Elephant Rocks State Park: Braille Trail (Blog Hike #849)

Trail: Braille Trail
Hike Location: Elephant Rocks State Park
Geographic Location: north of Ironton, MO (37.65285, -90.68925)
Length: 1.25 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: May 2021
Overview: A lollipop loop, mostly on asphalt wheelchair-accessible trail, around red granite Elephant Rocks.
Park Information: https://mostateparks.com/park/elephant-rocks-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=872815
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Ironton, take SR 21 north 6 miles to the signed state park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the large paved parking lot, the park's only parking area.

The hike: Perched on a low ridge on the northeast fringe of Missouri's Ozark Mountains, tiny Elephant Rocks State Park protects 131 acres around one of the most unusual geological sites in Missouri.  The huge round granite boulders formed underground many years ago when water pouring through fractures in the softer surrounding rock eroded away the bounders' angular edges.  The surrounding rock later eroded away, leaving the boulders at the top of the hill where you see them today.  The site got the name Elephant Rocks because early visitors thought the row of granite boulders look like a parade of giant elephants.

            Before the land became a state park, the ridge was quarried for its high quality Missouri red granite, and rock from this area was used to build Missouri's Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City.  The area's stone production hit its peak in the early 1900's, and remnants from those days will be seen on this hike.  The park was established in 1967 when geologist Dr. Stafford Brown donated the land to the state.

            Today the boulders take centerstage at Elephant Rocks State Park, and the day-use park offers only some restrooms, some picnic tables, a playground, and two short hiking trails for amenities.  The Braille Trail takes you past the most famous boulders, while the Engine House Trail explores the area's quarrying history.  This hike uses all of the Braille Trail and part of the Engine House Trail to explore all the park has to offer.

Information shelter at trailhead

            Start by walking through the information shelter and following the asphalt trail gradually uphill.  The numerous interpretive signs on this trail are written in English and braille to make them readable by the blind, and the asphalt trail is designed to be wheelchair accessible although a couple of areas seemed a little steep to me.  In only a couple hundred feet, you reach the edge of the boulders, where the Braille Trail splits to form its loop.  As directed by an arrow on a wooden sign, I turned right to hike the loop counterclockwise.

Hiking near the perimeter of the boulder field

            The trail climbs gradually as it winds east through the oak and shagbark hickory forest that grows along the perimeter of the boulder field.  After curving left to round the south end of the boulder field, you reach a trail intersection at 0.4 miles.  This hike will eventually go straight to continue the Braille Trail, but first turn right to begin heading downhill on the asphalt Engine House Trail.

            Less than 500 feet later, you reach the old stone engine house for which this trail is named.  Built in the 1890's, this engine house serviced locomotives for the private railroad that served the quarries near Elephant Rocks.  Although the house's roof no longer remains, 3 of the house's walls still stand, and some old rails still exit the rear of the structure.  Take some time to imagine the bustling mechanical activity that would have happened here in the quarry's heyday.

Engine house

Rear of engine house

            Past the old engine house, the Engine House Trail turns to dirt and eventually rejoins the Braille Trail, but I did not go that way because 1) part of that trail was underwater, and 2) taking that route misses the most scenic rock formations.  Thus, I retraced my steps on the asphalt portion of the Engine House Trail to the Braille Trail and turned right to continue the Braille Trail.

Boulder pile near quarry overlook

Old quarry

            Two spur trails soon exit left, and although neither of them are wheelchair accessible both of them are worth taking.  The first spur trail leads to an overlook of an old quarry area, and some unusually-shaped boulders stand above the old quarry.  The second spur trail leads to the park's highest point: a bare granite rock ridge that features the famous large "elephant-shaped" boulders.  While the view from this bare rock ridge is nice, the boulders take centerstage.  Also, some names of quarry workers from the 1890's are carved into the rock, and they can be seen as you climb a short set of wooden steps up the ridge.  Take some time to explore the boulders, but mind your footing on the bare granite rock.

Elephant Rocks

Elephant Rocks and view

            Back on the main trail, next you need to negotiate fat man's squeeze, a somewhat narrow passage in the rocks that the very fat man I am had little trouble squeezing through.  Just shy of 1 mile, you pass another old quarry area on the right.  Unlike the old quarry you passed earlier, this one is filled with water.  Interpretive signs describe the quarry's activities and point out drill holes in rectangular rock blocks near the trail.  After the Engine House Trail reenters from the right, you round the west end of the ridge and descend gradually to close the loop.  Turn right to walk back out to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Water-filled old quarry