I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Kansas is by far the most beautiful state in the country.” We have it all! Cascading waterfalls, rock formations, rolling hills, etc. What more could you possibly ask for? To experience examples of this beautiful scenery, take a look at the 13 Kansas natural wonders listed below.

1. Pillsbury Crossing
Pillsbury Crossing Wildlife Area, 2464-2484 Pillsbury Crossing Ln, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
Flickr/Vincent Parsons
The natural limestone slab, which pioneers used to cross Deep Creek, makes this waterfall an unsuspecting treasure.
2. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 2480B KS-177, Strong City, KS 66869, USA
Flickr/Curtis Abert
Located in the Flint Hills, this preserve protects a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem.
3. Mushroom Rock State Park
Mushroom Rock State Park, Ave K, Brookville, KS 67425, USA
Flickr/Lane Pearman
Considered one of the "8 Wonders of Kansas," Mushroom Rock State Park boasts some of the most unusual rock formations you'll ever see.
4. Monument Rocks
Gove County, KS, USA
flickr/Lane Pearman
These massive chalk formations are located in Gove County and are on the National Natural Landmark registry.
5. Arikaree Breaks
Cheyenne County, KS, USA
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Another of the "8 Wonders of Kansas," the Arikaree Breaks (located in the badlands of northwest Kansas) were formed thousands of years ago due to erosion.
6. Horsethief Canyon
Horsethief Canyon, Beaver, KS 67871, USA
Flickr/Vincent Parsons
It's a climb to get there, but Horsethief Canyon's caves and escarpments are a must-see for all outdoor enthusiasts.

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7. Cowley Lake Waterfall
Cowley County State Lake, Spring Creek, KS 67005, USA
google/Jennifer Graham
If you've ever wondered, "Are there waterfalls in Kansas?," wonder no more. The Cowley Lake Waterfall is an incredible waterfall that has made several national "Must-See" lists, including AARP, Yahoo, and Most Amazing in the World.
8. Cimarron National Grassland
Cimarron National Grassland, Westola, KS 67953, USA
Flickr/Kansas Tourism
Cimarron National Grassland, located in both Morton and Stevens counties, offers breathtaking views of the natural rock cliffs, cottonwood groves, grassy fields, yucca, and sage brush.
9. Gypsum Hills
Gypsum Hills, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104, USA
Flickr/Vincent Parsons
The last thing you'd expect to see in the Kansas grasslands are floodplains, buttes, canyons, sinkholes, and mesas. However, the Gypsum Hills has all of the above.
10. Lake Scott State Park
Lake Scott State Park, Beaver, KS 67871, USA
Flickr/Kansas Tourism
Listed by National Geographic as one of the country's 50 must-see state parks, Lake Scott State Park is home to historic buildings, deep wooded canyons, a lake, and so much more.
11. Table Mound Hiking Trail
Table Mound Hiking Trail Head, Unnamed Road, Independence, KS 67301, USA
Flickr/Granger Meador
Imagine that you're hiking along Table Mound's seemingly normal, yet beautiful, trails. All of a sudden, you stumble upon this cave-like rock formation. Surprise!
12. Castle Rock
Gove County, KS, USA
Flickr/Patrick Emerson
This large limestone pillar is extremely fragile, so much so that the tallest part fell and shattered during a 2001 thunderstorm. So, you'll definitely want to visit this natural wonder while you can.
13. Flint Hills
Flinthills Unified School District 492, KS, USA
flickr/Larry Mills
I simply cannot hide my love for this colorful, 9,936-square-mile oasis on the Great Plains. Can you blame me?

Do you have any favorite Kansas natural wonders? If so, please share them with us in the comments below.

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Jennifer Young | June 30, 2022

What's one of the most popular natural wonders of Kansas?

Kansas is home to many natural wonders. One of the state's most popular natural wonders is the Monument Rocks. Kansas' Monument Rocks are a series of large chalk formations in Gove County. These incredible formations were Kansas' first landmark to be selected by the US Department of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark. They can also reach more than 70 feet high.

What are three of the most beautiful places to visit in Kansas?

There are many places in Kansas begging for a visit. Listed below are three of the most beautiful places in Kansas that everyone should consider visiting. Each one of these places is perfect for a day trip, so you'll definitely want to make plans to visit soon.

1. Mushroom Rock State Park

Mushroom Rock State Park is located in Brookville, Kansas along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway. Even though this state park is only five acres in size, it's filled with lots of beautiful scenery. It also features several rare rock formations, many of which resemble large mushrooms.

2. Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Kansas' Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is located in Canton and is one of the state's most beautiful animal attractions. What makes this wildlife refuge truly special is the fact that it's home to one of the world's remaining herds of American Bison.

3. The Flint Hills

The Flint Hills, located in Cowley County, Kansas, is a tallgrass prairie with grasses that can grow up to 10 feet tall. The Flint Hills also contain fossils that are believed to be more than 250 million years old. Pretty amazing! This is such a beautiful place to spend a day.

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