Mushroom Rock State Park

Mushroom Rock State Park
Pedestal rock
Pedestal formed by nonuniform weathering
Mushroom Rock State Park is located in Kansas
Mushroom Rock State Park
Mushroom Rock State Park
Location within Kansas
Mushroom Rock State Park is located in the United States
Mushroom Rock State Park
Mushroom Rock State Park
Location within the United States
Interactive map of Mushroom Rock State Park
LocationEllsworth County, Kansas, United States
Coordinates38°43′33″N 98°01′50″W / 38.72583°N 98.03056°W / 38.72583; -98.03056
Area5 acres (2.0 ha)[1]
Elevation488 ft (149 m)
EstablishedApril 25, 1965[2]
AdministratorKansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Visitors290,436 (in 2022)[3]
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Kansas State Parks

Mushroom Rock State Park is noted for its mushroom rock formations. It is located in the Smoky Hills region of north-central Kansas in Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States.

These rocks are the remains of beach sands and sediments of the Cretaceous Period, the interval of geologic time from about 144 to 66 million years ago. Sandstone and sedimentary rock are held together by natural cement. The concretions that make up mushroom rocks are cemented calcium carbonate. The largest rock measures 27 feet in diameter.[4] Two mushrooms and a giant shoe rock, as well as numerous other rock formations, are in the 5-acre (2.0 ha) park.

Mushroom Rock is Kansas's smallest state park,[5] as well as being "one of the eight wonders of Kansas geography."[5] Mushroom Rock State Park is managed by Kanopolis State Park,[4] under regulation of Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The rock once served as a meeting place for pioneers and Native Americans.[4]

See also

Other rock formations in Kansas:

References

  1. ↑ "Mushroom Rock State Park". Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Mushroom Rock State Park Brochure". Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  3. ↑ Self, Matthew (August 18, 2023). "Top 5 most popular Kansas state parks revealed". KSNT. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Kanopolis State Park". Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Mushroom Rock State Park". www.kansastravel.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ Darton, N.H. 1916. Guidebook of the Western United States: Part C - The Santa Fe Route, with a Side Trip to Grand Canyon of the Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey. Bulletin 613, 194 pp. (See Plate 3-A)
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