tony, Noel and I was on a weekend road trip to Missouri to visit some parks that was about a day away from Nashville. We had our loveable doggie Sammi with us. The park was easy to find with the GPS app on my smartphone, and well worth the drive. We were so impressed. It is FREE to enjoy the park. We parked the car and started up the trail to the massive boulders to start our hike. It's completely wonderful and breathtaking...you don't even realize by the parking lot what to expect..the boulders are MASSIVE... We loved the afternoon we spent here. It took us about 2 hrs or so to walk the loop and enjoy the rocks, formations, water and it is a great spot for anyone at any stage of their hiking experience. We go quite a bit, so we are not beginners..and it is amazing for our dog and for the others with the smaller children. I wish we had come here before. It is amazing about the history of the quarry and the marble and what it was used in the past to make large buildings in other cities and historical buildings in the past. It is definitely a hidden treasure and if you are in the area, YOU DEFINITELY MUST GO !!!!

This park is very cool! It has giant rocks and a lake. Beautiful views. It located somewhat close to Johnson shut ins

So beautiful. Shady hike around massive granite boulders unlike anything I've ever seen. Breathtaking views from the top. You can keep to the paved trail, veer off on little side trails, and/or hike up the huge rocks. No rock climbing or repelling experience necessary, just good old fashioned exploring. I'm a local and go to the park all the time because we enjoy it so much.

Old rocks are interesting. These rounded boulders remind me of being a kid & how to be a kid. Climb, hide & imagine

Pros. Very big parking lot and multple pic-nic tables for large crowds or holiday traffic. Massive rocks to climb for all ages throughout park with multiple look out points Wheel chair or baby stroller friendly with off path trails for the hikers. Located near other state parks so you can make the trip a all day event. Cons : multiple bathroom facilities locked up with "No running water signs " posted everywhere and only a couple of portable potties in 1 area of the whole park not maintained . Cell phone service is almost impossible to get a signal. No vending machines or country store for ice, snacks, water etc. My family (wife and 3 kids) loved the trip and would return but definitely more prepared due to the absence of amenities and such.

Elephant Rocks State Park is a MUST do! Plan on packing a picnic, wear comfy shoes, walk your dog and enjoy! These red granite boulders are fun to climb, squeeze through the trail is very enjoyable! You can do a quick walk for exercise or plan on spending a few hours~ what ever you have time for!

Exceptional state park featuring unique red granite boulders deposited directly in the middle of the united states. A great state park that deserves a tremendous amount of attention in my opinion. Had the beSt time wandering around exploring this state park.

This park is a MUST SEE. Only bummer would if it it were raining as it would be difficult to explore on top of the giant rocks. But otherwise any day should be perfect! On top of the big granite boulder rocks you are given wonderful views. I would recommend planning to watch a sunrise or sunset here. The park had tons of great information, bathrooms, and a loop trail that took us for a surprise. Just when we thought we had seen all the wow-spots (hours later) we followed the trail down to a creek and gorgeous quarry. For our group, we wish we had planned more time to stay here. We loved the picnic tables being so close to a set of large boulders. Really felt like we were eating in nature! The park does not allow food to be taken in beyond a certain point or rock samples taken out. Probably why it is so clean! Thank you so much to the park upkeep workers and those who continue to improve it. You are doing an amazing job!!!!

Our expectations were definitely exceeded. This park is disability friendly with special instructions and trail detours for people who use wheelchairs, and the main trail has Braille on everything. Awesome. If you just check out the picnic area, you'll miss 90% of what makes this park so cool. Even in the fall with leaves fallen from most of the trees, the major rock formations were hidden by the foliage. Once you're on the (nicely paved) trail, you will be amazed. Free and fantastic. If you're anywhere near Elephant Rocks, make a point of stopping!!

An absolute must-see in the Arcadia Valley area!! We were amazed how much bigger it was in person, definitely fun for all ages. We're in our mid-20's and had a BLAST climbing all the rocks, exploring and taking pictures. For a first time visitor I would recommend bringing good pair of shoes, plenty of cold water, and maybe lunch? (Charcoal grills & plenty of seating available) We will be coming back, major kudos to Mo.stateparks for keeping this place amazing!

Elephant Rocks State Park is an excellent hidden treasure about 90 minutes south of St. Louis. The huge rock formations are fun to explore and climb. It's an easy hike around the main section of the park and a good way to learn about the unique geographic formations. I've always been fascinated by the these elephant shaped rocks and how they came to be. Also, the abandoned rock quarry located here is the birthplace of stones that made their way to St. Louis and various other cities to build architectural treasures. If you love the outdoors, this is a great way to spend the day. Note that it can get quite busy on a warm weekend day, so go on a weekday if you can.

I agree with a lot of other reviewers. This is a pretty amazing area. To see these humongous boulders sitting on the rock ledges, it's like how in the world did they get there. Good hiking and signs that give you some of the details. Bring your lunch as there are no conveniences very close.

I just about cried when witnessing how accessible they made this park for people with disabilities, especially people with visual impairments. Not only is it a gorgeous park and the rocks are over one billion years old, but it's a wonderful place to picnic and also boulder, if you're into rock climbing!

A must visit if you're in the area. Extremely well maintained park with easy access up to the rocks. We really enjoyed our visit. Wheelchair accessibility is great. Thank you!

A great state park. Very clean and its free! Can walk and climb aimlessly. Take the kids for a picnic and enjoy the playground or the natural park. Very well maintained for being a state park. Paved walk way as well.

Great place for kids! It's like a natural playground. The rocks are fun to climb on. It's paved so it's great for strollers.

Pros: Unique gigantic rocks; great lookout points Cons: No running water I struggled to find a con. This is another unique Missouri State Park. Its fun to come here for the day and climb on the rocks. Bring a camera, a cooler, and make a day out of it.

Worth every minute of driving and every painstaking mile from Kansas City to visit! I spent a weekend down here doing some hiking with my precious husky and I'm pretty sure she had more fun than me exploring through these massive boulders. It's completely wonderful to explore such a natural treasure that I'm so proud Missouri has to offer! SHOW ME STATE GOES HARD, Y'ALL. There are a couple different trails to also choose from in addition to the elephant rocks. The braille trail is accessible for people with visual/physical disabilities and is about a mile long.

Living in Washington County for 5+ years (don't judge I was working for a company headquartered there), and getting two off days, we had plenty of time to go exploring. A little gem that we like to hit up (and still do) is Elephant Rocks. Yes, it is a drive, but the drive is gorgeous. If you are lucky enough to go via 21, don't forget to check out Caledonia Middle School. You are in for a sight. I digress. Did you know how the park received its name? If you do, then you get a gold star. If not, I will tell you. Giant boulders of 1.5 billion-year-old granite stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants, hence the name. Not to bore you, but the gist is: the formation of this extraordinary herd of elephants began during the Precambrian era about 1.5 billion years ago. Molten rock, called magma, accumulated deep below the earth's surface. The magma slowly cooled, forming red granite rock. As the weight of the overlying rock was removed by erosion, horizontal and vertical cracks developed, fracturing the massive granite into huge, angular blocks. Water permeated down through the fractures, and groundwater rounded the edges and corners of the blocks while still underground, forming giant rounded masses. Erosion eventually removed the disintegrated material from along the fractures, and exposed these boulders at the earth's surface. See, everyday is a school day. Did you know that the trail is also a braille trail? Well now you do. The best part of the park is getting to climb all the rocks, and when you get to the top, you get to overlook the bluffs. Another neat part, is seeing all the names of the miners that worked in the area at the time, carved into the rocks. There are bathroom facilities, picnic tables, and a little playground for your enjoyment. Get out and enjoy this treasure.

Most beautiful place around the rocks are huge and the water is great. When you get there it is clean and breath taking. The walks are long and have several things to look at make sure you stop at the old train building

Unique and accessible, with plenty of places to explore alone. Makes a great day trip from St. Louis, along with the Taum Sauk Mountain trails.

Ah I L-O-V-E love this place!! Such a cool spot to go exploring and hiking. I was skeptical about coming here just thinking 'oh, its just a bunch of rocks' but actually really cool rocks. This is a good spot for beginner hikers (like me). They also have a little jungle gym for the kiddos, a swing set, and some picnic tables. I think next time I want to have a picnic here, such a cool spot. Missouri is pretty beautiful, and is always pleasantly surprising me.

Great park the kids had fun hiking and climbing

Nice park. Lots of huge rocks to climb. 1 mile trail

Great park! My kids loved it. We were all dog tired afterwards. We will be back for sure!

This place is awesome, although I would recommend going in the spring, we went and my kids LOVED IT! We use to go here all the time as kids, was a really nice experience this year taking my kids!