Here are 12 outlandish and unique Missouri rock formations that are worth the effort to hike and reach, showcasing geological wonders combined with stunning scenery and sometimes rough but rewarding trails:
Elephant Rocks State Park (Southeast Missouri)
Giant 1.5-billion-year-old granite boulders standing end-to-end like circus elephants. Easy access via the Braille Trail with picnic spots and historic quarry ruins.
Devil’s Toll Gate (Taum Sauk Mountain State Park)
A dramatic 30-foot-tall volcanic rhyolite formation with a narrow 8-foot-wide path carved through that was an old wagon road.
Mina Sauk Falls Trail (Taum Sauk Mountain State Park)
Missouri’s highest waterfall, set amid rugged glades and granite outcrops. The 4.8-mile loop hike connects the falls with Devil’s Toll Gate.
Pedestal Rocks Trail (Ozark National Scenic Riverways)
Noted for its stunning pedestal-shaped rock formations creating a unique rock labyrinth.
Kings Bluff Trail (Ozark National Scenic Riverways)
Features dramatic bluffs and rock formations rising above the Jacks Fork River.
Buzzard Roost Overlook (Mark Twain National Forest)
An unofficial 4-mile round-trip trail leading to scenic rocky outcrops, caves, and a large natural arch known as Rainbow Rock.
Grand Gulf State Park (Thayer)
Known as the “Little Grand Canyon,” a collapsed cave system with towering rock walls up to 130 feet high and a natural bridge spanning 250 feet.
Bennett Springs State Park
The Natural Tunnel Trail offers an impressive natural tunnel cave through which a creek flows, surrounded by rock formations.
Sandstone Canyon Trail (Don Robinson State Park)
Walk along the edges of a sandstone canyon with lush mesic to dry upland vegetation, all framed by striking rock features.
Scour Trail (Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park)
Leads to a scour channel where water has scoured the rock geology, offering a close-up look at natural erosion effects.
Corry Flatrocks (Southwest Missouri)
A primitive, undeveloped area with rocky sandstone glades rarely explored except by intrepid hikers.
Waterfall Trail (Branson area)
This trail follows a tributary of Roark Creek, passing beautiful rock formations and a waterfall under a dense tree canopy.
These sites offer a mix of accessible parks and rugged trails that lead to some of Missouri’s most remarkable and otherworldly rock formations, ideal for adventurous hikers and geology enthusiasts alike.
SOURCES
(https://gowandering.com/articles/top-hiking-trails-in-missouri)
(https://mostateparks.com/park/elephant-rocks-state-park)
(https://www.417mag.com/outdoors/great-trails/)
(https://www.michaelshepherdjordan.com/blog/missouris-best-day-hike-mina-sauk-falls-to-devils-toll-gate)(https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/lifestyle/things-to-do/2024/05/15/23-unique-missouri-hikes-to-enjoy-year-round/73558340007/)
