If there is one thing we here at Only in Kansas love, it is all of the natural wonders that call our beautiful state home. Actually, natural wonders AND epic road trips tie for first place; how could we choose? That being said, we thought it would be fun to combine the two, resulting in this amazing natural wonders road trip that will show you Kansas as you’ve never seen it. (Link to the original map can be found on Google Maps.) Get in the car and check out the mother of all scenic road trips in Kansas! What are the natural wonders of Kansas? Embark upon this adventure and find out:

Google Maps
1. Monument Rocks (Scott City)
Monument Rocks, Lewis, KS 67748, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
These large, fossil-rich chalk formations are nearly 70 feet tall and are estimated to be more than 80 million years old. They're definitely NOT something you would expect to find towering above the plains, but there they are. Find them in Scott City, Kansas.

The always-amazing Smithsonian sums up the spellbinding Monument Rocks like nobody else:
2. Castle Rock (Quinter)
Castle Rock, Larrabee, KS 67752, USA
Sarah Liberty/Flickr
Monument Rocks isn't the only Cretaceous Period formation in this general area. Road trippers, we give you the equally impressive Castle Rock, a beautiful monolith that towers over the plains. Find it in Quinter, Gove County, Kansas.

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3. Gypsum Hills (Medicine Lodge)
Gypsum Hills, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104, USA
Lane Pearman/Flickr
The distinct red Gypsum Hills are made up of floodplains, buttes, canyons, sinkholes, and mesas; they're all things you wouldn't expect to find on the seemingly "flat" grasslands of Kansas. Find them near Medicine Lodge.
4. Pillsbury Crossing Wildlife Area (Manhattan)
Pillsbury Crossing, KS 66502, USA
Vincent Parsons/Flickr
Not only is the area (complete with iconic waterfall) gorgeous, it is also historically significant, as pioneers used to use the limestone slab atop the falls as a means of crossing Deep Creek.

Check out this relaxing overview of the amazing Pillsbury Crossing Wildlife Area:
5. Konza Prairie (Manhattan)
Konza Prairie - Nature Trail, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
Don Graham/Flickr
With nearly 9,000 acres of the gorgeous native tallgrass prairie and an easy-to-follow hiking trail, your senses are sure to get swept away by all the sights, sounds, and smells that the Konza Prairie has to offer.
6. Mushroom Rock State Park (Brookville)
Mushroom Rock State Park, Ave K, Brookville, KS 67425, USA
Paul Middleton/Flickr
Are you still in Kansas or on some strange planet full of these mushroom-like dwellings? Find out for yourself when you visit these Dakota Sandstone marvels.

Explore Mushroom Rock State Park in this exciting video:

For even more iconic Kansas landmarks, check out the 13 most incredible natural wonders in Kansas. What do you think? What are your favorite natural wonders in Kansas? Of all the things to do in Kansas, which are your favorites? Tell us in the comments!

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More to Explore

What Are The Natural Wonders of Kansas

Tori Jane | February 06, 2023

What are some interesting natural wonders in Kansas?  

Despite what many people might think, Kansas is a beautiful state with plenty of natural beauty to appreciate. It isn’t just flat and boring! We’ve got incredible places like the Tallgrass Prairie Natural Reserve, in the Flint Hills, where you can witness the plains in their full splendor. It’s a beautiful portrait of what once was all over the state. Head to Mushroom Rock State Park to see one of the weirdest parts of the whole state, which just so happens to be called the 8th Wonder of Kansas. There’s also Cowley Lake, in Dexter, which frequently makes “Best Of” and “Must See” lists. 

 

What kind of outdoor things to do in Kansas are there? 

Well, anything you can do in Colorado, you can do here, be it hiking, fishing, camping, glamping, and so much more. You can tube rivers, climb canyons, and witness the plains for the beauty they hold. Swim at any of our stunning swimming holes, lakes, and reservoirs. We’re home to 28 state parks, all of which are special and unique in their own ways. You’ll love the seemingly endless sunflower fields in the late summer, and the fall color here is second to none. Kansas is a beautiful place with plenty to see – go out and get it!  

Where can I go for a day trip in Kansas? 

Well, as previously mentioned, we’re home to 28 state parks, and each and every one of them is awesome for a day trip! Check out the strange and unusual geology of Mushroom Rock State Park or camp at the beautiful Cross Timbers State Park, which is renowned for its great campsites. Wilson State Park is incredible, and the landscape there is like nowhere else in Kansas.  

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