8 Ancient Rock Formations In Kansas That Will Utterly Fascinate You

What are some interesting Kansas rock formations?  

Kansas might be a mostly flat, kind-of-boring place when it comes to geology, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its points of interest! There are SOME interesting Kansas rock formations scattered around the state, and they’re must-visits when it comes to those who are interested in the subject. Some of our favorite geological formations in Kansas include the Monument Rocks, which are gigantic monoliths of Niobrara chalk, jutting out above the mostly flat landscape near Oakley, Kansas. There’s also the lesser-known attraction known as Rock City, in Minneapolis, Kansas, which is filled with enormous boulders and unusual (for the region) geological formations.  

How did the western Kansas rock formations come to be?  

So, speaking of Monument Rocks, how exactly did this interesting geological wonder in Kansas come to be? South of Oakley is Monument Rocks, and south of Quinter exists a “sister” location called Castle Rock. Both Kansas rock formations are chalk-based and very rich in fossils – you can look, but please don’t take them! Created by the erosion from a seabed during the Cretaceous period 80 million years ago, it’s kind of tough to imagine anywhere in Kansas being beneath an ocean – but here we are.  

What are some of the most unique rock formations in Kansas?  

There are numerous unique rock formations in Kansas, like the above-mentioned Monument Rocks and Castle Rock. In Brookville, for instance, check out Mushroom Rock State Park, which is home to some of the most interesting geological wonders in the entire central US. The tops are made of a sturdier, harder-to-erode rock, and the bottoms are made of a softer, easily eroded rock, creating a very unusual mushroom shape that’s impossible to miss. You'll also likely find the Rock Town at Wilson Lake to be interesting, too, as they’re quite different from most geologic features in Kansas.