The Chalk Pyramids site, also known as Monument Rocks, was the first site chosen by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark. While the rock formations do sit on private land, the area is open to the public. Located in Gove County, Kansas, these rock formations stand up to 70 feet in height and are separated into two separate groupings along the northeast and southwest of the gravel road that winds through the area. The "keyhole" is a large hole cut into the rocks and is a favorite area for tourists to view the sunrise or sunset.
Rock City Park, located in Minneapolis, Kansas, is known for its collection of 200 boulders made out of sandstone. The rock formations are called concretions, which is when sedimentary rock is filled in with natural cementing particles. These round boulders are separated into three groupings. Some of the boulders reach up to 27 feet in diameter, and visitors are free to climb or explore while in the park.
Mushroom Rock State Park is the smallest state park in Kansas, covering only five acres. The rock formations within the park look like mushrooms, as the name suggests. The rock formations are also made out of sandstone, with the lower portions of the stones eroding away faster than the top portions, creating the mushroom-shaped formations. Mushroom Rock State Park also has sandstone concretions similar to Rock City but the stones are not fully exposed. According to the Kansas Travel website, there may be a great number of concretions just below the surface.
The Castle Rock Badlands are located just off I-70 between Quinter and Collyer, Kansas. The Castle Rock formation is a chalk structure that stands alone in a field and resembles a castle. The formation is on private land and the only access is through a gravel road with deep ruts. The castle is eroding away, with the tallest spire falling in 2001. The Castle Rock Badlands are a slight distance away from the single formation. The badlands include a natural Stonehenge formation and layered rock chalk formations. This entire area is undeveloped and has little tourist traffic.
Cedar Buffs is located in Cedar Bluffs State Park and is well known for its 6,000-acre reservoir. The area also features many rock formations made out of chalk, sandstone and limestone. The most stunning formations are the limestone bluffs, which reach up to 100 feet in height above the south side of the Cedar Bluffs Reservoir. There are many camping opportunities in the area, but otherwise the area is not developed, making it feel like you just discovered it.
