Mt. Sunflower

Location:  From Weskan take the gravel road 7 miles north then West 3 miles, then North 3 miles, finally West 1 mile to cattle guard on North side of road.  From Hwy K-27 South of Goodland go West 16 miles at the marked turn off then 6 miles South and 1 mile West.  Both Routes are marked with the exception that there is no sign at Weskan.  Just take the only road North out of town.

Nearest Towns:  Weskan, Goodland, Sharon Springs

My lungs were screaming for air by the time I reached the summit of Mt. Sunflower.  (Well....not really, but I always wanted to say that.) 

From the summit of Mt. Sunflower you can see for a long ways.  The horizon is unbroken in all directions.  Less than a mile east of the Colorado border, the location of Kansas's highest point was fixed by a survey in the early 1960's.  At the very summit, a metal sculpture has been erected.  It is made entirely of railroad spikes welded together to resemble--what else--a sunflower.   Metal sculpture is pretty common out here.  Years of practice by farmers patching worn-out machinery back together has to find and artistic outlet, I guess.

The summit of Mt. Sunflower is located on the private ranch owned by the Harold family.  They welcome you to stop by their house just down the hill and say hello.  That's just how folks are out here in Western Kansas--friendly.

You are a guest of the Harolds at Mt. Sunflower.   Don't litter, vandalize, torment the cows, or in general act stupid.  It's great that they allow the public unlimited access to this place, and it would be a terrible shame if they were forced to close the area because of the thoughtless acts of a few inconsiderate people.

Be sure to sign the guestbook located in the mailbox that is fastened to one of the posts at the summit.  It is interesting to read some of the other entries in there, too.  Most are sort of tongue-in-cheek, some are from people who are attempting to reach the highest points of all 50 states. My thanks go to the Harolds for allowing the public access to this peaceful and, in it's own way, beautiful place.

If you visit Mt. Sunflower in late August or early September, you may be treated to the sight of sunflowers grown in a few of the fields along the road to the area.

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