GUIDED TOURS

Bus Tours of the Prairie – The diversity of the Tallgrass

Prairie National Preserve awaits your discovery on this 6.4-

mile bus tour led by National Park Service rangers. While

touring the preserve’s backcountry, you will learn about the

prairie’s intricate system of plants and animals, American

Indians, the geology that formed the Flint Hills, and the legacy

of ranching. You will also experience the vast prairie

landscape – sweeping views, rolling hills, and an endless sky.

The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and is available daily

from the last Saturday in April through the last Sunday in

October.

Bus tour times – 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

$5.00 per adult, $3.00 age 5 –18 years, 4 and under free

Advance reservations are recommended, but arrangements

can be made the day of your visit if space is available.

House Tours – National Park Service rangers conduct guided

tours through the historic 1881 limestone ranch house. Tours

are conducted hourly from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from May

through October. House tour schedules vary November

through April.

GROUP TOURS

Ranch Headquarters/Prairie Bus Combination Tour

Groups of 15 or more may schedule a ranch headquarters tour

in conjunction with a prairie bus tour. The two-hour

combination tour includes a one-hour tour of the ranch house,

barn, and outbuildings, and a one-hour prairie bus tour.

Reservations for group tours must be scheduled at least two

weeks in advance. The combination tour is available from the

last Saturday in April through the last Sunday in October.

$7.00 per adult, $4.00 age 5 – 18 years, 4 and under free

Ranch Headquarters Tour – Tours for groups of 15 or more

can be arranged throughout the year. National Park Service

rangers lead visitors on a tour of the ranch house, barn, and

outbuildings. The tour lasts one hour and must be scheduled at

least two weeks in advance.

$4.00 per adult, $2.00 age 5 – 18 years, 4 and under free

NATURE TRAILS

The preserve’s nature trails are open year-round

during daylight hours only. For visitor safety and

resource preservation, we ask that visitors stay on

the designated trails.

The Southwind Nature Trail – A 1 3/4-mile hiking trail

through the tallgrass prairie, passing by the Lower Fox

Creek School. Scenic overlook areas offer a wide-open view

of the prairie.

The Bottomland Trail – A 3/4-mile loop or a shorter 1/2-

mile loop through bottomland prairie along Fox Creek.

Wayside exhibits and an information kiosk tell the story of

the prairie restoration and cultural history in the area. This

trail is wheelchair accessible and offers a comfort station.

BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS

The preserve’s backcountry hiking trails are open between

9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from the last Saturday in April

through the last Sunday in October. Permits are required

for the backcountry hiking trails. A limited number of

permits will be issued daily and may be reserved in

advance by calling the preserve at 620-273-8494.

Scenic Overlook Trail – A 6.4-mile round-trip hike along

the bus tour route (improved ranch road) to the scenic

overlook area. Along the trail, visitors will see limestone

outcroppings, one of 26 human-made ponds on the preserve,

remnants of stone fences, and native prairie wildlife.

Experience the scenic beauty of native rolling prairie on a

grand scale, as you take in the wide-open vistas up to 1,490

feet above sea level.

3 Pasture Loop Trail – A 3.8-mile backcountry hike

through upland prairie. This trail winds along existing

ranch roads and a mowed path. From May through July,

cattle graze on the hillsides and valleys as they have for the

past century.

Red House Trail – A 6-mile backcountry hike through

upland prairie and natural drainage areas. This trail passes

through several cultural features of the historic ranching era,

while allowing visitors to experience an intimate view of

wetland prairie flowers and vegetation through a scenic

grove of cottonwood trees.

Prairie Partners TOUR INFORMATION

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is

a unique public/private partnership

National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural

and cultural resources and values of the National Park

System for the enjoyment, education,

and inspiration of this and future

generations. The National Park System

comprises 388 areas covering more than

84 million acres throughout the United

States and its territories.

The Nature Conservancy is a private nonprofit

organization dedicated to preserving the plants, animals,

and natural communities that represent the diversity of

life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need

to survive. The Conservancy and its million members

have been responsible for the protection of 15 million

acres of ecologically significant land in the United States

and an additional 117 million acres worldwide. The

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is owned by The

Nature Conservancy and operated by the National Park

Service. This arrangement makes the Tallgrass Prairie

National Preserve the

only privately owned

national park unit in

the country. For more

information visit

nature.org/kansas.

Kansas Park Trust, through an agreement with the

National Park Service, and in cooperation with The

Nature Conservancy, is dedicated to the mission of

enhancing visitor experiences at the preserve by assisting

in private fundraising efforts, encouraging Congressional

support for implementation of

the preserve management plan,

conducting special public

events, and operating an on-site

bookstore and gift shop.

The preserve offers a variety of activities including guided tours of the 1881 ranch house, living history programs,

prairie bus tours, nature trails, and backcountry hiking trails

Brochure produced by the Kansas Geological Survey

Design by Jennifer Sims

paid for by the Kansas Department of Commerce

photos: Bob Sawin