The Overhang
- 11 routes
- 5.6 – 5.12b
- Sport · Trad
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
The Overhang is a climbing area in Kessler Park, a city-managed park in Missouri. It sits among a cluster of named climbing spots, with Big and Small Crack Areas "AKA Lefty Wall" and Fun Wall "AKA The Book" each about 0.1 mile away, and Cliff Drive's Backside about 0.2 mile off. The park's city ownership makes it an easy stop for climbers already in town. The climbing here is sport and trad, with 11 routes in total. The grades run from 5.6 up to 5.12b, and the hardest route, Subtle Caress, is a sport climb at 5.12b. The trad route Fists Hands Fingers and Jams is the only one at 5.6, and Tattoo is a sport climb at 5.11a. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Kansas City show October highs around 68°F with lows near 49°F, and May highs around 76°F. July is the warmest month, with typical highs near 90°F.
- Big and Small Crack Areas "AKA Lefty Wall"Rock climbing0.1 mi
- Fun Wall "AKA The Book"Rock climbing0.1 mi
- Cliff Drive's BacksideRock climbing0.2 mi
- Roanoke ParkRock climbing4.7 mi
- Maple Woods NaHiking7.7 mi
- Fox Hollow TrailRock climbing8.5 mi
- Swope Park BoulderingRock climbing9.1 mi
- River Front TrailHiking9.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Big and Small Crack Areas "AKA Lefty Wall"Rock climbing · Next door
- Fun Wall "AKA The Book"Rock climbing · Next door
- Cliff Drive's BacksideRock climbing · Next door
- Roanoke ParkRock climbing · ~8 min drive
- WM: Wornall WallRock climbing · ~10 min drive
- Fox Hollow TrailRock climbing · ~15 min drive
- Swope Park BoulderingRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- Wudchuk BouldersRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- Pocket BoulderRock climbing · ~16 min drive
- No Hands BoulderRock climbing · ~16 min drive
Best time to visit The Overhang
Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
40° / 22°
5 wet · 2 snow
Feb
45° / 26°
5 wet · 2 snow
Mar
57° / 36°
7 wet · 1 snow
Apr
67° / 46°
9 wet
May
76° / 57°
11 wet
Jun
86° / 67°
10 wet
Jul
90° / 72°
8 wet
Aug
89° / 70°
8 wet
Sep
80° / 61°
8 wet
Oct
68° / 49°
7 wet
Nov
55° / 36°
5 wet
Dec
44° / 27°
5 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Kansas City Downtown Ap, MO, 2.6 mi away at 742 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
