What I love about the high pointing adventure is that it takes me to places that I would never otherwise go. Like Mount Sunflower, the highest point in the state of Kansas. When else would I ever drive away from the mountains towards endless farmland? Countless towns speckled with dilapidated buildings but no gas stations or restaurants?

While not the most amazing scenery, it was enjoyable to get out on the open roads and drive under a big partly cloudy sky. The route even culminates in an 11 mile dirt road drive.

Mount Sunflower sits at 4,039… above sea level. Its prominence over the surrounding area can’t be more than a few feet. The high point is simply a fenced-off rock on a privately owned and actively operated cattle ranch. Signs let you know that the cows have the right of way. The owners are generous enough to let the public onto their land to reach the high point.

There is really no hike here, so I drove up and took a look. My total stay was probably around 10 minutes. That said, for what it is (a rock in a field), it actually is more impressive than expected and will rank above Kentucky and maybe Alabama in my “high point hierarchy”.