Running from the Law: Elephant Rocks State Park

Monday, April 11, 2016

Elephant Rocks State Park

Yesterday we packed the kids up and headed down to Elephant Rocks State Park outside Graniteville, Missouri for some hiking and exploring. Elephant Rocks is a park comprised of giant granite boulders that stand end-to-end like a chain of circus elephants (according to the website). There are paved trails that go around the biggest formation (which make it really easy for kids), but plenty of off-the-beaten path trails, as well as tons of rocks to climb on, up, over and through. 
The park is about 90 minutes away from St. Louis, so it's a bit of a drive, but the kids did great in the car (for once) and Ryan and I had a chance to write down our massive pre-vacation to do list on the drive. We packed a lunch and our raincoats and planned to spend a few hours in the woods, hiking, climbing and exploring. We made it about halfway around the one-mile Braille trail when it started to pour on us. We high-tailed it back to the car, completely drenched, but laughing. We stripped off our wet clothes and ate our PB&Js in the car while we dried out. Once the rain let up, we changed into some dry clothes and headed back out to explore. 
The rocks in the park were really cool - there were so many neat formations with little tunnels, crevices, caves and gaps. There were overlooks at the top of the rocks and little ponds and boulder mazes off the main trails. Mac loved climbing on the rocks, jumping off everything and blazing the trail as fast as he could. Mim, on the other hand, picked flowers and took her sweet time exploring every little thing. These two seriously couldn't be more different. Occasionally, we'd make Mac stop and come back to see something particularly cool, like different types of moss growing on the rocks, snails and slugs we found, mushrooms and even some cacti! I've never seen a wild cactus in Missouri, so that was pretty exciting for me too. 
The rocks were mostly covered in moss this time of year and the rain made them slick in places. While it didn't stop Mac (or even slow him down), I'd love to come back over the summer when the rocks are dry, warm and pink. There's plenty to explore in this park - we didn't make it to the old railroad engine house or the abandoned quarry on the property, which would be fun to do next time. The park's located in the heart of the Missouri iron and granite mining area and we passed tons of mines, quarries and excavation sites on the drive down. 
Even though it was a bit of a drive just for a hike, we had a lot of fun at Elephant Rocks. Our cell phones didn't get any service in the area, so we weren't able to look for treasure, but we hiked and explored for about three hours before heading back home and they did great. Mim got a bit tired and crabby towards the end and immediately fell asleep in the car, which made for a very quiet ride back to the city. There are plenty of picnic tables and even a playground, so next time we know there's lot to do. Mac talked about how much fun he had on the giant rocks all night, so I'm sure we'll be back soon. 
What did you do this weekend?

30 comments:

  1. Such great pictures!!! Would have loved to have gone hiking this weekend!

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  2. I have heard this place is gorgeous but it is just so far from us. Man, it is really pretty though. You got some great photos too!

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  3. What a great trip!! What we did is nothing in comparison to this! So fun! I want to come hang out with you guys so you can show me different kinds of moss! I am such a weany outdoor person...except drinking outside, ya know!? :)

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  4. Wow! What a gorgeous place. Looks like a great time. I love all of the kid's expressions. They are so true to their personalities. :)

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  5. so i love you guys for eating your sandwiches in the car and then going back out again! true adventureres!

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  6. As I was reading your post, I was waiting to see if you found any caches there!! I struggled with the lack of phone situation while I was in the states because I didn't get a travel plan. I had to load everything in advance. It was a challenge for sure. Glad you guys have a great time anyway!
    Evelina @ Fortunate House

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  7. What a fun outing! That cactus is no joke. The spiky things are almost as big as it is! Love what a bright little flash of color Mim is in all the pictures.

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  8. You guys always do such fun stuff together!! Makes me want to get outdoors and explore with my little fam jam! Makes me excited for summer too so we can get back to the mountains more! Gorgeous photos as always, too! XO

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  9. Im amazed by your foresight to bring a set of dry clothes! I never remember that (smart) stuff. I usually have the kids stripped naked in their carseats haha. Great pictures!!

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  10. This sounds like the best weekend adventure, ever! It's exactly something we'd love to do.
    And the photo where Mac has his tongue out, you're holding Mim, and she's giving the best face? Priceless!

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  11. I love that you guys went on a family hike! I feel like so often we don't think that kids can handle that type of thing and they totally surprise us! Mason actually does surprisingly well walking far so I need to find a little hike for us to do too!

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  12. What a fun family adventure! Darn rain! But thank goodness you could run back to your car and had a change of clothes! And I love how different Mac and Mim are!

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  13. That place looks so cool! The old railroad sounds awesome!

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  14. That looks like a really cool place! Too bad you couldn't do any geocaching while you were there. I love to hike and geocache at the same time!

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  15. What an awesome park!!! The rain probably was a bummer for you but an extra adventure for the kids! I'm so ready to get back out how hiking once a bit more of our snow is melted.

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  16. Looks like a whole lotta fun...even with the rain. The pictures of Mac checking out the map & giving 'tude are the best. He's such a lil character. :)

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  17. Such a great outing! I adore all of the outdoor adventures ya'll have! How random there was a cactus though. ha!

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  18. Looks like the kids had so much fun exploring!! xo, Biana

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  19. I can't believe mim did so well with the walk! Sophie is the same as Mim but if she gets tired towards a walk she will get very crabby and refuse to walk (meaning we have to carry her and she is incredibly heavy now that she's gotten taller).

    Could have been a geocaching trip too :) I'm sure they don't have them there, but still just a fun idea.

    liz @ j for joiner

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  20. Great pictures! XOXO It looks like you had such a fun day!

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  21. Gorgeous photos! This looks like such a fun day out adventuring and enjoying each other!

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  22. A place with “Elephant Rocks” in the name of it is bound to be amazing! I hope you’ve either printed these into a little photo book, or printed some to frame. Because these photos are amazing! Mac is so stylish in his sunglasses, rain boots and Northface jacket. Mim is adorable in her polka dots and I am loving your turquoise jacket. I love that you brought dry clothes to continue your exploring once the rain let up. What a fun trip. Now I am dreaming of packing a picnic basket and finding a cool place to explore.

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  23. What a great way to spend a day, even though it rained. I'm looking forward to lots of family walks/hikes, hopefully this summer!

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