Castle Rock is located in west central Kansas. It’s considered a geological wonder inviting those who love nature and are curious travelers. The badlands near the tall Castle Rock almost give you a small taste of the Badlands in South Dakota, which I saw as a teenager. It’s fascinating to see something unique outdoors you’ve never seen before.
The chalk was deposited during the Cretaceous Period of geologic history, about 80 million years ago, when the central interior of the U.S. was covered by a seaway. (Source.)
Castle Rock is an iconic formation around 12 miles south of I-70 between the towns of Quinter and Collyer, Kansas in eastern Gove County. The formation of Castle Rock rises tall in its surrounding badlands. If you visit this area, you’ll see an interesting contrast compared to the flat plains of Kansas.
Overlook of the badlands near Castle Rock in Kansas.Photo byNgresonance, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
How did this natural wonder happen?
While it may seem hard to fathom, Castle Rock was formed over millions of years. This involved a combination of erosion and processes of sedimentation. Gradually, the elements of wind and water wore away the soft rock layers. This left behind what rises from the ground.