Monday, May 9, 2016

Monument Rocks National Monument, Kansas

On our way to Platte City, MO (our current stop) we stopped in Kansas to visit Monument Rocks NM.  We also checked out another pretty area, Smoky Valley Ranch. A couple of scenic spots not far from Oakley where we stayed.

The brochure put out by the Nature Conservancy indicated a well defined and well marked trail through the Smoky Valley Ranch.  However, we found that the brochure must have been printed when the trail was originally set up as there was no longer a defined trail and the posts we came across were long knocked down and trampled by cattle grazing in the area.  Very sad that it was not being kept up but we still had a good time wandering around:



this healthy looking coyote..........

had a stand off with the prairie dog!  The coyote backed down and walked away:) 









meadow larks were everywhere, I thought the bird below was a female meadow lark until I looked at it later, now I see it is not and I don't know what it is....any help?

Then we drove over to Monument Rocks, a very cool little area!  Covering just a few acres but so dramatic when surrounded by miles of very, very flat land!












5 comments:

  1. I guess those Kansans aren't much for hiking! Looks like a neat place to wander out in the prairie.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Lisa, one would wonder why the conservancy went through the trouble and expense of making and marking the trail and then not keep it up!

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  2. we will be passing thru KS this year and had this spot on my list of possible stops.... the bird in question is a horned lark

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    Replies
    1. thanks for the bird info Duke! It is a pretty spot.

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  3. OK, I stand corrected... Not all rocks are the same! These Kansas rocks look gorgeous!!

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