Elephant Rocks State Park, Granite rock formation state park in Iron County, Missouri
Elephant Rocks State Park is a protected area in Iron County, Missouri, known for its arrangement of massive granite boulders resembling a parade of circus elephants. The rocks rise at different heights and form natural passages, alcoves and shaded corridors between their pink-gray surfaces.
The site became a state park in 1967 after geologist Dr. John Stafford Brown donated the land to preserve the formations for future generations. Before that, the site was an active granite quarry from 1869, supplying building material for St. Louis and other cities.
The red granite from the park was quarried in the 19th century and still decorates sidewalks, curbs and building facades in several American cities. Visitors can spot old stonecutter marks and drill holes on some rocks, reminders of this industrial past.
A roughly one-mile loop trail with Braille signage and tactile elements winds through the rock formation and is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with limited vision. The path stays mostly level and allows visitors to view the rocks up close and walk between them.
The magma that formed these formations cooled roughly 1.4 billion years ago deep beneath the surface and created vertical cracks in the rock. Erosion over millions of years exposed these fracture lines and shaped the individual boulders visible today.
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