Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is one of the few places like this that is completely free to visit. Usually, national parks and preserves charge a fee, but not Tallgrass Prairie. And there's a lot of stuff to see, so you're getting a lot for nothing!You will be walking a bit here, so keep that in mind. Many of the outdoor exhibits are located a walk from each other. Stop at the visitor center first, where you can learn about the ecosystem of the area. You'll find out that this is the only National Park Service unit that's dedicated to celebrating the tallgrass prairie. This preserve is the largest expanse of tallgrass prairie left in the world, and you can see it here! It's kind of mind-boggling that this part of the United States used to be covered with tallgrass prairie, and now ... not so much, due to expansion. But you can step outside and see the grasses that used to cover the land as far as you could see.There are also some historic buildings to visit, which belonged to a family who ran the ranch. You can walk into the barn, explore the house and see the three-person outhouse. (Why would you want to use the restroom next to other people?) This was a very interesting place to visit, and it gave me a greater appreciation for this part of Kansas.

We like visiting national park sites and I've had this one on my radar for years. To me, this plus kind of like the prairie we see in Dances With Wolves. So we went on a nice summer day while we were in the area. I found this place beautiful and scenic and more hilly than I expected. We saw the barn and the old equipment inside it and also the fields. The people at the visitor center were helpful and told us the best places to go. They even have some buffalo herds that you can see. You have to walk at least a mile (round trip) to get to them. We didn't get to see them but I bet that would be incredible to see. As much as I liked this place, I wish it was easier to see by car. From what I saw, you park at the visitor center and then you have to walk anywhere in the park you want to go. It would be nice if they had places you can drive to then get out and walk around. As is, this made visiting with our 5 year old somewhat difficult since she can't walk very far. Still though i like this place and would like to return some time.

The area had some historic buildings such as a schoolhouse, barn, and a farmhouse. The area also had some great views of the Kansas sunrise. I noticed that sunflowers were blooming since it was early September when I went.

Beautiful!! Hard to imagine this is what Kansas used to look like. Rolling hills, wild flowers, animals galore. Glad someone had the foresight to save this piece of heaven. We did the 8mile hike with a variety of ages and abilities without much trouble. I would warn anyone heading out in the heat of summer to be prepared, very little shade to be found on this trail. Sprayed ourselves before and midpoint to avoid trouble with ticks. We did see them, but luckily didn't bring any home. I look forward to visiting again, maybe In the fall time.

I was lucky to have the chance to stop through at this national park site on my latest cross-country drive. The only regret would be that I didn't have more time to spend here.There is a nice visitor center including the usual interactive exhibits of geologic and ecological history. I was most intrigued by the chart showing the striations of soil and stone varieties underlying the preserve. A small gift shop also fills this space; here you can stamp your park passport and talk to staff or a ranger about what to do and see. The center sits next to a large, old barn and home built from the readily available limestone of the surrounding hills. There's a horse enjoying a quiet, but possible lonely, life here on the old farm. A nice, modern bathroom facility. Plenty of parking, including spaces for larger vans, SUVs and small buses.There are miles of trails here. Would be fantastic on cooler, windier days for either a slow hike or even an easy trail run with minimal boulders and roots. As such, it's very sunny and hilly here. Not too many trees once you leave the main area of the buildings. During the 3 months spanning usually mid-late spring through mid-late summer, the NPS interfaces with The Nature Conservancy to graze a small herd of privately owned bison here on the preserve. That makes this one of the few places left in the country where you can see bison in what would have been their natural habitat of tallgrass prairie (though the grasses are shorter and more edible in spring-summer months).I lucked out, arriving here precisely at a time when the bison were here to graze. Windswept, rolling hills with views for miles. Early summer flowers dancing in the breeze under flitting multicolor butterflies. For the most part, this is a peaceful trot. Seeing bison in person was equal parts majestic and terrifying (once you realize there's no fence between you and them). Make a day trip of the place on a good weather day and really enjoy the relaxing feel of this park not to be missed.

Situated in beautiful Chase County, Tallgrass Prairie is considered Kansas' National Park. Technically it is a preserve, but is ran by the National Park Service. The highlights of Tallgrass are the trails and vistas overlooking thousands of acres of rolling hills, tall grasses and buffalo herds. The visitor center is situated in close proximity to a late 19th century homestead with house, a large barn and many out buildings. When I visited the barn there were many quilts on display and a square dance with live music. The panoramic views are quite subtle as compared to the mountains and ocean, but just as majestic. Anyone traveling up I-35 through Emporia should detour the 18 miles west and visit one of the last Tallgrass Prairies left in the United States.

Loved this place. You walk out a ways behind the visitor's center and you feel like you are all alone with the bison. Just pure serenity. And that was on a one hundred degree day. I didn't even realize how hot it was until I was done with the hike. The people working in the visitor's center were super nice and really helpful as well. The center itself has a ton of information to absorb. I had to pull my kids out of it so we could go walk some trails. If you want to get a true feel for the "Great Plains", I think this would be the place. And, you can't beat the price. It's all free. I wanted to go back and buy something at the visitor's center just to pay them something for their great service. But alas, when I got back they were closing up shop. If you don't mind, on your visit, buy something for me. You can keep it.

Beautiful preserve out in the middle of Kansas. Several trails that aren't very well defined. Many closed off by cattle gates that lead you to believe off limits. Beautiful scenic overlooks and well mowed trails. Some Rocky portions but overall easy hike. Definitely bring plenty of water as it is super hot out there.

Visited here a few weeks ago. I'm always on the lookout for cool hiking places. This is a beautiful area of Kansas. Sure we don't have mountains, but there is something beautiful about wide open spaces and calming rustling of the grass in the wind. They have bison that we got to see. They were right of our path, so we had to go to another path that whole pretty wasn't as nice as the first. There is a one room school house that is really cool to see. A nice thing about here is they have a phone tour that you can listen to while exploring the area! I'd go visit again!

A cool park. Glad it exists. Beautiful views. Nice hiking trails. Friendly rangers. Good junior ranger program. Not all that different from other prairie areas. Definitely worth checking out if in area, but not a destination.