Castle Rock: Must-Visit Spot for Nature Lovers in Kansas
Tauheed Ahmad Nawaz
Those who believe that Kansas is flat have not visited these rocks. South of Quinter (Castle Rock) and Oakley (Monument Rocks) are two most impressive rock formations. Castle Rock is a prominent chalk pillar in Gove County, Kansas, that is 21 meters tall. The Smoky Hills region of Kansas, where the formation and the neighboring badlands are situated.
The 70-foot Castle Rock is situated on the Butterfield Overland Despatch route (also known as the Overland Trail). There was an ancient inland sea that left behind the chalk. The chalk beds and bluffs of this region are remnants of a chalk ocean that covered it thousands of years ago. Hikers and nature lovers are drawn to the distinctive geological formations.
The photogenic chalk beds are full of fossils that are weathering of the wind and water. Its name comes from the fact that it is thought to resemble a castle rising out of the plains. People are climbing on the rocks; the rock formation is becoming more weathered. The tallest spire fell after a thunderstorm in 2001. Together, Castle Rock and Monument Rocks, located 31 miles to the west, were declared one of Kansas’s eight wonders in 2008.
Castle Rock and its surrounding attractions are on private land, and the roads are privately maintained. It is advised to avoid visiting when it rains because the roads can be bumpy and rutty. Do not view Castle Rock after rain, as dirt roads make it difficult to make it, even though smaller cars can travel on the rutty, dirt road. The Badlands, like Castle Rock and neighboring Monument Rocks, are made out of Niobrara Chalk and Shale. Badlands’ remoteness makes tourists feel like they were the first to discover the place.
