This was part of our St. Louis spring break trip—if you want to see how we planned the full itinerary and what else we did, you can read it here: our 4-day St. Louis trip with a 5-year-old.
This day wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
Originally, spring break was for Iowa. I had been planning a cave trip—until one week before booking, I checked the website and saw that the caves are closed from November to March for bats.
That was a big surprise.
I’m just glad we found out before standing in front of a closed cave.
So we pivoted.
Missouri moved up from a summer idea to a spring break trip. At first, I wasn’t sure. Missouri summers can be very hot, and many outdoor places are better for water activities. March didn’t feel like the right timing.
Then the forecast changed everything.
It was going to be close to 90 degrees.
In March.
Suddenly, places like Johnson’s Shut-Ins—something I had almost ruled out—came back into the plan. If it was going to feel like summer, we might as well treat it like one.
Lone Elk Park: A Quiet Start
We started the day at Lone Elk Park.
It’s a drive-through park, simple and easy, but it felt very different from what we’re used to. We see deer all the time in Wisconsin. But elk are bigger. Heavier. You notice them in a different way.
Then we entered the bison area. There’s a sign that says not to get out of your car—and that bison have damaged cars before. That alone made us sit up a little straighter.
We stayed inside and just watched. Some were eating. One was rolling around on the ground. One stood farther away, quietly watching everything.
We drove through twice.
On the second loop, my daughter got very excited about something else entirely—a deer… in action. That ended up being one of her favorite moments of the morning.
Elephant Rocks: Climbing, Crawling, and Getting Lost
The drive to Elephant Rocks got more and more rural. At some point, we realized we probably should have filled gas earlier. Once you’re in that area, there aren’t many options.
When we arrived, it was surprisingly busy. One bathroom was open with a long line. The other was still closed for winter. Clearly, this wasn’t a typical March day.
We started on the trail, but very quickly realized no one was really following it. Everyone was heading straight to the rocks.
And once we saw them, it made sense.
Huge, rounded boulders—completely different from anything we see in Wisconsin. Not sharp. Not jagged. Just big, smooth shapes that invite you to climb.
My daughter immediately took off—climbing up, squeezing through gaps, crawling into small spaces. There were narrow passages and little tunnels between rocks, and she kept going back to them again and again.
At one point, we saw a group of people bouldering nearby. She stopped for a while just to watch.
We never really “finished” the trail. We just stayed in the rocks.
After about an hour, she was completely tired. She found a shady spot and sat down, not wanting to move.
I told her we were going to a swimming spot next. That was enough to get her up.
Looking back, one thing I would definitely do differently is wear proper shoes. I had packed my hiking shoes but forgot to change into them. My regular walking shoes had almost no traction, which made a big difference on the rocks.
Johnson’s Shut-Ins: Not What We Expected
By the time we arrived, it felt like a full summer day. We saw kids in swimsuits, which made us wonder—maybe it was doable. Or maybe kids just don’t care how cold the water is.
Our plan was simple: walk to the river, see how it felt, and decide from there. If it seemed worth it, we would go back to the car and change into swimsuits.
The first access point is calm and shallow. It looked like the perfect place to test the water.
I stepped in first—and immediately pulled my foot back out. It was ice cold.
My daughter stepped in with my husband, curious but careful. And then, within seconds, she slipped.
She fell into the water, and my husband grabbed her right away. Both of them were soaked instantly.
The rocks were much more slippery than they looked, even in shallow water. It took them a moment to steady themselves and move back toward the shore.
It wasn’t a big incident, but it definitely made us more aware of how careful you have to be here.
At that point, our plan didn’t really matter anymore. They were already wet.
So instead of going back to change, they just kept going as they were. We thought maybe we’d change later and treat the swimsuits as dry clothes.
We walked along the river to the second access point, where the shut-ins begin.
The scene felt completely different there. Water rushing through the rocks. Kids playing in calmer areas. Some people climbing, some just sitting in the sun.
My daughter wasn’t too interested in getting back into the water. Maybe it was just too cold.
Instead, she found her own way to enjoy it. She started picking up rocks and throwing them into the water, watching the splashes again and again.
And she loved it.
It was one of those simple moments—warm sun, blue sky, water in front of you. Even though the trees hadn’t started to grow leaves yet, it still felt like summer.
By the time we walked back, both of them were almost dry. That 90-degree day made everything easier.
There are locker rooms near the parking area, though many facilities were still closed for the season when we visited. The gift shop was open and surprisingly well stocked, with water shoes, towels, and even ice cream.
On the way out, we realized something else—we were almost out of gas.
The nearest station was about six miles away. We turned off the AC, closed the windows, drove slowly, and just hoped we would make it.
We did.
Looking Back
This wasn’t a carefully planned day. It changed because of the weather. It came together at the last minute.
And somehow, that made it one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
It had quiet moments, a little uncertainty, a lot of climbing, and just enough unexpected turns.
If you’re visiting St. Louis with kids, it’s easy to stay in the city. But if you have the time, stepping out for a day like this is absolutely worth it.
The next day, we spent a full day climbing and exploring indoors at City Museum—completely different, but just as unforgettable. What it’s really like to spend a day at City Museum with a kid.