MMushroom n Dakota Sandstone Country Alice in Wonderland effect on visi- Mushroom Rock State Park is one are five acres of curious sand- tors. Located one mile south of of the truly amazing wonders of Istone formations that have an Carneiro in Ellsworth County, . RRock HISTORY State Park layers. Spheres that are not positioned with the material running horizontally have probably fallen from their original positions. This unique geological oddity has drawn peo- ple including Indians, mountain men, soldiers, and present day visitors. Kit Carson was to have said that the area was his “favorite little place.” Until Pulpit Rock Formation 1963, the only way to see these spheres was by traveling a rough trail on privately-owned land. Ellsworth County constructed a road that year Mushroom through the heart of the area, allowing access by Rock State Park automobile. The Ellsworth County Historical CLOUD 28 9 ROOKS OSBORNE Concordia 24 Society secured these 5 acres, owned by two dif- Beloit 15 Stockton Osborne 9 24 Clay Center ferent parties, to be deeded to the Kansas Park 24

14 Part of the Smoky Hill region in northcentral and Resources Authority, now Kansas Department of 281 OTTAWA 18 MITCHELL 81 82 Kansas, the Dakota formations are the remains of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Minneapolis CLAY 181 DICKINSON 18 281 Lincoln 106 beach sands and sediments of the Cretaceous Period, On April 25, 1965, with over 300 people in atten- 183 232 18 70 the interval of geologic time from about 144 to 66 mil- dance, Mushroom Rock State Park was officially pre- LINCOLN Abilene Hays Russel 70 43 Salina lion years ago. Sandstone, a sedimentary rock, is held sented to the state and dedicated as a state park. 156 140 15 ELLIS RUSSELL Ellsworth 104 141 4 together by natural cement. The Mushroom Rocks are Mushroom Rock State Park, a satellite park of RUSH BARTON 14 SALINE cemented by calcium carbonate. These “concretions” , is designated as a day-use area 4 ELLSWORTH 4 81 La Crosse 56 281 McPHERSON are formed when minerals in water are deposited only. There is no camping allowed, and no permits are 96 35W 156 Mc Pherson 56 Great 56 around a nucleus, creating a rounded mass. They are required. 183 Bend Lyons Marion 15 61 generally harder than other rocks around them at 156 Larned RICE 77 19 PAWNEE HARVEY 96 MARION Mushroom Rock State Park. 19 14 Newton ST. John 50 Hutchinson The formations that are the Mushroom Rocks are all 50 61 81 that is left of a very deep layer of Dakota Sandstone STAFFORD covering the entire area. Circulating ground water acti- RENO 17 Kanopolis State Park vated calcite crystals or limy fossil fragments scattered 200 Horsethief Rd. throughout the sandstone. This formed a limy cement Marquette, KS 67464 that grew outward in all directions. The uncemented General Area Map (Park Office) sandstone around these spheres eroded away, leaving (785) 546-2565 huge concretions (the largest of which have diameters of Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs (Regional Office) 27 feet.) balanced on the natural sandstone of the stem described herein is available to all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, (316) 683-8069 that eroded away more rapidly. gender identity, political affiliation, and military or veteran status. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office of the In Kansas, layers are not uplifted or folded as in the Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 [email protected] Devel’s Oven Formation S Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612-1327. 08/14 mountains. Material was laid down in almost horizontal www.ksoutdoors.com MUSHROOM ROCK STATE PARK

Pulpit Rock Formation Park Area Private Lands

Ave. K To K-141 Paved Roads Gravel Roads

Bridge Unimproved Roads Parking Area

Vault Toilet

26th Rd. Trail/Trailhead Hike

Mushroom Rock Formation Mushroom Natural Formations Rock Devil's Formation Oven Formation