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Elephant Rocks State Park

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Best routes for YOU in this area

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Front Range, The
Gill Boulder
Herd and The Den, The
Mid Picnic Area (The Cove)
North Mountain
Picnic area
Porch, The
Upper Picnic

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Elephant Rocks State Park

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Submitted By:	Damon Vaughan on Dec 29, 2008

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Nice tall crack in the Front Range area.

Description

Elephant Rocks is a pretty good bouldering area in Southeast Missouri, about an hour and a half from St. Louis. The rock is a large grained granite, which can be quite sharp and abrasive. Very good for friction though.

The park can be really crowded with family tourists, but I have yet to see any other climbers there. Because of the crowds, climbing is only recommended on weekdays. Also, roped climbing is prohibited within the park.

Getting There

From St. Louis, take 21 (Tesson Ferry) south, and follow it for about an hour and a half. There are a few turns, so make sure you follow the signs that say Hwy 21. After the town of Bellevue, the park i well signed and on the left.

The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Elephant Rocks State Park:

The Tennishoe Crack V0 Boulder Picnic area

Slow Ride V1 Boulder Picnic area

Erica's Edge V1 Boulder Upper Picnic

The Finger Crack V1 Boulder Upper Picnic

Hole in One V2 Boulder Mid Picnic Area (The Cove)

The Scary One V2 Boulder Picnic area

Junebug V3 Boulder Upper Picnic

Sterno V4 Boulder, 7 feet Picnic area

Rosin V5 Boulder Picnic area

Blazin V6 Boulder Picnic area

Turtle traverse V6 Boulder, 10 feet The Front Range

Gridlock V6 Boulder Picnic area

The Shadow V7 Boulder Picnic area

Backdraft V8 Boulder Picnic area

Tablecloth V8 Boulder Picnic area

Picnic V9 Boulder Picnic area

Browse More Classics in Elephant Rocks State Park

Featured Route For Elephant Rocks State Park

Backdraft V8 MO : Elephant Rocks State Park : Picnic area

SDS as per Rosin but traverse low and right towards a right facing hold into Sterno. Then climb as per Sterno and continue right to end on Blazin....[more] Browse More Classics in MO

Photos of Elephant Rocks State Park

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Umbro on top of the dome.	Climbing in the maze of boulders on the backside.	Tablecloth, a Missouri classic.
Smoke. Devious starting sequence to a great topout...	Shadow. The opposite arete from Tablecloth. Great ...	Sterno. My all time favorite problem that tops out...
BETA PHOTO: overview of the park. all credits to Matt Bliss an...	The rock here can be a little sharp!	Josh grabbing some nubbins on the top out

Comments on Elephant Rocks State Park

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By Joe Kreidel
From: Tucson, AZ
Feb 19, 2009

This is a great bouldering area and I was always surprised it didn't get more use from St. Louis/Missouri climbers.

I also think there is a faster way to get there. It is a little less direct but faster because I always found it tough to pass slow trucks on Hwy 21. From STL take I-55 S -> 67 South -> Hwy 32 West -> 21 South right to the park.

By Joe Huggins
From: 666 Rue le Jour-Edge City
Jul 28, 2009

Although it has been a few decades since Elephant Rocks was my main area, I have to agree with Joes' assertion as to the fastest route. It's nice to reminisce about the 70's when we would drive down from St.Louis before dawn, drop some 'cid and boulder at dawn...Good Times!

By Chris Prewitt
Oct 29, 2009

Looking back, I realize that climbers all over the country travel 1.5hrs to get to where they want to climb, TIA or STL. Only now I have to hike for at least 30 minutes. At E-rocks you trip over the curb and hit your head on a boulder problem.

By Eero46
Aug 15, 2011

Why isn't this place more well known?!

This place has the most potential out of anywhere in the Midwest. The biggest boulders are comparable to J tree.

By ryanh0504
Oct 9, 2011

If there were more than 21 problems listed I would consider going here.

By James Wieman
From: Little Rock, AR
Apr 4, 2012

Elephant rocks is the awesome and has hundreds of problems with potential for many more. A great guidebook for it is Sandstone Warrior, mainly covering bouldering in So. Illinois but includes many problems in Elephant Rocks