Elephant Rocks State Park
Belleview, MO
Huge rounded granite boulders lined up like a circus parade, with a paved trail suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Kids love climbing the smaller rocks.
Elephant Rocks State Park near Belleview in Iron County, Missouri, lies in the Saint Francois Mountains at about 1,273 feet (390 m). Huge granite boulders stand here; Wikipedia identifies the rock as Graniteville Granite, which formed about 1.4 billion years ago. Recreation includes picnicking, hiking and climbing on the rocks.
The Braille Trail, about 1 mile (1.6 km) long, is a loop and was the first trail in Missouri's state parks designed specifically for visitors with visual and physical challenges. Spur trails lead to "Fat Man's Squeeze", a narrow gap between two boulders on the way to an abandoned quarry, and to "The Maze", a stretch of scattered boulders about 100 feet (30 m) long. Granite has been quarried here since 1869; two abandoned quarries lie within the park, and the stone was used in St. Louis City Hall and the piers of the Eads Bridge.
The park covers 54 hectares (134 acres). Check the Missouri State Parks website for hours and closures before you go.
- Nearest town
- Belleview, MO
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 37.6528, -90.6881
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July–August. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Photo by Johnathan Palmour on UnsplashMissouri Ozark springs and shut-ins
© Darin House from Missouri, USA · CC BY 2.0Vineyards, a railway trail and granite giants – by camper along the Missouri River to the shut-ins of the Ozarks
© Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 3.0Spring pools, gravel bars and granite domes – by camper through Missouri’s Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Wild Boar Ridge CampgroundCampsite14 mi from Elephant Rocks State ParkTentsCaravansToilets
- Spring Branch Overflow CampgroundCampsite15 mi from Elephant Rocks State ParkTentsCaravans
- Prospect CamgroundCampsite15 mi from Elephant Rocks State ParkTentsCaravans
- Riverside CampgroundCampsite15 mi from Elephant Rocks State ParkTentsCaravans
- Twin Rivers LandingCampsite16 mi from Elephant Rocks State Park
- Hazel Creek CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Elephant Rocks State Park
All campsites in Missouri · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Elephant Rocks State Park?
Elephant Rocks State Park is in Belleview, MO, at GPS 37.6528, -90.6881. It is about 6 mi from Taum Sauk Mountain.
Can you camp near Elephant Rocks State Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground, about 6 mi away; within 25 mi there are 58 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Elephant Rocks State Park?
Elephant Rocks State Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Missouri Ozark springs and shut-ins, Vineyards, a railway trail and granite giants – by camper along the Missouri River to the shut-ins of the Ozarks and Spring pools, gravel bars and granite domes – by camper through Missouri’s Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
What is there to see near Elephant Rocks State Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park (12 mi), Onondaga Cave State Park (41 mi), Sainte Genevieve Historic District (42 mi) and Meramec Caverns (47 mi).
When is the best time to visit Elephant Rocks State Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)