Rockhounding Near Wichita, Kansas: 9 Places To Hunt Rocks, Crystals, and Fossils

Are you looking for some places to hunt for rocks near Wichita, Kansas?

If so, you have come to the right post as we took the time to research to find some places to go rock collecting and the type of minerals you might find in the area.

Here are nine sites for you to go rockhounding near Wichita, Kansas.

Rockhounding Near Wichita, Kansas

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Laws are updated. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material.

1. Flint Hills

One hour and 15 mins away from the city of Wichita is the open plains of Flint Hills.

It is also known as Blue Stem Hills or Bluestem Pastures.

This region stretches from eastern Kansas into north-central Oklahoma and is characterized by abundant deposits of residual flint eroding from the bedrock.

The Flint Hills rock formations were laid down during the Permian period about 250 million years ago.

Much of the Midwest of the United States was covered by shallow seas during the Permian period.

Thus, the Flint Hills are primarily composed of limestone and shale with plenty of prehistoric sea creature fossils.

One of the thickest limestone layers containing chert is the Florence Limestone Member.

The limestone is about 45 feet wide. So if you go collecting within this area, you’ll find limestone with fossils of sea creatures.

2. Walnut River

The Walnut River is within the Flint Hills area, about 30 minutes away from Wichita.

The river is about 154 miles long and is a tributary of the Arkansas River.

You can take the Walnut River Trail, a 2.5-mile route you can hike along to find spots to dig for rocks and other minerals.

The trail is open all year long, and tours around the campgrounds.

Some of the rocks and minerals you can find along the way are agate, jasper, geodes, and petrified wood.

3. Chisholm Creek Park

Chisholm Creek Park provides the residents of Wichita with a natural habit in the heart of the city.

There’s a 1.6-mile trail you can hike on, offering you a chance to explore areas around the creek to look for rocks, crystals, and other minerals.

Another trail you can hike on is the Tunnel of Trees, which takes you to a woodsy area within the park. Some of the rocks and minerals you can find along the trails are agate, agatized wood, and petrified wood.

4. The City of Rock in Kansas

About 40 minutes away from Wichita is the city of Rock.

There you can find Rock City Park and Mushroom State Park for you to find places to dig for crystals and other minerals.

Rock City Park is located on the hillsides of the city overlooking the Solomon River.

Among the creeks of the rivers, you can find crystal-lined geodes ready for you to pick up.

The Mushroom State Park is famous for its rocks that resemble mushrooms.

These mushroom-like rocks were formed by beach sand and sediments from about 66 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.

You may be able to find fossils of prehistoric animals within the Mushroom State Park.

Some of the other minerals you can find are dolomite, lead, and gypsum.

5. Chikaskia River

The Chikaskia River is a tributary of the Arkansas River’s Salt Fork in southern Kansas.

The river is 159 miles long, and parts of it run into northern Oklahoma.

The Chikaskia River is about an hour away from the city of Wichita.

You can find agate, jasper, and petrified wood along the river banks.

Not too far from the river is the Plumb Thicket Landfill, and you might be able to dig around there for rocks, crystals, and other minerals.

However, since it is a landfill, you’ll have to double-check to see if the owners will let you go rock hunting on the property.

6. Yates Center

An hour and thirty minutes east of Wichita is the city Yates Center.

It is a small city with a population of 14,000, so there’s plenty of wide-open space for you to go digging for some rocks and other minerals.

You can walk along Miller and Plum creeks to look for crystals and rocks within the city.

Some of the minerals you can find are amethyst crystals, quartz crystals, petrified wood, and agates.

7. Florence

Less than an hour away from Wichita is the city of Florence.

It is a small town with a population under 400.

But, don’t let the small vibes fool you, as it has a rich history with the Native American tribes that once lived within the area.

There are many gravel pits and gravel beds in Florence where you can dig for rocks.

The gravels and pits around the city are filled with crystal-lined geodes.

You may also be able to find agate, barite, galena, and sulfur.

8. Oil Hill

Oil Hill is an old ghost town in Bulter county that is about 30 minutes away from the city of Wichita.

During the oil boom of the early 1900s, the town grew, but after the 1950s, everyone left.

You can find the exact location of the ghost town on Google Maps here.

Some of the rocks and minerals you can find within the area are sedimentary rocks, oil shales, and quartz crystals.

9. Viola

About 30 minutes away from Wichita is the city of Viola.

It is another small town that is almost abandoned with a population of 115.

Within the town of Viola is an artificial lake known as Lake Afton.

The lake was created as a water source of the area and to give the citizens a recreational spot.

Along the banks of Lake Afton, you may be able to find azurite, bornite, calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and pyrite.