Adventure #2
This park was at the edge of the range I am comfortable with traveling for a day trip. The drive was about 1 hour and 40 minutes from our house. Anything over that it makes it hard to really enjoy the park and not get the feeling that we have been driving all day.
We made the trip in early October. It was pretty warm, the temperature around 80 degrees, partially cloudy. We got to the park around 1 pm. Lea, myself and her 2 kids made this trip. The entrance to the park is well marked. The sign is huge and if it’s missed it might be time to see the eye doctor.
When we pulled in the first thing I noticed was the parking lot was full. There was 2 workers outside the gate. The first guy told us the parking lot was full and that the best time to come back would be after 3 pm. I was really at a loss, first thing that ran though my head was what the heck am I going to do for 2 hours waiting for the park to clear out. I just drove 2 hours with 2 kids. While they didn’t fight that much on the way down, if we had to find something to do for 2 hours I’m sure that peace wouldn’t have held. I thanked the man and pulled forward. The next gentleman said he saw three spots open towards the end of the lot and if we hurry we could get them. Going as fast as humanly possible without running over any pedestrians we made it to the end of the lot and sure enough we found a spot.
The parking area was very crowded. It was a Saturday afternoon so that can be expected. After a 2 hour car ride we all needed to use the bathroom. It took a bit to make it through the line to use it but finally made it. There was also a food truck there. Although we brought our own lunch it was nice to have the option. Right before the trailhead there is also a playground for the kiddos.
If I am being honest I didn’t have high expectations for this park. Lea told me on the drive down that the trial looped and it was 1 mile around. I thought to myself, great we are driving 2 hours to spend 30 minutes walking around 1 mile trial. That with the parking lot experience I really had low expectations. The good news is I am about to tell you how wrong my assumptions were.
The 1 mile trail is paved and well maintained. The name of the trail is the Braile Trail. We started the walk and barely a 10th of mile in we came to the large rocks that give the park it’s the name. The kids had a blast exploring and climbing the rocks. We got off the trail and kept climbing up higher and higher on the rocks. There were so many rocks to climb and paths between the rocks. We could have went there 20 different times and took 20 different paths. That is what makes this park so cool. The large rocks and boulders and exploring the paths that wind between them makes it great. Also a lot of the rocks are pink which is very unique.
There are also large indentions in the rocks, the kids called them elephant footprints. The kids loved it and it provides a challenging hike going up the rocks. There are so many different rock formation that make a great hike and also gives a great opportunity for some amazing pictures. The view at the top of the elephant rocks is spectacular. As I said earlier, we went in early October and the trees were starting to change. The orange, yellows, gold, bright reds, and leftover greens of the leaves was breathtaking.
We could have spent the whole day exploring the rocks in this area but we had planned to visit Johnson Shut Ins as well. So on we went. We had spoken to another couple who told us about the the Engine House and the trial that lead to it. So off we went to find the Engine House. The trail to the Engine House is called Engine House Ruins Trail. The sign for the trial is a bit misleading it says 4 miles but says that it only takes 5 minutes. Luckily the couple that told us about the trial also told us it is only 0.4 miles. The trial is not paved like the main trail. It is mostly dirt and rock. It winds through the woods until eventually leading to a large rock structure. I figured this must be the engine ruins.
The building looked like it was made from the same pink rocks in the area. My mind was racing as to why such a large building would be in the woods. It was an amazing structure and probably wasn’t that easy to build. As we came around the building and got to the open side of it we saw what looked like railroad tracks that lead from inside the building out into the forest. I didn’t see any plaque or information board telling about what the building was used for. My guess with the name engine house, the railroad tracks and the large rocks nearby it was a way to quarry the heavy rocks out of the area to use in building material. If anyone who reads this knows more about what it was used for, by all means, leave a comment. Whatever it was used for it is a very interesting spot and a must see destination if visiting the park.
After we left the ruins we continued on the dirt trail. The trail is narrow at times and can be easy to lose. They do a good job marking it with blue markers, just look for them in the trees ( the picture above with the trial sign also shows the blue markers in the trees). We eventually came to the only water feature that we saw in the park. It is a lake surrounded by high bluffs. There is no swimming in this area. The views however are awe inspiring. I showed my sister the pictures after we left and she said they could make it into a puzzle. It really was beautiful. The kids spotted a turtle sunning itself on a log and they spent the next 5 minutes trying to one up each other getting the best photo of the creature. There is a lookout area at the top of the lake/quarry (I’m not really sure what to call it). There is a plaque that states the water is 40 feet deep and they used to quarry the large rocks out of this area to use in St. Louis and other cities for roads. This may offer more explanation for the Engine House.
The last place we visited that the kids really got a kick out of was called Fat Man’s Squeeze. Not very politically correct for 2020 but the name describes the place well. A very narrow trial that runs through two large rock structures. They even paved the small trial that runs through there. There is a wider path that runs around this area in case you have a stroller or are in a wheelchair.
What a great park and hike. I am glad I was so wrong about this place. We literally could have spent all day at this place. Don’t let the 1 mile trial fool you like it did us. There is so much to do and see here. I saw a wide variety of people of all age groups here. Our kids did really well and enjoyed the rock climbing. I did see people with younger kids having to carry them at points being the rocks were a bit steep. Other people I saw were pushing strollers. Some of the areas get pretty narrow. I would say this hike is easy to moderate in difficulty. The 1 mile paved path would be the easy portion. But we wanted to experience the rocks so climbing up and down and around them adds a degree of difficulty.
The pros of this park are: great hiking, great views, great for the kids, great views, pink rocks, elephant footprints, cool buildings, and good exercise. The con is the parking lot size and it was a bit crowded. We did go on a warm Saturday afternoon so crowds can be expected. Had we not found a parking spot Johnson Shut-ins is just 14 miles down the road and that is another option. But even with so many people there once we got inside the park and on the trial it really opened up and allowed us to explore freely. We really loved this adventure and this is really a must stop park stop in Missouri!!
Wanna check it out?
Location: 7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623
Total Miles: Main Trail is 1 mile, paved well maintained. Several offshoots of trials that are dirt and rock. Also there are so many different paths through the rocks
Recommended for kids: Absolutely, it’s like a nature playground for them, climbing, jumping and exploring. We saw kids of all ages there although the smaller ones had to be carried at points due to the steepness of the rocks.
Tips: Parking may be an issue, we went on a Saturday afternoon and barely found a spot. Worker there said park clears out starting around 3 pm.
