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Mushroom Rock State Park

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Coordinates: 38°43′33″N 98°01′50″W / 38.72583°N 98.03056°W / 38.72583; -98.03056
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Mushroom Rock
Pedestal formed by nonuniform weathering
Map showing the location of Mushroom Rock
Map showing the location of Mushroom Rock
Location of Mushroom Rock State Park in Ellsworth County, KansasMap showing location of park
LocationCarneiro and Ellsworth, Kansas, Ellsworth County, Kansas, Smoky Hills, Kansas, United States
Coordinates38°43′33″N 98°01′50″W / 38.72583°N 98.03056°W / 38.72583; -98.03056
Area5 acres
Elevation488 m (1,601 ft)
Established25 April 1965
Visitors290,436 (in 2022)[1]
OperatorKansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
WebsiteKDWP Website

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 is held together by natural cement. The concretions that make up Mushroom Rocks are cemented calcium carbonate. The largest rock measures 27 feet in diameter.[2] There are two mushrooms and a giant shoe rock, as well as numerous other rock formations in the 5-acre (2.0 ha) park.

Mushroom Rock is Kansas's smallest state park;[3] as well as being "one of the 8 wonders of Kansas Geography."[3] Mushroom Rock State Park is managed by Kanopolis State Park,[2] under regulation of Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The rock used to serve as meeting places for pioneers and Native Americans.[2]

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  • Rock formation at Mushroom Rock State Park, Kansas (1916)[4]
    Rock formation at Mushroom Rock State Park, Kansas (1916)[4]

See also

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Other rock formations in Kansas:

References

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  1. ^ Self, Matthew (August 18, 2023). "Top 5 most popular Kansas state parks revealed". KSNT.
  2. ^ a b c "Kanopolis State Park". Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Mushroom Rock State Park". www.kansastravel.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  4. ^ 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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