28 In Kansas/ Travel

Dawn at Monument Rocks, Kansas

In fall 2016, Matt and I took off to Colorado for about a week to celebrate his 26th birthday! We loaded up the 4runner, ready for some car camping and made our way to Colorado. The best thing about road trips are the fun, and often spontaneous, stops that you get to make along the way. The stop we made on the way out for this trip was Monument Rocks (also known as Chalk Pyramids) in the middle of Kansas!

monument-rocks-kansas-1-of-23

I ran across information on this site while trying to find some more exciting things to see in Kansas instead of just passing through. During this search I saw Monument Rocks pop up over and over. I looked it up on Wikipedia and discovered that it was actually a National Monument. That was all I needed to know, personally, so we found it on Google Maps and made our way there.

Monument Rocks Kansas

Monument Rocks Kansas Arriving just before sunrise we were able to the incredible show that the sky was putting on – the rocks are definitely monumental and just seem both out of place and a bit eerie popping up in the middle of the typical, flat cattle-land. We learned upon arriving and reading the sign there that these beautiful rocks are actually on private land and visitors are welcome from sun up to sun down, but camping is not allowed. Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas It was incredible to get to be at such a beautiful location and be totally and completely alone. We got to explore at our leisure. Although this isn’t a massive site, it is by far the coolest thing I’ve seen while in Kansas.


Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas When I say it’s in the a cattle field I’m not being sarcastic. I took this picture standing in front of Monument Rocks but facing away from them. Monument Rocks Kansas All of the Monument Rocks from a distance. I just love nature!



Booking.com

Monument Rocks Kansas
Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Monument Rocks Kansas Adventures with Matt are my favorite! Xx Monument Rocks Kansas Not only are they impressive from a distance, but getting up close adds to a totally different appeal to them. These Monument Rocks were formed by an ancient ocean that used to cover the plains. Therefore, these massive rocks are filled with fossils from that ancient ocean. How cool is that?!

Monument Rocks Kansas
Monument Rocks Kansas
Monument Rocks Kansas
Monument Rocks Kansas

How to Get To Monument Rocks:

They’re near Oakley, KS, but for precise directions just plug your current location into the map below!

[If you have trouble viewing the map, refresh the page.]

Monument Rocks Kansas

Monument Rocks is definitely a beautiful spot. I highly recommend checking out their Facebook page for current information and rule changes. After visiting, I learned more from this page and it would have helped plan this stop.

Because road trips can be long, especially through states that are notorious for being “monotonous”, it’s nice to have legitimately awesome stops to break up the trip!

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28 Comments

  • Reply
    hmunro
    November 1, 2016 at 9:14 am

    What gorgeous images you’ve captured! I’m not likely to see this beautiful landscape anytime soon, but thanks to you I do feel as if I’ve been there.

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 5, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      Thank you so much! I think you’d enjoy it very much if + when you get to go there! Cheers!

  • Reply
    Dale
    November 1, 2016 at 9:43 am

    After all of my time in Kansas over the years, I was not aware of Monument Rocks. Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 5, 2016 at 12:47 pm

      We’ll all have to go soon and even take Oma with us. There are apparently a few sections of them in Kansas – I’d love to see more!

  • Reply
    Debbie de Juan nee Keating
    November 1, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Outstanding!

  • Reply
    FablesandCoffee
    November 1, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    Lovely photographs! Im already putting these on my must see list when I pass through here again 🙂

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 5, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      Thank you so much! I really loved the formations. There’s a larger grouping of them, apparently, but they’re in the process of turning it into a state park that will be open next year! I can’t wait to go there.

  • Reply
    Megan Indoe
    November 2, 2016 at 11:33 am

    That looks like such a magical experience! We want to do some road tripping throughout the US and I think this will have to be a place we stop at when we go. I agree, that some of the best parts of doing a road trip would be the spontaneous stops you make along the way! Breathtaking photos!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 9:31 am

      Thanks, Megan. We love taking road trips and we’re talking about heading out west with no end date in mind after we get back from our big Asia trip. It’s still a ways off, but we love day-dreaming about it!

  • Reply
    What's Katie Doing?
    November 2, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    So magical being there for the sunrise! You got some great shots of the rock formations!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 11:07 am

      Thank you so much! I love getting to see places at sunrise and sunset!

  • Reply
    ANne
    November 2, 2016 at 3:43 pm

    These look truly stunning. Very beautiful at sunset and remind me of monument valley

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 11:09 am

      I think seeing things at sunrise and even sunset are the best! I can see the comparison to Monument Valley. I just love crazy rock formations!

  • Reply
    carmyy
    November 2, 2016 at 4:10 pm

    It looks like such an amazing spot! How long does it take to fully explore it all? Was it chilly (the blanket photo)?

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 11:11 am

      It took about 20 minutes to walk around the whole thing. There’s another area that is supposed to open next year and I can’t wait to explore those! It was chilly. It was just before sunrise in late September, which is usually chilly here.

  • Reply
    Pinay Flying High
    November 2, 2016 at 4:14 pm

    It looks like a setting for Star Wars movie. Lol. Did you have it yourself? I can’t see anyone else in the photos, lucky you if that’s the case. 🙂

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 2, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      It does look like Star Wars, doesn’t it!? We were all alone. It was amazing. I’ve never been to such a cool place all alone before.

  • Reply
    eatlivetraveldrink
    November 2, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    I have literally never wanted to go somewhere more in my life than I do right now. Holy Kansas, Batman! I had to triple check that this was actually in Kansas and not Arizona or Nevada. Great photos btw!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 2, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      Haha! I’m glad I could help you out! It does look like the southwest doesn’t it?! I’ve read that it’s sort-of an extension of the Badlands in South Dakota. Apparently there’s a larger grouping of them that they’re in the process of creating a State Park out of – I can’t wait to see those!

  • Reply
    Eric
    November 3, 2016 at 1:33 am

    LOL it looks like the rocks are all waving to each other! This place seems like a great place to unwind and clean your mind. Seems very peaceful. Love your photos too!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 11:12 am

      It does sort-of look like they’re waving – I hadn’t thought of that. It was very peaceful, especially since we were the only ones there.

  • Reply
    Aparna
    November 3, 2016 at 8:19 am

    Wow, this looks absolutely incredible! The place seems soo powerful too – were there a lot of people around? Also, LOVE that blanket!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 11:13 am

      It was VERY incredible and we were actually the only ones there the whole time we were there. And thank you, I actually made that blanket!

  • Reply
    Ivy
    November 3, 2016 at 11:08 am

    Aww you two are just the cutest! The rock formations look amazing, especially with those colours in the sky. Were there other people around? Looks like you guys were the only one there!

    • Reply
      Paige Wunder
      November 6, 2016 at 11:23 am

      Awe, thank you so much! We were the only ones there, which made for an even more memorable experience! I highly recommend a stop here.

  • Reply
    Jo
    November 3, 2016 at 11:29 am

    Wow I would be so psyched to be road tripping around the states – can’t believe it can be monotonous for me – I mean ofcourse I would be stopping everywhere lol. Btw ,that pic of you and Matt snuggled up in a blanket looking at the rocks is soooo romantic 🙂

  • Reply
    Paige Wunder
    November 6, 2016 at 11:24 am

    Awe, thank you so much, Jo! I love getting to road trip all around the U.S. There are definitely stretches of states that are infamously long and boring and Kansas is usually thought of as one of them, but I’m so glad I discovered these gorgeous tock formations because they’re so amazing!

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