Elephant Rock State Park is one of the top talked about and respected parks in Missouri. It seems every google search for a Missouri park shows Elephant Rock near the top of list, but I did not understand why
until recently. I went to Missouri's Arcadia Valley to visit Tom Sauk Mountain and make a quick stop nearby to see the elephant rocks. To be honest, I only wanted to visit because it was close to other stops and not because I had any interest in seeing a bunch of over sized rock formations. However, it did not take long to appreciate the raw beauty of these geological wonders and to name the park as one of my favorite Missouri places.
Exploration is never just about seeing with one's eyes. It is feeling textures, smelling the scents and aromas, hearing what is around (or what is not there), and occasionally tasting. While climbing over giant granite rock in the park, I had the opportunity to walk the Braille Trail, which is the first of its kind in Missouri (Braille picture to your right belongs to Missouri State Parks website). Visually impaired visitors can follow a rope to various points of interest and knots let them know of upcoming signs to read. One sign tells the visitor to turn around directly behind them, kneel down, and feel the two holes drilled in a small rock. Another sign tells the visitor to feel the bark texture of two different trees on the right and left, something that everyone should do while in a park.
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Elephant Rock State Park
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