I went for a trail ride here with my husband. We were very happy with the kindness, preparedness…read moreand professionalism of the staff. The animals there were well kept and happy. We felt that the pricing was competitive as well. It will be a little out of the way for some, but don't let that deter you from these beautiful trails!

Wonderful place for trail rides! I did the one hour trail ride and it was hands down the best part…read moreof my vacation. The owners are amazing and extremely nice. I felt comfortable and safe riding and appreciated that they took the time to find a horse that worked for me. Thank you for such a great experience I will definitely be back the next time I come to town!

Vicki has been a great help for us and our horse. She has made it possible for us to enjoy our…read morehorse on trail rides. She has assisted us in detecting problem areas early so they can be addressed before bad habit set in. She's great to work with and always willing to help in anyway possible..

From the owner: 30+ years of helping students fulfill their dream of riding horses by learning and understanding…read morehorses from the horse's point of view!

Nice, big space with really awesome stables. Amber the head trainer is an amazing teacher and I saw…read moregreat improvement with each lesson. I loved the laid back atmosphere and having both indoor/outdoor arenas to ride in (weather was never an issue when wanting to ride). You could tell all of the horses stabled there were well-taken care of and handled with the utmost care. I would definitely recommend this barn to beginner or veteran riders, especially anyone looking to get into shows.

This area was called "Monkey Mountains," because early settlers deemed the river bluffs too steep…read morefor even monkeys to climb. This place is as close to being out in the wild as you can get in the KC area. A little bit of a drive but worth it if you want a rugged terrain. It's perfect. Reaching the open meadow at the top is wonderful. Use bug spray and check for ticks.

Monkey Mountain is an 855 acre nature preserve in Eastern Jackson County, halfway in-between Grain…read moreValley and Oak Grove. The address I listed is the approximate address of the south entrance to the park, there is another entrance a little over a mile north off Old US 40 Hwy next to a softball field. The park is mostly undeveloped, which is what I love about it. You get to experience nature instead of a sanitized version of nature. There are two primary loop trails, one measuring 3.5 miles and one measuring between 2-3 miles depending on the route taken. Numerous smaller trails criss-cross between these main trails and branch out forming various side loops. You can spend hours hiking here and not see everything. The park caters to hikers and equestrians. I usually encounter a few other people at the park but only between long stretches of complete isolation. The elevation ranges from about 780 feet on the banks of Sni-a-Bar Creek to about 950 feet at the summit. There is a wide variety of terrain in the park: marshy lowlands in the north and northwest, thick woods and steep terrain covering most of the western half, limestone outcroppings along the ridge and at the south end of the park, a huge roiling meadow in the center, and farmed land along the eastern edges. Several ponds dot the landscape, and numerous tiny streams feed into Sni-a-Bar Creek along the western edge. There is even a waterfall in the park, but I will not reveal the location since it is both a fragile and a dangerous feature (especially in winter). Finding it can be part of your adventure. In the spring and early summer the park's meadows are filled with a wide variety of wildflowers, and wildlife can be spotted year-round. I've seen deer, foxes, turkeys, tortoises and turtles, all sorts of birds, and even evidence of some sort of wildcat. In the first half of the 20th century, much of what is now Monkey Mountain Park was part of a show farm called Sni-a-Bar Farms, owned by William Rockhill Nelson. The hillside and meadow were used for grazing sheep. Evidence of that can still be seen today in the form of farm remnants such as an old boundary fence running east-west through the middle of the park. If you hike the park, don't do it alone until you are familiar. Even though there are trails they are not always easy to see, and some portions of the trails can be treacherous. If your hike takes you through the northwest portion of the park you can expect to encounter mud pretty much year round so wear appropriate shoes. You will also need to carry your own water, there are no facilities at the park except at the softball field and an outhouse at the south entrance.

The family wanted to ride horses. They actually wanted to ride horses. Whew. Well thankfully…read morethere's a ranch right by us where you can do that. So check it. They brought the horses out and let the kids choose the horses. I like that because it was very interactive with them. Then they thoroughly went over instructions on how to ride & direct the horses. You can see the level of care that they have for the horses but also for the safety of the riders. I appreciated that so much. My kiddos are ready to go again! They loved it.

A horseback ranch in the middle of the city - definitely was surprised when I made a turn in the…read moremiddle of businesses and homes - and I ended up at a country ranch. Now this ranch is more than just Horseback Riding, they offer date nights, which is where you and your partner(or a few friends) take a ride around the ranch on the horses and end the night eating a candlelight dinner outside. They even attempt to cater to you when it comes to drink and/or alcohol beforehand. When we went, it was getting darker than normal, and close to pitch black by the end of the ride - they admitted they'd probably have to move the dinner nights earlier to compensate for the next date nights. Also don't rely on being able to obtain your group pictures - as we never saw ours get uploaded. But these friends who are turning this ranch, which has been passed down from family, into something new and different - are doing an amazing job. If you love horses or just being outside - and looking for a date night that is isn't your average Saturday, be sure to give Watkins Ranch a call.

I spent the better part of a week at Salt Creek Ranch. The owners could not be more gracious,…read morefriendly, accommodating, diligent or ...interesting. I used my stay as a work sabbatical - and the bunk house was more than comfortable - it was charming in a way appropriate for the Great Plains. I took an introductory lesson on "Centered Riding" from Carol. I have been around horses as much as most suburbanites...but what Carol taught me was remarkable. Quite frankly, I dont have the vocabulary to describe it. She taught me something that I will never forget and always use - not just with horses, but with people too. I highly recommend a stay at Salt Creek. For me it was a... substantial experience. I can not say enough good things about this place or these people.

They were amazing with both my kids. Would not hesitate to go back anytime. Amazing personality…read more Kids really learned a lot from Carol and can't wait to go back.

My granddaughter has been riding horses since she was 4 yrs old. My son and his family recently…read moremoved to the Lee summit area and found Sunset Trails. We are all impressed with the skills of the trainers as well as the horses to select from. I would recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn how to ride or to enhance your riding skills.

Had such a great time on our trial ride. I would definitely recommend this stable. Trail guide was…read moreknowledgeable of trail and offered an alternative trail the next time we come.

I have boarded my horses here for almost three years. The knowledge that I have gotten from this…read morestable is invaluable! I learn something new about horse care almost every time I visit my horses. Not only do my horses get top notch care, but I also don't have to haul my horses anywhere unless I want to because most local farriers and vets will travel to the facility. The camaraderie that I experience with the other horse owner's is great! The indoor arena and viewing rooms are added bonuses. The pricing is very reasonable and includes parking for my horse trailer.

My horse gets excellent care at Kill Creek Arena. The owners live on site so I know that things…read moreare taken care of. Very close to Kill Creek Park, large indoor arena and full sized outdoor arena. Trailer parking, nice tack room, heated viewing room with indoor plumbing. No drama facility