After a longer than expected stay at home (a 24-day quarantine while COVID-19 made its way through our family, and catching up some projects) we are back on the road!
We loved our time in Florida visiting The Everglades, Dry Tortugas, & Biscayne National Park and are so excited to see more of this beautiful country. We are hoping to visit as many National Parks as possible with what is left of 2021.
We left Arkansas and headed to Colorado but wanted to break up the 14-hour drive somewhere, and we found the perfect place.
Monument Rocks, Kansas
We have passed the turn off for the Monument Rocks Natural Area numerous times, but never had the time to stop. We are so glad we made time for it on this trip.
Monument Rocks, also called the Chalk Pyramids, are large chalk rock formations that appear almost out of nowhere. You can see them in the distance from about 6 miles away as you approach, and they feel so out of place among the farm ground.
I don’t think the area gets a ton of traffic, we had the entire place to ourselves, and the kids had a blast stretching their legs and chasing tumbleweeds all around.
Monument Rocks, and nearby Castle Rock are on private property, so visiting is only allowed during daylight hours. Please be respectful during your visit so this can remain open for others to enjoy someday!
History:
The Monument Rocks were formed during the Cretaceous Period when the area was a under water. When the sea evaporated, it left behind fossilized organisms that later become chalk deposits. Over time these chalk formations eroded into the 70-foot monoliths they are today. You can still see fossils in the rocks when you get up close.
Although I’m not sure, I’ve always wondered where Kansas University’s famous chant “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” comes from. I can’t help but wonder if its somehow connected to these beautiful monuments, and the other chalk deposits throughout Kansas.
How to Get There:
Google Maps did a good job of getting us to the location when you put in Monument Rocks Natural Area, but just in case, here is how you get there. Located directly South of Oakley, KS, from I-70 you take US Hwy 83 South for approximately 20 miles. You’ll come across a sign for Monument Rocks and you’ll turn left here onto Jayhawk. Follow this gravel road until it comes to a T then turn right onto GOVE-14 to continue down another gravel road until you reach the rocks. You should be able to see them from a distance which will help guide you. A lot of reviews of this place mentioned how bad the dirt roads were, but when we visited, the roads had just been graded and were very easy to drive on.
Where to stay nearby:
We chose to overnight in the nearby town of Colby, Kansas in the Walmart parking lot which worked out great for us. (There is a Walmart in Oakley, KS, but Colby is a larger town and about 45 minutes farther West). There were 7 other RVs and one other camper van doing the same, and it felt very safe. One thing to note is that the Walmart isn’t open 24/7 right now. Since the pandemic, their hours have been 7am-11pm. Not really a big deal for overnight campers, but worth mentioning in case you were pulling in late and hoping to grab something from inside the store.
Hotels: There are a few hotel options in Colby, KS is that is more your thing. The Hampton Inn looked nice and was close to Walmart, along with a Holiday Inn, and Days Inn.
If you’re ever passing through Kansas, you should take the time to visit this unique place. I can’t express how beautiful they were in person. There are no barriers and you can walk the full circle around the rocks which is a little less than a mile walk.