I hadn't been there in many years and it made for a fun road trip with our kids!!!! Needless to say they loved climbing all over this place!!! We hiked around the main loop in the park and up to the top of the lookout where there are giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants.
What i think is amazing is the names carved into the GIANT rocks!! These were the names of the master carvers that worked in the quarry below!!
The elephant-shaped boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park may not be the stars of a circus, but these giant granite boulders are the stars of this unusual park in southeast Missouri.
The elephant rocks, which were formed from 1.5 billion year old granite, are giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. The rocks have created formations that intrigue geologists, are popular with history buffs interested in the past quarrying, and fascinate children who love to climb on and between the boulders.
An easy way to see the rocks is from the Braille Trail, which was especially designed for people with visual and physical disabilities. The trail winds through the main area of rocks. An extension off the trail leads back to the ruins of an old railroad engine house, a remnant of the area’s quarrying and railroad history.
Picnic tables are scattered among the trees and provide inviting spots to have a picnic lunch or rest and enjoy the interesting geologic formations found throughout the park.
This last photo is of one of the corner stones of the old Engine House ruin and it kind of shows just how red this granite is on the inside!!
info from mostateparks.gov
We got to go a couple falls ago, it really is such a cool place! I'd love to go back and be able to explore it all