monument rocks

Truly amazing place that is perfect for a road trip. The Place is 5 hour drive from Kansas City. I would rate this place as my fav in Kansas. These are large chalk like rocks with fossils imbibed within them. Apparently created 80 million years ago when this area was part of a vast inland sea. :oBest time to visit would be pre-sunset. Thats when the dusk colours really compliment the Rocks. Check my pics :)The place is quite remote and there is virtually nothing in 20 miles radius (Refreshments, washrooms etc ). Directions : 20 miles south of Oakley on U.S. 83, then 4 miles east on Jayhawk Road, 3 miles south, and 1 mile east (dry weather road only). Or, 18 miles north of Scott City, east 2 miles on Dakota Road, 1 mile north, 3 1/2 miles east, and 2 1/2 miles north.

I never knew there was even a hill in Kansas until a photographer friend shared a few of his pictures of Monument Rocks with me.Not unlike Stonehenge (not that I've ever been there), Monument Rocks stick up in the middle of NOWHERE. And I DO mean NOWHERE. It is located in cow country 27 miles south of Oakley, KS (20 miles going south on state route 83, which is paved, and then 7 miles east on a dusty, but well-packed and fairly smooth, dirt road). Did I mention cows? Monument Rocks is on private property and cows are everywhere. You don't own the road; you are just passing through ……Even though I had seen a few of my friend's pictures, I didn't really KNOW what to expect. Sometimes we blow things out of proportion in our mind and then feel let down by reality. NOT SO this time. Now I am speaking strictly as a photographer.Photographers who have been to the badlands in South Dakota, know that the absolute best times to photograph this type of stark, rugged terrain is either before 10 am (the closer to sunrise, the better) or after 4 pm (until it actually gets dark). Between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, the contours of the terrain are lost in a shadowless blob of pale yellow. Monument Rocks falls within that category of stark subject matter. It doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the splendor of amazing Mother Nature; it's just that midday photographs just do NOT do these formations pictorial justice.I arrived at Monument Rocks an hour before sunset and spent the next hour and a half snapping away. There was only one other family taking in the sights in the whole time I was there. Then I headed to Oakley for dinner and a good night's rest. The following morning, I returned at sunrise. During the 2 hours I was there, not a single car came by. It was just me, the sun, and the sounds of birds. The cows sauntered by as I was leaving.One thing I should mention is that, while you are admiring the sights and the horizon, it is wise to be aware of what's at your feet …… after all, this is also a cow pasture.My 260-mile journey from Denver to Oakley took 4 hours, but it was completely worth it !!!!!!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a visit for ANY photographer who loves to photograph nature.

Well worth the drive out into the vast, sunflower dotted plains of Kansas. These wonders emerge unlike anything else. . . but I'll try to explain them anyhow. They are basically large chalky rocks with small fossils hidden in their cracks and crevices. Roads are dirt, but quite manageable. Although it was a weekend, the sight was not busy which meant plenty of elbow room and Great photo ops. PLUS you can't beat Free! However, there are no bathrooms, water, or food (...no, yum...) so come prepared. You are not supposed to climb on these formations (although there is no one patrolling). The one negative would be that it is clearly being abused as a "party sight." Evidence of broken beer bottles and wrappers littered the ground. Beer Bottles + Broken = Wear Shoes!

This place is awesome! You drive several miles down a dirt road with cows here and there and even in the road in front of you. All of a sudden you see these chalk rock formations sticking up in the middle of nowhere. Amazing! I say go in the morning because you will the best lighting and shadowing for photos and just pure visual amazement. When you are there, just stop and listen, you hear nothing. The peacefulness of this place, the solitude you will feel when you just listen. Watch out for the Tarantula Wasps though.

Long dirt roads, wide open spaces, lots of cows roaming (careful - they may be in the road) to amazing rock formations. These rocks are out in the middle of no where. The formations are beautiful, with the sun casting amazing shadows and its so peaceful. We never saw anyone else while we were there. There are 2 groupings you can walk around 50 yards from one another (if that).

Very nice, but just when compared with the plains of Western KS in general. Better than Castle Rocks, but maybe not the Castle Rocks Badlands just south of there.Ps.Would have been better if the PBS/British crew weren't there wondering when we'd move our car to the second set of rocks. They didn't ask me at first, just assumed I would leave and "thanked me for my stay"? Really? These guys are thanking me for my stay, in my home state before I can respond? It was a site to see for us, that went even longer due to them. And yes, a second Brit came and asked when we we're leaving, (much more politely). Still extended the stay, but not as much.

This is a few miles off the Kansas highways and really has a feel of something the pioneers would have seen. If traveling with kids, it's fun to marvel at the sea life fossils in the middle of the Kansas prairie. If traveling with those old enough to stand and contemplate, its certainly a prime place for that, too. If you are into Geocaching, there is an Earth cache here with interesting historical bits. For anyone who gets cell signal here, you can read lots of things about the landmark, the way the American settlers experienced it, what the local tribes thought of it, etc. While fun to read beforehand, it's even better read to you as you just soak it in. Do be careful about the roads. There are sharp hills where oncoming traffic can be on you before you know it, and the northern route in does have some issues in wet weather. Also beware there are no "facilities," so you may want to stop at the Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley center before making your way out here.

This is a fun place to visit. You have to drive about 7 miles of dirt road between farmers fields. The white chalking rocks jut out from the ground. Most the land around them is flat. The kids love running around the rocks. It is quiet and serene with breath taking views of the Kansas clouds.

The monument rocks are pretty incredible. It's not that you won't see things like this elsewhere - it's that after driving hours (and hours, and hours) through Kansas, you really haven't seen much of anything like them.What's more is that you have to drive for a good little while on unpaved (though generally quite good) roads to get to them, and BOOM, there they are in all their glory. The first set is a bit more impressive than the second, but still they are rather nice to wander about - just make sure you have plenty of water because it can get toasty out there, and you aren't near much of anything.

This place is like no other. They look small from a distance, but once you get close, is awesome. Walk around and take pictures. Be with nature and ask yourself, "how were these rocks formed here?"

This was a very cool place to go see! It is well marked and very easy to find and only the last 7 miles are on a well maintained dirt road. Any car, truck, motorcycle, etc can drive to this site. Once there you can get out and roam anywhere you wish. Some very interesting formations from the wind, rain, etc. The road goes through many cattle pastures, so you may even get the added benefit of a herd of cattle in the road. LOL.... go slow and they will move or stop and take some pictures, but do not get out and try and pet them.

Incredible! Out in the middle of flat farmland these rocks appear.....felt a bit like we were on the set of a movie, a little surreal. Cattle grazing nearby, oil derricks in the distance and these rock formations - very interesting! If you are in the area it is worth the drive - you will see something that is truly unique. Signs clearly mark the turns and if you mapquest "Monument Rocks" you will easily find driving directions. The weather was dry when we visited so no worries as far as traveling on wet, muddy roads....it's not really a gravel road, more like very dry dirt when we visited and there is nothing around, so important that you bring water.

We drove and drove back dusty roads of flat Kansas Prarie; then suddenly there was the coolest rock formation, monument. Worth the trip. Bring water, have the car gassed up. Do not miss this!

Who said kansas is flat? These rocks disprove that theory. Great place to take photos and experience something different. Take water. No services out in the area.

Who would ever think that just 20 miles south of I-70 in Kansas, in the middle of flat farm country you would find these amazing and beautiful land chalk formations?!!?Take the Oakley exit and follow Hwy 83 south about 20 miles. There will be a sign on the west side of the road where an old abandoned building is that shows the way to go. Turn east on Jayhawk Rd. Follow dirt road about 5 miles turn right at the end and keep following south about another 2 miles. Rock 70 ft tall rock formations will be on both sides of the road. You can get pretty close to them and park anywhere along the road or the pull outs. Be respectful, these have been there for so long and it would be great to be able to leave them as they are without the property owner having to put up fences. There are fossils and sea shells in the rocks and there is one that has a large arch that is called "the eye of the needle." Be careful on wet, muddy or rainy days as the roads are supposed to be difficult to navigate when wet and muddy. You can reach them in any type of car when the roads are dry. We were there during the day but I can imagine that it would be spectacular at sunrise or sunset. This area is listed as one of the Kansas "8 Wonders." It's a nice side trip and not too far from the main highway, well worth the time as is the Castle Rock a bit further east near Gove, KS.