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Nature reserve · Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National preserve in the Flint Hills near Strong City, protecting about 4,400 hectares of tallgrass prairie, with bison, trails, bus tours and an 1881 stone ranch.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established in 1996 to protect a piece of the tallgrass prairie, which once covered much of central North America and today survives in few places, chiefly in the Kansas Flint Hills. It comprises about 4,400 hectares, managed by the National Park Service along with The Nature Conservancy, which owns most of the land.
At the entrance is the Spring Hill Ranch, with the house, barn and limestone walls built in 1881, plus a one-room rural school, the Lower Fox Creek School. The visitor center explains how fire, grazing and climate maintain the prairie. Bison were reintroduced in 2009 and roam a large fenced area; they do not always stay near the trails.
There are about 65 km of prairie trails, open year-round except on controlled-burn days. From late April through late October, park rangers run roughly 90-minute bus tours across the prairie. No entrance fee is charged.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From two hours to a full day.
Best time
From May to June, when prairie flowers bloom, and from September to October, when the grass is tallest. During the bus-tour season, from late April through late October.
How to get there
The visitor center is on Highway 177, about 3 km north of Strong City and roughly 6 km from Cottonwood Falls.
Tip
Take water, a hat and tick repellent. Keep your distance from bison, which are wild animals.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Is there an entrance fee for the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve?
No. There is no fee for entry or for preserve activities.
Can you see bison at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve?
Bison roam freely in an area of the preserve and sometimes appear near the trails or on the bus tour, but not always.
When are there bus tours of the prairie?
Generally from late April through late October, led by park rangers. Check times on the website.