Kansas has the reputation of being flat, but if you take some time to explore you'll find that's not the case at all. In western Kansas there are awesome rock formations. They are sediment left behind from the sea that covered the state millions of years ago.
For this Wonder of Kansas contestant, two locations are grouped together. The first is Castle Rock, which is 17 miles south of Quinter. It took George and I three and a half hours to get there from Wichita. If you get off at the Quinter exit on I-70, head south. It's mostly dirt roads but there are signs pointing you in the right direction.
From Castle Rock, we headed to the other half of the entry Monument Rocks. Mahlon and Carylon Tuttle were nice enough lead George and I the 50 miles. We took dirt roads the entire way. My allergies were out of control by the time we arrived! I tried keeping track of the roads we took to pass them along to you, but it was impossible.
So here is the route recommended by Barbara Shelton who runs a gallery close to Monument Rocks. From the Oakley exit on I-70, head 20 miles south on US 83. When you get to Jayhawk Road turn east 4 miles, south 3 miles, east 1 mile, then south. Or if you are coming from Scott City, go north 18 miles on US 83 to Keystone Gallery. Then turn east on Dakota Road 2 miles, north 1 mile, east 3 ½ miles, then north. If you go to Keystone Gallery's website, they can provide you even more information.
Both rock formations are worth the dirt road drive! It's a surprising site, huge rocks sitting in the middle of the prairie.
