Elephant Rock

Location:  From Oberlin take Hwy US 36 5 miles West to the Traer Road.  Go North 7 miles then 2 West to the village of Traer.  From Traer take the only road South out of town for about 1 mile.   Elephant Rock sits on private property on a bluff  west of the road.

Nearest Towns:  Traer, Oberlin

Contact:  Oberlin Economic Development Office: gateway3@nwkansas.com

Elephant Rock is one of only a couple of natural stone arches that I know of in Kansas.  The limestone outcropping of rock was used as a landmark by early explorers.  Buffalo Bill Cody is said to have been involved in a fierce battle with Indians in the vicinity of the rock formation. 

Elephant Rock can be viewed from the road just south of Traer.  Bring a pair of binoculars for a closer look . Since the arch is on private property, if you wish to hike up to the arch, check with the contact listed above to make sure it's all right to do so.

Natural erosion created Elephant Rock, and one day it will destroy it.  Plants, like the one pictured at left, grow on the rock itself.  Water seeps into the cracks and eats away at the natural cement that holds the limestone together.  Also, in winter the water freezes and expands, breaking pieces of the stone off in the process.

(Thanks to Connie Grafel of the Oberlin Economic Development Office for her all her assistance!)

BACK TO INDEX