National Parks / Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
National Preserve — KS
Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America, but within a generation most of it had been transformed into farms, cities, and towns. Today less than 4% remains intact, mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills. Established on November 12, 1996, the preserve protects a nationally significant remnant of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Here the tallgrass makes its last stand.
Current Alerts
- CautionDangerous Highway Crossing
Highway 177 is 60 mph with a blind spot directly across from the house. Safely use the highway underpass to the Fox Creek Trail just south of the visitor center parking lot. Be smart, stay alive.
- InformationThe Preserve is Open, but K-177 Highway Closed 12 Miles North
Beginning Monday, March 2, K-177 will close for a bridge replacement near Council Grove on K-177; local traffic only. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is OPEN, but must be accessed from the south. K-177 thru traffic will be directed to follow the state detour on U.S. 56, U.S. 56/U.S. 77 and K-150. KDOT uses state highways for official detour routes for safety, weight and maintenance concerns. Go to KDOT website for detour map.
More info →
Source: National Park Service.