Monument Rocks are Kansas Best-Kept Secret
Monument Rocks, aka the Chalk Pyramids, is one of West Kansas’ best-kept secrets. Situated in Gove County, in the middle of nowhere, there stand these beautiful natural chalk formations.
Nothing in the surrounding area would even hint that these geological wonders could exist in the grasslands of western Kansas. They stand in stark contrast to the flat plains of Kansas. Monument Rocks are located about 28 miles south of I-70. Take US 83 south from Oakley and follow the signs.
6 Mile Dirt Road
There are at least 6 miles of dirt road leading to the chalk formations. The dirt road had some unusual geological features as well as some very interesting rocks that I may or may not have found when we stopped to check our tires multiple times. The formations are a good 30-45 minute drive from anywhere but are worth every minute it takes to get there.
Fossils from an Ancient Inland Sea
The Monument Rock formations are remnants of the ancient inland sea that once covered an area that ran down the middle of the United States.
Some of the pyramids stand almost 70 ft high, and the fossil-containing layers are visible. These formations contained many notable 80 million-year-old fossils such as prehistoric fish, turtles, and swimming reptiles such as the plesiosaurs and mosasaurs. Fossils of gliding reptiles called pterosaurs, as well as giant clams have also been found in the area.
One of Kansas 8 Wonders
Monument Rocks is an 8 Wonder of Kansas because of the significant fossil contribution they provide.
The Monument Rocks formation was the 1st landmark chosen by the United States Dept of Interior as a National Natural Landmark.
These chalk formations are located on private land, but the ranch owners allow visitors and no special permissions are required. Please be respectful of the rancher’s property, and do not climb, dig, or damage these beautiful formations.
Prairie Dog Towns
Along the way from the Monument Rocks, we saw a prairie dog town, which is not a town at all, but a community where sometimes as many as several hundred prairie dogs live. Prairie dogs, oddly, are not dogs, they are rodents, a type of ground squirrel that lives in underground burrows that are marked by mounds of dirt.
So these non-dog creatures that live in non-towns are fun to watch, although ranchers consider them pests. These misunderstood ground squirrels were not interested in letting me take their pictures. Of the hundreds of prairie dogs, we have seen in Kansas I have only one picture that is almost decent.
A Geology Lover’s Perfect Day
If you are interested in geology like I am, then this is an amazing place to visit. The breathtaking scenery and its geological significance make Monument Rocks one of my new favorite adventures! Hubby gets the spouse of the week award for this trip! He took me to Monument Rocks, then to 3, THREE, museums with dinosaur fossils that had been gathered from this area all in one weekend! Who knew it was all in Kansas?
7 Comments
Leave your reply.