Monkey Mountain: Where eagles dare

Can you summon courage to join the elite few (many?) who have scaled this (not really) lofty peak?

View from the top of Monkey Mountain, elevation 951.

By Roy Harryman
Publisher

Mountaineers of Kansas City, it’s time to set up basecamp, grab your climbing spikes and pack some oxygen bottles. Why? The summit of Monkey Mountain awaits.

Actually, you don’t need a sherpa, snow goggles or oxygen tanks. But you might need a pair of trekking poles … that is, if you’re ready to scale the premiere “peak” of Jackson County, Missouri. What is this behemoth?

Monkey Mountain, in a county park in Grain Valley, is an impressive hill (at least for Kansas City), reaching a lung-burning altitude of 951 feet, according to Peak Visor. Even at that cloud-busting height, it’s not the county’s highest point. However, Monkey Mountain is the most prominent hill in the county. Prominence is basically the visible distance from the bottom to the top. For Monkey Mountain, that’s 108 vertical feet. If you head straight up, starting at the trailhead, it makes for a good muscle burn.

The best time to climb Monkey Mountain is when leaves are off. That way the path is clear of bugs and overgrowth; you can also get a splendid 360 view from the top.

Concurrent with this blog post, we’re launching the Monkey Mountain Summit Club – an elite group who have taken their life (or at least their trekking poles) into their hands to reach the peak. Commemorative merchandise is available in our store and proceeds benefit the work of Kansas City Hiker.

A few other details
Monkey Mountain is a large park, with more than 800 acres to explore. Its trails, however, lack much to be desired. The AllTrails app can help you navigate this scenic area, but don’t expect any signs or guides. But for the few who are willing to wander (and climb), this is a quiet refuge to enjoy.

P.S. This Monkey Mountain is different from Monkey Mountain Conservation Area in Holt County, Mo.