When people ask what my age is I usually tell them I am a 30 max character with 21 epic levels. That’s 51 years old to all of my readers who are not gamers. Being on Earth that long you find yourself thinking first before acting. For example, the picture below may look like it would be a simple jump to get to the other side.
What the picture doesn’t show is the crack separating these rocks is about 3 feet deep. I knew starting the jump would be no problem. Completion is where I would likely receive an injury. I doubt an appendage would get stuck and my only option would be to cut it off with a pocket knife. 1. I did not have a pocket knife with me and 2. my cell phone still had a signal. So I would have to settle for just a photo of my intended destination. Which you can see below.
By now you are asking yourself where was I when I had my realization of mortality? That place would be Elephant Rocks State Park.
Just outside of the town of Belleview, Missouri on Highway 21, you will find the sign marking the entrance to the park. It looks more like the entrance to the parking lot with some picnic tables, public restrooms, and one simple food truck.
What I like to call the true entrance is just a few feet into the woods. You come to a stone circle at the start of the Braille Trail. A 1.4-mile loop trail where you can choose which way you want to go. Most people go to the right like the sign says but those few people who like to live life on the edge can go left. Yes, I did say Braille Trail.
The main trail is pathed with various stops that have information written in both Braille and English.
So if you’re with a group try blindfolding someone and let them walk around that way first. Let them use their other senses besides sight. What do they hear and what do they feel? They can always hike it again to see what was missed.
The trail does have some tricky areas like this spot between two boulders, but the park planners took this into account. The trail goes around if you happen to be slightly claustrophobic or you’re pushing an extra-large stroller.
But it is not all pretty cool shade and large rocks. The park did serve a purpose at one time as a working quarry. Whether you call it red or pink granite if you look closely you can see the boreholes the workers used to blast away the blocks.
The granite was then carved out and carried by trains to be used in various construction projects around Missouri and other locations, including the Engine House, which was large enough for the trains to pull in for serving. To reach the Engine House Ruins there is a small path off of the main trail. It is unpathed unlike the other. It can also be used if you want a longer hike, if not you can always just go back the way you came and continue with the Braille Tail.
About the midway point of the Braille Trail, you come to a set of steps that take you to the whole point of this walk, the Elephant Rocks. Giant boulders act as guardians overlooking the Ozark Mountains having the Earth surrounding them eroded away. It feels like at any moment these behemoths could roll down the side having nothing to stop them.
You could find thousands of photos on the internet, showing every angle and view possible. This site just adds to it, but photos can’t relay the awe you feel standing next to a 27-foot tall “rock” that weighs tons.
So get your friends, pack a lunch, and take a day trip to a place that has been waiting billions of years for you to visit. Remember, Cool things are closer than you think.
Just remember to fill up the car’s tank with gas and your body’s tank with snacks before you set out on the next Day Trip 100.