4/29/15 - Monument Rocks NNL

I read in one of the many brochures I pick up along the way that there are "8 Wonders of Kansas". (Unless you're from Kansas, I'll bet you can't name even one!) One of them is Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark. Actually, I didn't realize there was such a thing as a National Natural Landmarks either, but this was the first one. It's #7 on the list.

Just north of Scott State Park (selected by National Geographic as one of the 50 best state parks in the US--from another brochure!) where we were staying are a group of chalk monoliths that you don't expect to see in the Kansas Plains.

Kansas saves a lot of money by not paving county roads. Since George washed the truck yesterday, he wasn't thrilled when we made the turn. Just to prove Kansas isn't totally flat...

We saw these yellow rock piles out in someone's field. Not what we were going to see...but interesting.

Then there they were--giant stand-alone chalk formations patiently waiting for Kansas tourists. No visitor center. No passport stamps. Not even a single brochure.

So we walked around these rocks and took pictures. Then we crossed the road and walked around some other rocks and took more pictures.

 

 

 

They're pretty big. (That's me down there taking one of the other pictures.

Isn't this pretty?  If you know what it is, let me know.

This one's called "Eye of the Needle". It's a pretty big needle.

Monument Rocks are pretty cool, but if this wasn't Kansas they wouldn't count as a wonder. Well, maybe they would, but probably not in the top eight.

You know the drill--more pictures of Monument Rocks NNL here.