Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, established in 1996, is the only unit in the National Park System dedicated to the rich natural and cultural history of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

This 10,861-acre portion of the once vast tallgrass prairie is preserved as a critical resource for the benefit, education and enjoyment of all. It is a unique private-public partnership between The Nature Conservancy (the primary landowner) and the National Park Service (the primary land manager).

Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 140 million acres of the United States, from Indiana to Kansas and from Canada to Texas. Nearly all is gone, plowed under for agriculture and development. An ancient past survives in the irreplaceable Flint Hills tallgrass.

What is now a sea of grass was once a shallow sea of water. About 200 to 300 million years ago the gray and white rock limestone and steel tough chert commonly called "flint" began to form from this Permian Sea floor. The result was shallow, rocky land considered unsuitable for plowing but excellent for grazing.

The natural prairie cycle of weather, wildfires and animal grazing (once bison, now cattle) has sustained the tallgrass prairie and its diverse plant and animal species.

Visitors today find more than 400 species of plants, nearly 150 species of birds, 39 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 31 species of mammals. Much of the prairie flora and fauna is far too tiny to be seen from a passing car.

For those who take the time to stop and look closer, a subtle world of special beauty and natural wonder awaits.

The Southwind Nature Trail begins in front of the Spring Hill Ranch house. The trail winds its way through the lower prairie, across a tree lined creek bed, and up gently rolling hills to expansive vistas of this unsurpassed pristine beauty. The loop trail is 1.75 miles.

The Bottomland Trail is situated south of the Spring Hill Ranch house on Hwy. 177. Take the first left past the Saint Anthony's Cemetery on a gravel county road. Drive down this road about one-third of a mile. Look for a sign on a fence-enclosed parking area and the trailhead on your left.

From May through October daily and during weekends the rest of the year, the preserve offers three backcountry trails (up to six miles in length) by free permit from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Bottomland Trail is .75 mile with a shorter half-mile loop. An information trailhead, five interpretive wayside exhibits, benches and comfort station are available. In the future, this trail will provide the opportunity to walk through a riparian prairie and learn about this rare natural plant community and its importance in the human history of the Flint Hills region.

Though some species have disappeared, such as buffalo and panthers, others thrive in the Kansas Flint Hills. Visitors may still spot a coyote, a jackrabbit, or a white-tailed deer while walking the nature trails of the preserve. Red-tailed hawks, falcons and the majestic golden eagle may soar high above as they scan for prey.

Once a symbol of the Old West, some authors have estimated that there were between 30 to 60 million American bison (commonly called buffalo) roaming these once vast prairies. Today bison are used to help restore prairies. Bison help prairies by "rubbing out" trees, treading on seeds with their sharp hooves and creating disturbed ground where new plants can grow.

Guided tours of the historic ranch house are offered year-round. Prairie bus tours of the preserve are available from May through October at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. for a small fee. The bus accommodates wheelchairs.

During summer weekends (Memorial Day to the end of October), the facility offers special Living History programs, Red House discovery hikes, and nature programs. The one-room Lower Fox Creek School is open noon to 4 p.m. weekends in May and June, and September and October.

The preserve's historic ranch headquarters is located two miles north of Strong City, Kansas on Hwy. 177, on the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway.