Trails

Braille Trail -- interpretive

NOTE: 8/5/08 -- A portion of this trail will be closed through the next few months for a construction project .
Elephant Rocks Natural Area can be easily viewed from the one-mile Braille Trail. Designed especially for people with visual or physical disabilities, the Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks. 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 brings visitors to a point overlooking an old quarry site. The asphalt trail features interpretive signage and is accessible to persons with disabilities.
View comments from hikers of this trail during 2007

Download an audio tour of Braille Trail (mp3 file, 8.93 MB)

Engine House Ruins Trail -- interpretive

This 450-feet-long, level trail extends off of Braille Trail and leads to the ruins of an old engine house. The engine house was originally built to repair train engines and cards from the Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad in the 1890s and service Sheehan Quarry operations in what is now the state park. By 1902, 16 granite cars were being operated regularly, shipping Missouri red granite throughout the country.

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