Giant red granite rocks standing end-to-end like a train of circus elephants is how many explain Elephant Rocks State Park. Located 7 miles north of Ironton on highway 21, then 1 mile west on NA. Said to have been created 1.5 billion years ago from cooling hot magma, this area is considered to be one of the most curious geologic formations. Dumbo, the largest of the red granite rocks stands atop a granite outcrop and calculated to weigh 680 tons. A one mile Braille Trail can accommodate people with visual or physical disabilities. The trail passes by a quarry pond, which now supports a variety of animal life. A short spur off of the trail takes visitors to the top of the granite outcrop, where they can explore the maze of giant elephant rocks. A second spur leads to an old quarry site. This red granite, first commercially quarried in the late 1800s, has been used as building material and as paving blocks for the St. Louis levee, downtown streets, and columns of the Missouri Governor’s mansion. (Click on Gil-bear to return to the main menu.)