Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
70.00 ft (21.34 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
2.00 mi (3.22 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Unique chalk formations south of I-70 are home to the natural wonder known as Castle Rock. Gravel roads lead to a rough and unpaved trail that leads through a privately owned pasture. The owners allow visitors the opportunity to view the formations as long as guests respect the land. These chalk formations appear unexpectedly and without warning in a seemingly flat landscape. Years of weathering has created towering cliffs with Castle Rock marking the entrance to another world. Beautiful wildflowers bloom as they grow between, on, and around the formations.

Visitors may park at the entrance near Castle Rock and walk up a gravel road to the chalk cliffs. Trails are not readily visible, allowing guests to wander as they please. Evidence of people climbing the formations is present, but climbing on the rocks are not recommended. The chalk is especially brittle, and the structures are vulnerable to breaking and wear from human contact. Hours could be spent wandering the ins and outs of the formations. In summer months pack bug spray, sunscreen, and water. Kansas summers can be hot, and there is little in the way of shade in the vast, open landscape. The Castle Rock formations are only 11 miles south of I-70 as you travel through Kansas, and as one of the eight wonders of Kansas, they are a must-see.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Unusual landscape.

Cons

Private property. Rough roads on the approach. Requires driving.

Trailhead Elevation

2,364.00 ft (720.55 m)

Highest point

2,434.00 ft (741.88 m)

Features

Wildflowers
Bird watching
Historically significant

Typically multi-day

No

Permit required

No

Location

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