Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Reviews

You will enjoy this if you love peaceful surroundings and beautiful scenery includung baby bison (if you are there in the spring). Must be prepared to take your time, "it's the journey" of meandering down the roads, looking for bison and other wildlife. Small visitor center with friendly, knowledgeable volunteers.

We weren't sure what to expect when we headed down the dirt roads (gyp actually). We saw this in the winter and would love to go back in the spring when the grass is turning green and the wild flowers are blooming. We saw A LOT of bison that were right on the road. It was one of the most beautiful prairie sunsets I have ever seen with the bison in the background. Highly recommend this drive. Your car will get dusty but it is worth the experience. It will wash!!!!

when we go back to Pawhuska OK we are going to fly we drove took 2 1/2 days both wasy which we could have rented car and had 4 extra days to Explorer

Tons of open space and bison. We got lucky and there was a small herd directly in the road just as we were entering the preserve. We drove through on a Sunday at dawn and it was the perfect time to see a lot of bison and no people! Worth the drive.

We went up to the Tallgrass Prairie Reserve last summer. We had been in Pawhuska and just up the street from what now has the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. When we went about two hundred yards up from the Mercantile, we saw a sign that said Tallgrass Prairie Reserve with a nice iron gated entrance. We had heard it was open daily, and learned there was no admission to the Preserve, so we drove right on through the gate and up a long hill. After a mile or two, all of a sudden we kind of ended up on this huge plateau surrounded by tallgrass every direction. It was strange seeing all this open land with no buildings nearby, no telephone poles, no hint of civilization. It was if we had stepped back in time back to the wild west days. We drove another mile or two and noticed what we thought were cattle grazing up ahead. As we approached, we noticed two Bison grazing not more than perhaps 50 yards from the roadway. We stopped and took pictures as the Bison did not seem bothered. We drove another few miles, saw breathtaking scenery and came upon some historical information makers. Drove a few more miles, saw several hundred Bison as we drove for another hour or so, just going a few miles per hour and just enjoying the Preserve. We got out several times and just looked around. Made for a nice relaxing afternoon enjoying what seemed to be a time jump. If you are in Pawhuska to visit the shops or the Mercantile, you can just drive a mile or two up into the Preserve to know what I am talking about. If you have kids, you might want to just drive a few miles until you see a Bison, let the kids ooh and awe, and then turn around and go back down the hill back into Pawhuska. Nothing to lose but a few minutes, yet a nice exposure to what the tallgrass prairie was like 100 or so years ago, and still is. Pretty much untouched by human hands. Interesting Experience.

Drove all the way to the visitor center only to learn that the bison were moved to a location for maintenance reasons
No one at hotel, told us and there were no signs. While the scenery was interesting that alone is not a reason to travel there.

When traveling here, it is best to go in to the preserve using the south entrance (closest to Pawhuska), as you might get lost going in the West entrance. The navigation drops off coming in the West enterance, through this was the side were we saw the most bison. And if you enjoy old houses, the ranch house tour is interesting (free).

This was an excellent stop for us as we traveled from Kansas to Oklahoma. The park is large with a loop trail that you can drive through and have a full experience of the Great Plains Prairie. There were a number of herds of Bison that can be seen from your car as we traversed the park. There was a visitor center, but it was closed due to COVID. Nearby were two excellent hiking trails.

One of the most memorable things we did while in Pawhuska was to drive the 17 miles to the Tallgrass Prairie Reserve. The preserve is open every day from dawn to dusk with no charge for admittance and can be accessed via county roads.

It was very icy and cold the day we drove to the reserve. It was sort of foggy, and I wasn't really for sure what to expect. However, from the first free-range bison, we came across, our excitement levels rose above and beyond.

There is nothing on this earth more spectacular than watching a beautiful animal in its natural habitat. We rolled through the reserve very quietly with the windows down, sometimes stopping because the animals were so close -- even on the gravel road. While it made it hard to drive past, it was just awesome to watch them. They are some of the most graceful creatures I have ever seen.

After driving through, there is a visitor's center at the end where Kip, one of the guides, loves to share his knowledge of the area -- and there is so much to learn here! Be sure and stop and talk to him. It will not only bless him but bless you in the process. In fact, we learned that Oklahoma was built on 3 things -- oils, Indians, and outlaws.

Always exciting to see these majestic creatures up close and personal. Lucky enough today to have a large group resting right along the roadside.

Great place to see and visit, it's about 15 miles on unpaved roads to the visitors center but a fun trip. We got lost on the way out and went down roads that could only be described as goat paths, be careful you remember the way out, GPS was not much help back there. Views are great and it is a lot of fun. Free to visit as well.

Enjoyed the scenery and taking in the bison herd! A nice relaxing Sunday afternoon drive. We did not stop at the visitors center.

We drove from Pawhuska out to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve specifically to see the bison and we were not disappointed. They are everything that makes the old west come alive.

Headed to Tallgrass Prairie Preserve after having lunch at Pioneer Woman Mercantile; a very short drive from there. Road to preserve's gift shop and visitor center is rocky and about 15 miles long so take it slow but the scenery is beautiful and bison are everywhere. Some were very close to the road but not aggressive to the cars at all (thankfully). Gift shop's prices were very reasonable and restrooms were a welcomed sight after a long, bumpy ride. Staff was very informative of the area. Enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Tall grass prairies used to dominate the American landscape, but are now mostly limited to parts of Oklahoma and Kansas.

While I’m no fan of the Oklahoma area in general, this is unique and beautiful, and should be on your must see list when you’re in the area.

Plan your route ahead of time and load your Google maps on your phone because eventually cell service will drop out.

You will spend several miles on gravel. Your car will be covered in literal rivers of dust. There are active farms on this prairie as well, so locals do drive the road. Even though you should drive 15-20 miles away (so plan to be there for at least a couple hours)—others may fly past you going 50-60 mph. I pulled over many times to let people pass me.

There is a visitor center probably half way through the prairie loop. There are restrooms, but no concessions.

I was lucky enough to see several herds of bison. There are also free roaming cattle. And the views are gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Yes, you and your car will get dirty. Yes, you’ll drive slow. But I’m a city girl, and really enjoyed this free activity. I plan to visit the Kansas tall grass prairie this summer as well.

Hubby and I came here not really knowing what to expect, except we'd already been to the prairies in Strong City and Manhattan, KS, and knew what those were like. This one was a working ranch at one time so had bunk houses, which were off limits the day we came. We took the two-mile trail and did not see another soul the whole time, which was lovely after the crowd at Pioneer Woman Merchantile.

Amazing views - loved the Bison! Took the 2-mile hike. Was a little disappointed that the bunkhouse and headquarters were closed when we were there. Worth going.

We drove and drove but did not think we would see buffalo. Then we created a hill and saw a small herd with babies. Well worth the drive .

Took the time to drive to and through the Preserve despite 90 degree temps. Stopped at the visitor center where the volunteers were pleasant, generous with their time, and very knowledgeable. We walked one of the trails near the visitor center (there are 3 loops) and the drove to and around the bison loop. We saw one herd of bison but they were off in the distance. We would go again.

We went on tour and was taken here, but we were only able to see the bison in the distance, but.........on our last day we drove to the Tallgrass Prairie and were able to see many bison! There was even 4 bison that were near the road that we were able to take pictures of up close and personal......all 4 crossed in front of our parked car! We remembered the 3 rules: 1) stay in your vehicle. 2) stay in your vehicle. 3) stay in your vehicle. Was awesome to get up close pictures!

Didn’t see many buffalo but understand that is subject to animal behavior. Wish we had known this was very rough gravel road would not have done the drive. Watch out for high centering and side drops and lots of chunk rock in road. Take it slow don’t tear up your car!

The drive is long and we arrived at the visitors center too late, but it was still an interesting side trip.

This is our third visit to the Tallgrass Prairie and it is still just an amazing place to visit. We arrived a little before 8 and were greeted with a large group of bison. We just pulled the car to the side of the road and watched nature take place around us. The bison are fun to listen to and the birds were just talking and fliting all around. Driving through the Conservancy area, we came across multiple herds. You could spend all day here just watching and listening.

Lovely evening drive, was able to find hundreds of buffalo! Have never seen such beautiful scenery, the rolling hill and beautiful green pastures.

Had a great drive through the reserve, were able to view many bison! The prairie grass was blowing in the gentle breeze and the birds were singing! The visitors center and bunkhouse tour were added bonuses!!

We drove through the preserve after we had stopped off at the pioneer woman mercantile to see what it was about, it was later in the day and pretty warm and the buffalo were way off the road we could barely see them they were in a herd of 70 or 80 of them. Drove all the way through and back out stopping to sign the visitors book at the visitors center.

Even in the winter monochromatic landscape, viewing these large buffalo in a natural habitat is so inspiring. Just drive North out of Pawhuska and you will enter the preserve. The buffalo graze along the roadsides; just stay in your car! They are huge and, while they will mostly ignore you, you do not want to be in the way of one of these massive and beautiful animals.

Enjoyed my ride through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Follow signs to the visitor center. Came across a heard of bison on my way out. Loved the landscape.

You have to be careful lots of buffalo. But some nice walking trails in the non buffalo area. great scenery. Great place for a afternoon.

This was an unexpected pleasure on a beautiful day. The prairie offers picturesque views with the swaying grasses and the blue skies with a myriad of cloud formations. I recommended a full tank of gas, a camera, keep your windows up and plan to take your car for a wash afterwards. It may seems at times that you are on a road you are supposed to be on but keep driving. A local Pawhuska guide features a map to assure you. It took a a long time to come across the herd of bison but there are they. At the beginning of the drive we would see a few here and there. I definitely recommend taking the time for this.

With herds of bison and tall grasses, this is how the North American prairie country looked for hundreds of years. It is a vast preserve with dedicated volunteers.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is stunning! The rolling hills with tall grasses waving in the Oklahoma wind and the bison spread across the prairie is truly one of the last great places on earth. It is magical to pull over and just imagine what has happened here over the thousands of years. Throw in the history of the Osage and the ranching lore and you have a great way to spend a few hours.

We wanted to get some good pictures of Bison and boy did we get some. This was an awesome drive. If you have time it is well worth it !

If you like seeing a part of Americas past, nature / wildlife without the frills of today this was wonderful. Well worth the time.

It's hard to believe that only 10% of this beautiful country exists. Loved seeing a fenceless countryside! Not much of that left these days.
The ONLY reason we didn't give 5 stars here was because when we got out to the visitors center (15 miles, 30 round trip from Pawhuska) it was closed. We made sure to go during operating hours, but it wasn't meant to be. We enjoyed seeing the bison up close, but it would have been nice to have had a sign posted somewhere stating that everything (including the bathrooms) were closed.

My family and I went to this wonderful place. I have seen bison in South Dakota, but this was just as good or better than that. I loved the wide open land and having bison being able to roam in the wild. Make sure and stop at the visitor center. My family and I learned so much from the volunteers there. They are a wealth of knowledge. Ask them to give you a tour of the house by the visitor center. This was the house of the original owners of the land. They have some nice books and items to purchase in the visitor center. Yes, this is country roads. Be ready to slow down and have your car get dirty. This is what country is like. These country roads were well maintained. If you come to Pawhuska for the Pioneer Woman, make sure to come this place.

My 5th visit and still magical. There are places in the park where the only give away to the century is the gravel road and the car you are in. It is easy to imagine what it would have been like 175 years ago. I love every time I go. Gravel roads are well maintained but highly unsuitable for motorcycles. Dust from the roads can be heavy during dry spells but after rains roads are not washouts and still retain their condition. (Or the road crews are excellent!) The visitor center is very well worth the stop even if you miss the store/display shop being open. A couple of signs/directions are vague so be on your A game when studying maps, especially if you are directionally challenged! It would be easy to get lost. A word to those who like to flirt with danger-STAY IN YOUR CAR!! Bison are not cute fuzzy friends and they guard their calves fiercely! They are fairly used to respectful, slow or stopped vehicles but still be on your guard. I will definitely be back - repeatedly.

Made the drive through TPP. Outstanding views of many bachelor bison herds. Beautiful, powerful & graceful animals. White tail deer & Hawks. Spent time at visitors centre with extremely knowledgeable & nice Docents. They provided outstanding insights to important work going on at preserve. Picked up a souvenir of a flat tire from gravel road but took 15 mins & $15 at Pawhuska Tire Repair to fix that. Do not miss this beauty!

My husband and I have visited this preserve twice in the past 10 years. We find it a fascinating place for nature-lovers and birdwatchers. Both times we were able to find the bison herd, and it's quite an amazing sight to come across them. The preserve helps you imagine what the prairies were like 150 years ago. We also spotted some unusual (for us) birds there.

An unbelievable journey back in time to see the open prairie, bison roaming free, and how the cowboys lived and worked. It’s a 12 mile drive on a gravel road to get to the visitor center but we’ll worth the trip. Great history and very knowledgeable hosts.

horrible, saw two bison, thats it, 45 minutes on dirt roads, other drivers driving FAST and eating dust. no thanks, at least it was free. at least it was free, once you get to the visitor center you just have to turn around and travel the dirt road again, if you have a car you like, avoid this

We did not see 1 buffalo when we drove thru. And scenery, well, eh....we're from WI, so if you have time and want to take a drive, go for it. We drove thru it after seeing "The Lodge" of Pioneer Woman, so really wasn't out of our way to drive back to town, so worth it from that perspective.

This is always a great trip! Don’t go, if you don’t like dusty dirt roads! Don’t complain if you do go and it’s a dusty dirt road. Was able to catch the visitor center opened this trip. Everyone was super nice. They have some nice reasonably priced souvenirs and educational information. It takes a couple of hours to do the whole trip around the preserves. Well worth the dirt, dust, and gravel to see the gorgeous views and animals. It will was off easily.

We had a little spare time on our hands and decided to drive to the Preserve to view some wildlife and landscape. We saw bison, deer, and cows. It was a nice, though very dusty, ride through the reserve. I recommend.

Left Pawhuska and took a wrong turn. Ended up in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. What a great mistake. Natural, honest, beautiful, relaxing. Be prepared to drive on dirt roads. Saw 2 large bison herds roaming. I wanted to sing “Home in the Range.”

I wouldn't go just for this but if you are in the area, don't miss it. Oklahoma is lucky to have such a peaceful place. Enjoy the birds and the different wildflowers and the grass. Imagine land that has never been plowed. Look for the bison. Maybe they will cross the road while you are there.

It seems like a long drive on the gravel road to get to the visitor center. But we stuck with it and enjoyed the interesting history and conversation from the volunteers there.

Excited to see the Bison. Drove for about 15 miles on gravel road & never saw the first one. Finally made it to Visitor Center & they sent us in another direction. Did see the a good distance from the road. Car was gray but had turned white by the time we got off of the gravel roads!

This looks like a movie setting (and has been). When you see hundreds of bison sweeping across the plains as they did a century ago and nothing around but grass and hills, it makes you glad they started the Preserve. Bison are dangerous but they are beautiful. A must see for anyone in Oklahoma or Kansas (or Missouri, or Texas, or Nebraska!)

It is a beautiful vast area of prairie. I drove lots of miles on the gravel roads and only saw 3 bison on a far ridge. Lots of birds and hawks flying in the dusk hours were neat to watch. My car is filthy but it was worth it.

We were pleased to run across the bison only a short distance after we got onto the preserve. Actually had to stop and wait on them to pass. Got an up close encounter with them that made us all a little nervous. They paid no attention to us and went right on. There is a visitors center on up in the preserve. Drive slow the road can be a bit tricky at times. Over all a very good experience!

I’m so glad I made the effort to do this. I was there on a beautiful, cool Spring morning, midweek, so there were not a lot of other vehicles on the road through the preserve. I saw lots of bison from a distance (not up close), and I got some great photos of the prairie.

Be sure you allocate a couple of hours for this event. The roads are rough, gravel roads. We were told it is a 17 mile trip to the visitors center. But the close proximity to herds of buffalo on the way is absolutely amazing!

My husband and I drove here on our way to Pawhuska. It was a long way on the back roads and I wondered if we were going the right way. When we finally arrived at the preserve, the road turns to gravel and we had to drive slower. We saw several herds of Buffalo which was very nice. It was a long drive to the visitor center, which happened to be closed when we got there because of COVID-19. Your car will get dusty. But we enjoyed the drive and seeing the tall grass and the Buffalo. We did not take the bison loop or we would’ve spent a lot longer out there. It’s free to drive-through.

this place is free to drive around but there really is nothing much to see outside of some buffalo.You basically drive for like 15 miles on gravel and your car gets filthy,rocks are hitting your car and people drive fast through it and then send rocks into your window.

Such a beautiful place with majestic creatures roaming the hills. I’ve never seen that many bison together and the prairie is breath taking at times, a true nature lovers dream.

We always love our visits to the Tallgrass Prairie. The drive into and through the preserve is beautiful. This time we visited at dusk. Thousands of butterflies and dragonflies danced through the air. We eventually came within view of the bison herd. Although they were not right next to the road, as they sometimes are, seeing them dotting they landscape always reminds us of the majesty of these creatures. Some were silhouetted against the western horizon. Even though it is “just” a drive, my kids - ages 5 to 11 - all loved the visit. We’ll certainly be back.

It’s quite a drive around the gravel road but you can turn around at anytime. Worth the drive. Recommend going at dusk.

Want to see lots of buffalo in their natural setting on the prairie, this is the place for you. Unfortunately this was a sad time for me as we were scattering my sister’s ashes. She loved this place. It is peaceful with the lush green prairie accented by gentile rolling hills.

Want to see bison?? Then this is your place to visit! We saw multiple herds. The visitor area was staffed by very friendly and educated folks who were more than happy to greet us and share their knowledge about the preserve and it inhabitants. It is down a long dirt/gravel road, so be prepared for that.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is a place where the buffalo roam free! They really do walk across the road, by your car, etc. The Preserve has a large herd. You can drive through the Preserve (very, very slowly) in about an hour. There is a visitors center at the north part of the Preserve (at least as accessible by road). There are also some walking trails not far from the visitors center. The Preserve is around 30 minutes north of Pawhuska.

The TallGrass Praire is as close as Americans can get to what it might have been like for our ancestors to cross the middle of our country. Thousands of bison roam freely on the praire, dotted with native flowers in the spring, and sporting 10 foot tall Big Bluestem grass in the fall. The only sounds are the snorting of bison, the wind, and coyotes.

After coming all the way from Ponca City, we thought we were lost trying to find the visitor's center. Too much ranch land, roo much prairie, and no good working GPS.
But we found the entrance and started down that shell and dirt road leading we hoped to the visitor center.

Now, we have seen herds of bison. We've been to the Dakotas and Yellowstone and even followed a couple of males down a trail in Caprock Canyon. But until Tallgrass Prairie, we never had our breath taken away like this. We felt that we began to understand what it must have been like in the early days of our country. We came up over a hill on that long (and I do mean long) ride to the visitor center and there they were. Magnificent animals, bulls and mothers with their calves, moving in wave after wave across the road (open range for them here). Were there hundreds, certainly. Were there thousands, it looked like it. We all agreed that we had never seen anything like it. They moved slowly and silently across the prairie, the ends of the waves getting closer and closer to where we had stopped. And they just kept coming. Finally, feeling that we had somehow invaded their private territory, we started backing up (there was no place to turn around) until we were at a turnout, and then turned around and left the Preserve without ever getting to the visitor center. It was one of the most beautiful things we had ever seen, and we all hope to return.

The Tallgrass Prairie Reserve provides visitors with a truly unique landscape - virgin, unplowed tallgrass prairie teeming with many varieties of prairie grasses, wildflowers, bird-life and bison. The visitor's center is quite a few miles into the preserve and since the roads are all unpaved, it takes a good 30 minutes or more to reach it. The visitor's center is staffed with knowledgeable volunteers who will share the description and history of the prairie. This is a remote area and you won't pass many cars and you probably will not have cell service. Don't get lost. Have a full tank of gas, and make sure you talk to the staff at the visitor's center and know where you are going.

While visiting the Lodge today, Bill told us about the large number of bison that were found on the property. The ride along the unpaved, country roads just brought back such vivid childhood memories-I loved it!!!! We saw hundred of cows and bison along the county roads. Such unique creatures...

I live in the mountains so don't see much of that "give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above", hence, really enjoyed appreciating the expanse of the prairie. Nice hike by the visitor center. Saw some bison. This is Oklahoma, "where the wind comes sweepin' down the plains"; just a thought if you are out for a hike.

We started out with a half dozen donuts and setting our GPS for the adventure. It was great fun, and we even brought our German shepherd for the day trip.
The entire journey was just amazing, our timing was perfect as the buffalo were close to the roads.
Everybody was friendly and helpful at the tourist center, we would highly recommend and bring the entire family.

There are huge herds of free range bison. They are large powerful animals and you can get very close(DO NOT LEAVE YOU VEHICLE) It's amazing to see.

After leaving the Pioneer Woman Lodge, we traveled on to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. We entered on the north side and drove through to the visitor's center. The folks there were very welcoming and informative. Lots of exhibits were on display as well as educational material. Souvenirs were also available. After leaving the center, we proceeded to the Bison Loop. Before you go, these are not buffalo. They are Bison. I didn't know there was a big difference, but once you leave the visitor's center, you will. No matter what you choose to call them, they are beautiful creatures! The landscape throughout is roaming and tranquil. We saw a few stray here and there but when we took the Bison Loop, we hit the mother load! At a couple points in our drive, we had to wait for them to clear the road. We didn't honk or get out by any means. We just sat and enjoyed them moving about. It is calving season and there are calves everywhere nursing and staying close to mom. It was a very pleasant drive and we didn't meet anyone along the Bison Loop. The other road in the Reserve, we met numerous locals traveling about. They are shedding at the moment so they look a little ragged. Either way, they are nothing to be trifled with. The Reserve is free which is amazing considering this is the largest populated area of Bison in America, over 2500 and calving daily!

It felt like we were on back roads for ever but well worth the trip to see the Bison.....that was the highlight for us to visit the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

Take your time and enjoy the Prairie. This is a place to enjoy the journey and not the arrival. It can be a life experience if you have always wanted to walk in a prairie. this is an experience that would be difficult or impossible to replicate anywhere in the world

A must see! We saw deer, bison, turkeys and a snake. The children loved watching the bison roam. The scenery is beautiful!

Didn't really know what to expect. We entered from Pawhuska. We saw a lot of herds of bison and fairly close to the road for good viewing. We drove 15 miles on gravel road to the museum only to learn it was closed for January. Sure wish there would have been a sign before we drove that far! Hope this land will always stay undeveloped! I am sure it is beautiful in spring!

We spent several hours driving through the Tallgrass Preserve (and even ended up in Kansas!) Though it was bone dry, it was still spectacular, especially to see hundreds of buffalo roaming free. Signage is poor, though, and we probably went in circles several times. Little or no cell phone coverage to use maps, so take a compass with you!

We loved our drive through this preserve. Such a breathtaking view of the prairie and the bison. We couldn't believe how close we were to the animals.

Beautiful scenery. Saw many Bison up close and personal! Will be back! The visitor's center was nice to visit to get a perspective of the specifics regarding the tall grasses and map of the area.

My friend and I wanted to see nature, and particularly were looking for fall leaf colors when we started out from Tulsa. We decided to head to the Tallgrass Prairie because she'd never been there and I had enjoyed my last visit.

We started down the County road looking for bison. Never did find any, and learned later that they had been gathered in another area for the fall roundup. We did see lots of birds and even a coyote running down the road. It was a pleasant drive on a nice day, and we both enjoyed the adventure.

I am glad we drove through here and went to the visitor center. Where else in the world can you see a prairie like this? But, just know as you go that while you might see the bison from afar or see some longhorn cattle, most of what you will see will be prairie. For me, that was enough--I could look out and think about what Oklahoma might have been like centuries ago. But, it's not that exciting. Kids might find it dull. Actually, my kid did find it dull! But, a nice day drive nonetheless.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is a gorgeous place to hike and watch birds. The bison weren’t out when we were there but it was still a great trip. The wind in the grass was like being on an ocean. We saw owls, hawks, coyote, and numerous other bird species.
Definitely worth a day trip!

The preserve is about 20 minutes out of town. It had been raining earlier so our car certainly got dirty on the gravel roads. Great experience with all of the bison. The visitor center was closed due to the virus, but it was still well worth the trip.

The Nature Conservancy's Joseph H. Williams Tall Grass Prairie Preserve is a natural marvel. The vast expanses of pristine prairie are breathtaking in any season. Spring and summer bring a wealth of native prairie wildflowers pollinated by butterflies and other insects, and spring is also accompanied by the booming of greater prairie chickens. Summer welcomes nesting birds such as dickcissels, eastern meadow larks, Henslow's sparrows, painted buntings, blue grosbeaks, and other avian jewels.Winter brings birds such as rough-legged hawks, short-eared owls, northern harriers, and other raptor species along with the beauty of snow and ice. Fall glows with the reds and oranges of big bluestem and other native grasses: little bluestem, Indian grass, and switchgrass. The bison are a joy to see in any season, especially considering they were almost exterminated in the wild west killing frenzy. The Nature Conservancy maintains the prairie through the age-old practice of grazing and fire. As fire has been re-introduced to the prairie through the Nature Conservancy's conservation practices, the full glory of the prairie has been maintained. This preserve is now around 40,000 acres and has become a model for area ranchers and the Osage Tribe in providing a path for continuing to preserve nature's glory. The Preserve has never been farmed and thus provides a true picture of how the land appeared before the onslaught of western "civilization." The night skies are incredible with their ebony background clearly showcasing a multitude of stars It is the perfect place to view a meteor shower if one is there at a propitious time. Daytime skies are lovely as well. You will find not only a beautiful landscape but a sense of peace and connection with nature if you choose to visit and slowly savor all the prairie has to offer.

Beautiful views. Beware that it is a lot of gravel roads and a long drive. We saw hundreds of bison but our GPS told us we could reach another major road without having to go back through Pawhuska,we spent 2 hours on a gravel road and a not well traveled one at that. We had no cell service and had to stop at the only house along the 45 miles of gravel road to ask how to get out. They said it happens a lot and that you cant trust your GPS in that part of the country. So moral of the story is to turn around when you get to the visitor center and head back into Pawhuska unless you are prepared for a long rough drive.

Very interesting even though we didn’t see any bison. But after 30 minutes of the same scenery, it got boring. I don’t think kids would be interested for very long.

With nothing much to do in Pawhuska, we decided to take a drive to the "Tall Grass Prairie Preserve.

The drive was beautiful and God's natural beauty was astounding. We had to stop the car twice to let the buffalo cross the road. I don't mean one or two I mean 50 at a time. Apparently this is the first time this year the buffalo have had their calves with them. They were so cute.

The drive is a little dusty and bumpy because it is on a dirt road.

The visitor's center was nothing to speak about but they did have nice, clean restrooms.

This preserve was so easy to get to and drove through. The bison we saw were so healthy .The flowers were so beautiful. The calm serene atmosphere was so relaxing and enjoyable . Well worth the trip .

The preserve museum has many interesting items, including sculls of local animals and bison parts, all of which can be touched. Bison are a common sight in the area. Worth the drive from Pawhuska

I took my friend who was visiting from Georgia to the Tall Grass Prairie to see the Buffalo. We saw the tall grass and lots of it. Just as we were about to give up on seeing any, I saw a dark line on the horizon to my left. So thats the direction we went. As we made the loop we saw a good estimate of 500 bison. Some were a great distance away and some were crossing the road. It was an exciting day. She was even able to face-time with her grandchildren and share the adventure with them!

Lots of beautiful views but I drove so my eyes were on the road. Gravel roads. Thank God my ‘09 Honda Accord made it with no flat tires. Never saw a bison. We have cattle in Missouri so this was a country drive there and back for us. The tour guides were not very excited to do much of anything. Anyway, we had more together time. Yellowstone rates way better.

Road wasn't as bad as some reviewers made it out to be. But it was a tight gravel road, dusty yes, but no potholes or crazy washouts when we visited. The roughest thing you drive over is the cattle bars at the gates. Nature Conservancy staff at the gift shop couldn't say where the bison were, luckily another customer overheard and told us to go up the North Road and over 800 bison were in the roundup zone near the road. Was kinda silly that the gift shop people didn't know. We turned around and went back the way we came once we took some pictures at the roundup zone.

This is a must do if you are visiting Pawhuska Okla. It is not a drive thru zoo park. It is a drive on roads thru the tall grass prairie. At one point, buffalo were roaming on either side of us. Once when we stopped to roll down the window for a picture, we heard a siren and realized a truck on the hill, was signaling the buffalo to move toward them for feed . It is absolutely free and the signs caution to stay in your car, do not drive off road and be aware that buffalo can be dangerous. As long as you just watch them and enjoy their peaceful beauty, you are just fine. It was definitely the highlight of our trip.

After traveling through a residential neighborhood you enter onto a dirt road incredibly filled with hundreds of bison! They were up close and personal. Two of them were actually on the road causing us to just stop and enjoy. This preserve is so worth the trip and it is FREE! We were able to take some fantastic photos! Get out there and see this wonderful site.

It was so easy to find the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve driving up from Pawhuska. It was so peaceful looking out over the prairie and seeing the buffalo was fantastic. We were blessed to see them in a few different groupings. Go all the way back to the nature trails and old ranch house!

Our Audi A8 did fine. The first 15 minutes we didn’t see anything but a car going in the opposite direction stopped us to tell us about a large herd & where to find them. Just spectacular, seeing hundreds of heads up close- they were crossing the road all around us! I was actually a little nervous, they were so close. Visitors center closed.

We have been here several times and love seeing the bison on the prairie. This trip they were near the beginning of the drive so we didn't have to search for them. A couple of times we have not been able to find them. Well worth your time and when you finish here, head on over to Woolaroc for some more amazing sights.

We checked it out on the way home from the PW Lodge Tour! We really enjoyed it!!! It's worth the extra 20 minutes. There are also great scenic turnouts to take great pictures of the view!

We visited with my 8 year old daughter. She enjoyed seeing and taking pictures of the Bison. We visited the visitor center and was kiddos tour of the old ranch house which was a highlight of this visit! Very Interesting!

Tallgrass is unlike anything you have ever seen. It has buffalo roaming in open grass. As you drive down the dirt road you will see buffalo crossing right in front of you or just standing on the road. They can be seen in their natural habitat chewing on grass or walking across the prairie. Depending on the time of year you visit, you can see young ones or you can see them shedding their winter coats. They are close enough to hear them grunt as they go about their business. We love to come watch them several times a year. You can just imagine what it looked like when Indians walked the plains and what the early settlers saw as they journeyed west. You will see these majestic animals up close in their natural habitat. You will see their awesome size. It really is unbelievable! I hope they stay open for many more years.

wonderful animals, beautiful view, must see nice drive and easy to get to. Pawhuska is a beautiful place in it's self.

Beautiful landscape and experience, even on winter time. During low season, the visitor center is closed, but the restrooms and the walking trail remains open. It is a beautiful walk to make, don’t skip it, it is beautiful and extremely peaceful. Specially the one that goes a couple of miles toward the tall grass in a straight line. It is a friendly walk for kids and seniors as well.

A little piece of heaven if you enjoy Oklahoma history. We enjoyed the bison. I could visualize Native Americans finding across the prairie on horseback. Roads are gravel so drive slow.

Place was cool looking for buffalo or bison. Stopped at the center and walked though the lodge. Lady was very informative would come back again

I had some extra time so I went thru the Preserve. I think I saw bison but didn't have any binoculars, which would've been helpful. I got all the way up to the Visitor's Center only to see that it was closed. They really should've posted some signs that it was closed at the entrance so that I didn't have to drive 10 miles in on a dirt road.

Great drive through the prairie . Saw buffalo, bring your binoculars as they were far away when we were there. Most area venues in the area were open so not sure why visitor center was not.

If you have never seen buffalo, definitely should drive out and see them. This day, we saw maybe 10 in two different areas. I think it would be interesting to see at the end of the summer growing season when the grass is tall. The visitor center is a long way into the reserve, and is quite small with a small grass display along with some animal artifacts. There are some people at the visitor center that can tell you about the tall grass prairie. For us, I would drive in a few miles, turn around and go to the next activity. They have some picnic tables at the visitor, not terribly scenic but under some trees, and I think there may have been a creek. They have a walking trail as well, just before the visitor center, but we did not go on them as it was so wet.

Loved seeing the Bison!! Drive is on a gravel road so bumpy and very dusty! Took us about an hour or more to drive all the way through at a slower speed. Well worth the drive to be able to see these very large animals.

This was a very enjoyable visit. Be prepared for drive down a gravel road but it is worth the trip. Once inside the preserve, you will experience large groups of bison right beside the road and crossing the road around you. Quite amazing to see how large they are. There weer approx. 1900 bison roaming in the preserve when we were there. There are also some very knowledgeable workers in the visitor center to explain the preserve and answer any questions.

We enjoyed the long ride through the preserve to the visitor center. There were many herds of bison to see along the way. The terrain was much rougher than I imagined for a prairie and caused me to think about the difficulties the settlers and pioneers had in settling there or crossing it.

Enjoyed two separate drives through this rolling prairie land, one on a sunny day and one when it was foggy and misty. Loved seeing so many bison. Small but nice visitor center. So Good that this piece of land has been saved for all to savor what used to be America.

I enjoyed touring through the historic home. It will be great when they finish the new Visitor Center. I did not go look for the bison as I live with them at home but I think it is great that they are establishing a herd there.

Loved seeing the bison. The volunteers were really friendly and very knowledgeable. I'm so glad that places like this exist.

I went here with someone from the area who raved about it. Although she warned me about the 17 mile dirt/gravel road, the ride was worth it and more. The views of the prairie grass stretched for miles and miles. It reminded me of the views that you see in the movie "Dances With Wolves". The volunteers on duty brought us into the bunk house and answered all questions. I was so impressed, I left a donation to help support this preserve.

We made a special detour to visit here and IT WAS WORTH IT!
Spotted hundreds of bison, maybe more than earlier trips to Yellowstone.
We will be back!

Drive in and out is on a gravel road. speed of 50-60 still possible if you know how to drive on gravel roads.

Views reminded me of Colorado and Wyoming. We saw a few Bison the day were were there, close enough to get a couple good pictures.

Staff at the Museum were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Not a bad way to spend an hour or two.

If you go to Pawhuska to the Pioneer Woman Merc and the line to get in is too long, head to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. It's only 30 more minutes driving north of Pawhuska. That's what we did...we weren't about to stand in line for what looked to be like over an hour. Unbelievable surprise after the hour drive from Tulsa to get there. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is the largest patch of land in the U.S. that has never seen a plow. It is untouched from forever. The people working in the visitor's center were amazing. They loved sharing the information and stories they have on the Preserve and with a smile. They were very friendly and welcoming. It was winter, so the prairie looked pretty brown dead, but I guess if you come in the spring or summer there are many wildflowers. We saw many buffalo and a deer. The lady at the center said there are between 50 and 60 buffalo calves born every spring. The herd is huge, spread out all over the place and growing. We were happy we went. When we were done we came back to Pawhuska and the line for Pioneer Woman was still too long so we went back home to Tulsa. Oh well.

If you’re interested in seeing the countryside in much the same way early settlers did, if you are stunned by herds of bison roaming free, if video games aren’t what you crave all day, you will love this. The visitors center was closed when I was there so I hate to have missed that but nonetheless, I had an hour of bliss.

We saw hundreds of buffalo during the long trail. This road goes for about 16 mile that ends at the headquarters. Nice shaded picnic area and view of deer grazing.

We drove down dirt roads and didn't see anyone for a long time. It was awesome seeing the bison! Absolutely worth the trip.

A couple of hints: have at least half a tank of gas. It is a long drive on grave fro Pawhuska to the end which is near the Kansas line. You are a pioneer in the middle of no where so pack food and water for the 2hr trip. Rest rooms are on the prairie. We had great weather yesterday, May 30,17 Saw all the Bison just on and off the road moving South. Spectacular !! Then drove thru cattle gates some of the gravel road had holes so be careful. Met a rancher after an hour and 30 minutes and told us we were on the right road. Didn't see another sole. HINT: Need more sign posts to mark the drive.

Far off the beaten path in Osage County, OK. Ive been several times and had both great experiences as well as so-so experiences. If you are open to exploration for the sake of exploration then this is a great place. Amazing number of raptors-especially in the winter. The Bison are hit or miss. Some trips you may see hundreds-other trips you may only see a handful. Lot's of deer, coyotes, heck even occasional swans. Spring is wonderful for the wildflowers and the bison calves. Stick around for the amazing sunsets if there is a storm in the distance.

Absolutely beautiful country!! So much to take in at once. Didn’t see but a few bison, but well worth the time and effort to tour. The guides at the visitors center were very knowledgeable and helpful.

You never know what you may see out there. Sometimes it is the bison, sometimes the Western Meadowlarks and sometimes just the grass and sky. of course, there are the ubiquitous oil wells and wind turbines but try to get past those. A stop at the ranch house is worth it if just for the information about the area. For the more adventurous continue to follow CR 4201 north into KS. There are some good stream crossings and view along that route.

Thought we were lost as the road went on forever! The we're doing a brush burn the day we drove through, that was interesting.. did not see any bison, but the cows were lovely.

Was well worth the drive, seen a least 200 bison 7 antelope and 4 deer, beautiful, quite. Will definitely be going back and taking the grandkids.

Nice place to visit, good visitor center with helpful docents. However, for us, I don't know where 3,000 head of buffalo can hide. We saw 4. Other reviews spurred us on to visit, but remember wildlife do not have a schedule and they have a mind of their own. So don't be disappointed if the big woollies are hiding. Enjoy the landscape and read the information at the pullouts and get educated.

We wanted to make sure to see “real Oklahoma” before heading home from our girls trip. We enjoyed our time driving through the preserve and seeing many bison, hawks, and deer. Beautiful views of the Oklahoma landscape.

Just beautiful! So glad we drive out to see this. Got to see some bison and that was pretty cool. Just can’t beat the scenery though. Highly recommend!

We had time to kill and decided to take a ride to the preserve. We drove into the preserve and saw a few bison out in the field. Drove for about 5 miles and just saw a few in the distance. Decided to turn around as we didn't know how much further to the visitor center as there are no signs marking mileage. On our way out of the Preserve, there was one bison walking on the road. We were about 30 feet away from him. I would take ride if I didn't have anything else to do, or wanted my children to see bison outside in their natural setting.

Like being on a safari!

1) Screen shot your planned route (spotty cell service so good to have a photo)

2) Plan on your car getting dirty

3) Unless you drive a truck with big tires…Go SLOW on gravel roads!

This gravel is made up of chunkier rocks, which can puncture your tire if you drive too fast over them or ding your car; plan to go 15-20 mph most of the time

4) Stop by Visitor Center

Although closed when we were there, it has a property map showing where bison typically roam, a porta potty if you need, guest book to sign, plus phone numbers if you have car trouble. This is also where cowboys used to gather and dine (@ one of the buildings nearby) which has a list of former cowboys so you can appreciate the history of the area.

5) Bison like young, green grass best

So if you see where they’ve done a prescribed burn or if there’s more brown grass than green, keep driving.

6) Come in via WEST or NORTH entrances, then exit via the SOUTH entrance

So you can end up in Pawhuska after - see below (plus, you probably won’t want to backtrack too much on the rough roads in the preserve).

7) Make a day of it by stopping in Pawhuska. Loved their quaint downtown with cute cafes and shops, and museum to learn about local Osage history and culture.

It takes a little patience and luck to find the bison, but if you have both, you’re in for an incredibly special experience.

We did not do the full loop as it wasn’t necessary. We saw SO many on the way to the visitors center. We sat on the road, with other cars, for about 30 minutes just watching them. They were crossing the street and just roaming beautifully free. LOTS of babies too!! Just such a beautiful location. There were a number of areas with bison. Some were close & others in the fields or up on the ranges. There’s 2500 so you will see them!! Visit the visitors center. Nice ladies there. They gave us Information on the bison, land and answered any questions. We truly enjoyed our drive through. We spent 2 hours total there. Well worth the time.

Very nice drive! You can see a lot of bisons and beautiful views of the prairie. There are several short hiking trails you can take as well! We had pack our food and had a very nice picnic near the gift shop. They do not have food there but a lot of nice souvenirs. Also you can tour the house attached to it. We went there in April on a Saturday and it was not very crowded. Also all the roads are gravel, so plan accordingly.

If you want to see bison and you've already visited The Mercantile, this is a great side trip, but be warned -- it's a slow dusty trip to the welcome center and you'll need to find a car wash when you return to town! The docents at the welcome center were great and very informative. It's a free trek through an area where you'll see hundreds of bison.

The drive through the prairie was an absolutely wonderful experience. The bison roam free and the herd of 1900 was magnificent. They are scattered throughout the area so you are never far from another sighting. It is great to see this land preserved. It is a national treasure.

We throughly enjoyed seeing the plentiful babies. My one disappointment was missing out in the wildflowers. Some of the views, however, where pretty spectacular.

The Family and I took a trip to Pawhuska early Saturday Morning. 05/28/2016. We arrived at the Preserve around 7:00 AM. Upon first arrival we saw two good size Buffalo. We proceeded to drive to the Ranger Station which was about 10-14 miles from the entrance.

We did not see many Buffalo at first but once we drove around a little more we did see bigger herds. Not sure when the best time go is but we were a little disappointed. We just didn't see as many Buffalo as we thought we would see at that given time of the Morning. Don't get me wrong, it was a great trip if nothing more than to get out and be with the family. We will go back in October and I will post another review at that time. All in all, I gave it a 4 stars. Just seeing the Massive Buffalo was worth the experience. Highly Recommend....

This reserve is amazing! Acres of prairie grass and lots of bison everywhere! What beautiful creatures but be careful. They roam free and you can see them up close along the road or herds off in the distance. Plan for plenty of time to drive the loop and enjoy the beauty of this place. Miles of gravel road and lots of dust. The visitors center was pristine and volunteers are anxious to share information and answer questions. There are restrooms and a small gift shop. There is a "hands on" area with items of interest. Highly recommend the trip and worth visiting more than once!

Nice day trip from the Tulsa area, or anywhere in the region. Drove the entire trail and saw a lot of bison along the road. Other wildlife not so much mid-day.

Both children and adults will love the drive through this open range with herd after herd of bison! The road is gravel but you will not be driving so slow to take in the scene as it must have looked many, many years ago! Truly can view these magnificent creatures from 10-15 feet away! If they cross the road you may have to wait a bit but that is even a hoot! Get your camera ready!

The preserve is a largely drive through self-guided area. We were able to see some bison roaming free through the preserve. The road was not in the best shape but you should not get in trouble if you take your time and drive slowly.

This was a great way to spend the morning and enjoy the beauty of our country and see these majestic animals in the wild. The visitor center is closed because of this COVID nonsense but you can still drive around and enjoy the scenery.

Loved our drive through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. There are bison everywhere, so you will be really unlucky if you won't spot any on your trip. We went there an our or so before closing, which also ment that we got to see a really nice sunset. Allow an hour or so to drive through.

We hit the Bison jackpot. Ran into 3 different herds not far from entrance around 6pm. In the road, by the road covering the hills as far as u could see! Lots of Red Dogs running around..this was a wonderful experience and my 3 grandkids 13, 10, and 8 absolutely loved everything about it. Couldn't stop taking pictures. Never did I imagine we would see this many!!!!

I got some good pictures of the buffalo while driving through the Preserve, but it was a long drive to and through it.

It takes a bit to get to the Tallgrass Prairie and it is worth every mile. The buffalo loud was fascinating, the birds were amazing and it is such a wonderful area to see what the prairies were actually like of long ago.

Got to see very few bisons, not a whole herd. Views are nice but for such a long drive it's not worth it. I went August 15 around 4pm. I would not go back

Here in Early December and was rather disappointed. Drove till we saw a small herd of bison, than turned around and came back to town. Wanted to take pictures, but not much out there.

We weren't sure what to expect but it was beautiful country. We could see for miles and miles. We saw a bison herd in the distance and 1 when we took the Bison Loop on the way back to town. A car wash was needed after all the miles of dirt roads

While in town to visit PW Mercantile & Lodge, we were happy we chose to check out the preserve! It's a beautiful drive and well marked. The center was very nice with friendly staff. We did see buffalo from afar which was cool. The scenery is just amazing and pictures don't do it justice!

We planned a trip here from Tulsa after a busy week of training. We figured it would be a good drive to decompress. None of us expected what we found.

The sweet smell and feel of the breezes coming off the prairie is truly indescribable. Seeing a herd of bison rolling through a valley is an experience you just cannot get elsewhere.

If you flare within a couple of hours of here, this is worth the time. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours enjoying the moments. Turn off the phones and devices and connect with the land around you.

My husband grew up on this the Preserve. His Daddy was a cowboy on the Preserve and worked with Ben Johnson Jr. Me and my husband goes up to the Preserve about three to four times a year. We live in Southeast Arkansas and we always love it when we go.

Loved our drive through the Reserve. Be sure to do the entire Bison Loop. Lovely scenery and amazing number of bison. Had to wait for them to cross the road several times.

It might depend on the time of day and other factors, but we got to see several hundred bison crossing the road just a few yards in front of us. The roads are gravel, but we didn't run into any holes or very rough areas. The surrounding Iand is pretty, and a sign says this is one of the largest areas of land that has never been plowed for farming.

I have always had an affinity for buffalo, but WOW! Seeing them roaming free was amazing! We had the privelage of seeing several groups and I could have spent all day there, but it started raining and they moved on. We didn't get all the way to the office/building so hope to return again to complete the loop. Even if you don't see any bison, the prairie is beautiful. Take the best camera you have in case you need to zoom in.

If you are lucky you will see herds of free roaming bison. Ona different trip we had to stop our car as the bison crossed the road all around us. Do not leave your vehicle when bison are near - they can be unpredictable and dangerous. At the visitor center there is an easy day hike trail that is worth the walk. You can often see bison from the trail and they are separated from you by largely invisible fences.

We went to Pawhuska to see the mercantile of the Pioneer Woman and also shopped the quaint little shops around town. We were up early, had breakfast and decided to take this excursion. The roads are gravel, but if you don't mind dust, they were in really good shape. This visit did not disappoint! We saw many Bison! We also spotted deer, coyotes and several red tailed hawks. The visitor's center had 3 volunteers that were very helpful, very informative and made this side trip worth the effort. So glad we went!

The Prairie Preserve is about 15 miles out of the town of Pawhuska. We saw lots of Bison and some deer during our drive through the prairie. Much of the road is gravel. There are several lookout points that allow you to stop and take in the scenery. The visitor center was closed during our trip. If you have an extra hour or two to spare it is worth the time.

It was very interesting to see this remnant of the tallgrass prairie. My aunt who lived in Pawhuska was one of the people who helped to preserve this area.

My wife & I enjoyed our visit to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve the end of April. The bison were calving at this time & we saw a few babies. The wild flowers were just starting to flower. Remember to get to the visitor center you have to travel on a gravel road. It was a wonderful experience & such a treasure for our state. The visitor centers closes at 4: 00 pm so plan accordingly.

All brown, it still a beautiful area. Will return in the spring. Visited the Lodge on the Drummond Ranch.

We saw lots of bison crossing the road in several spots. One stopped and seemed to pose for us. WwE were hoping to stop in at the information center but unfortunately it was not open.

Started at the visitors center which is kid friendly with educational displays. Nice trails which are easy to locate and well marked. Really nice to hike the trails with kids and see the wildlife.

Go in the evening. We were the only car there (did the buffalo loop) and watched the buffalo wander with their calves. Amazing.

it is alot of driving, down dusty roads, with flat land everywhere. it claims to have a buffalo herd but we only saw 1 buffalo. the visitors center was not open. i think it is stffed by volunteers. it is a working ranch. you can't go very fast, on the dirt roads. it has gravel on it, too, so slow down if another vehicle approaches, we saw a few other vehicles. there were some other people pulling into the closed visitors center, when we were leaving.

We drove, and drove and drove only to see a few bison off in the distance. Welcome center was nice, bison were disappointing

Signs say dangerous Buffalo. If you can ever see one they might be. Drove for fifteen miles into the preserve and not one Buffalo. At least the road was pretty smooth. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND GAS.

I had a friend visiting from Australia, and she wanted to see "the prairie" and buffalo. So we drove from Oklahoma City to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska, OK and were so thrilled --- saw hundreds of bison (buffalo) as well as picturesque views of the prairie landscape. The Visitor Center was great, and the staff there were extremely friendly and informative. The buffalo were near the road and we were able to get good photos right from our car (there are warnings to NOT approach the buffalo). It was a little over a two hour drive from Okla. City, and well worth it.

Negative;
It takes a long time, on gravel roads, to get to the visitors center. I thought we’d NEVER get there. There’s one was in and out.

On the positive;
We saw a bunch of bison. They even crossed the road in front of us. You need to keep a safe distance though because they can get aggressive, run over 30 mph, and jump pretty high.

I'm so glad I went. The drive there on that dirt/gravel road made my car pretty messy but once there, the hike was totally worth it. Saw bison, deer, and many beautiful birds and butterflies, not to mention the stunning views from the prairie. It's totally worth the drive!

This place is amazing. If you live in a city and you want to see prairies, then this is the place for you. I loved every minute of it.

which means it is pure God's Land. The prairie continues up into Kansas but it isn't as contiguous as it is in Oklahoma. About 2200-2500 bison there during the summer months and is culled down to about 1900 during the winter. Dirt roads well maintained.

As you make this drive through miles of tallgrass prairie and see large herds of bison grazing, you feel as if you have entered a time warp. The bison live on the prairie just as they would have many years ago - with as little human intervention as possible. Would love to return in the spring when the grass is all green and bison calves are born.

It is a long drive down dirt roads, but well worth it. The land is beautiful and the bison are cool.

This reserve is just north of Pawhuska with over 2000 bison and lots of birds overhead, endless prairie vistas among rolling hills, and good information along the way and at the visitor center about the scenery. The road is gravel but in very good condition for cars as well as SUVs. At one point we stopped and turned off the engine and just listened to the wind blow - this place is a real treasure.

If you've never visited a prairie then you'll want to visit the Prairie Preserve. There is no guarantee you will see bison, but they are out there.

After seeing great reviews and checking out the history of the Preserve, we headed out this past Monday and Tuesday. On Monday we explored when the sun was beginning to set. I would definitely recommend setting aside a couple of hours for this self-guided tour. Be prepared to potentially encounter bison crossings, as well as traveling on gravel roads for the duration of your drive. The prairie goes on for miles and miles and is just breathtaking in itself. Then the sun had begun to set. No words. It was just breathtakingly beautiful. This was most definitely worth the trek in our ford fusion! We also drove out even further into the Preserve during the day on Tuesday. We stopped at the visitor center which has a public restroom and gift shop. It is very small but interesting as it contains facts about the Preserve and wildlife. I would highly recommend this trip, especially when the sun sets. Absolutely incredible.

This is so worth it and I would go back again soon, to spend more time. Follow the sign near downtown Pawhuska and just keep driving. There aren't a lot of signs so you might think you've missed a turn or something but you haven't. After a few miles you'll see another sign saying to watch out for the buffalo and what not. Take the entire drive and take it slow. It's beautiful and definitely get out at the stopping points and listen to the quiet. Keep driving and after quite a while you'll come to an area where you can turn right and there's a visitor center with displays and wonderful volunteers that will help answer questions or provide you with information. We kept driving a few miles past that and then turned around and drove back. So worth it, and take your time.

The kids and I took a roadtrip here while they were in town. The scenery is beautiful and we got to see lots of Buffalo. It's a nice drive through the preserve. When we got to the headquarters a nice man met us on the porch and started telling us about the preserve and then took us on a tour of the ranch house. It's worth the visit.

We really enjoyed our trip to the preserve. Seeing all the buffalo, plus many birds, this up close and personal was really fun. The volunteer staffing the visitor center where very knowledgeable and helpful.

Beautiful views! We were a bit disappointed because they had rounded up all the buffalo to give them their yearly inoculations and tag the calves. Normally they freely roam the prairie as you drive through. We still got to see them upclose but they were in a fenced in area.

What a neat experience to see Bison in their natural environment. There were hundreds of them roaming free. The preserve can have as many as two thousand at at one time. Be sure to stop at the information center at the end of the trail. Very informative and enjoyed talking to the guides about the history of the area. We’ll be back in the spring when we’re told the babies are born!

We were not able to visit the visitor center, due to it closing at four, but driving the dirt road and seeing bison and deer roaming free on the prairie was well worth it. We saw two herds and while we were at one of the lookouts, two bulls came out of the tall grass and was walking toward one of the herds. Plan to take your time here because you need to drive slow through here. You never know when you go around a corner, what may be in the road. A peaceful place to enjoy nature.

We have been here 4 times with different family members and friends. This is the first time that the bison were very close to the road so we could get some good pictures. This isn't the problem of the park, we were just in the wrong place the other trips. This is a great place to take people from back East to show them up close what the pioneers had to face when they crossed the plain states. The gift shop is small but adequate. Will bring others here in the future.

Beautiful landscape, rolling hills and vast open space to spot buffalo. We saw them in four different areas. The visitor center is worth a stop as well. Be aware that ranchers use this road and drive fast, so be sure to be pulled off on the side of the road. We visited here after touring The Lodge, it is a 30 minute drive down gravel, but well worth it. Your car will be dusty already from The Lodge, so just go.

Felt like a step back in time, and the wonderment of how vast our great country is. Wish we could have settled it without displacing the industrious Indian Nations, though!

After driving and searching, we did see a heard of approx 100 -150 close to the road! It is definitely a great experience and would do it again!

Beautiful view of the real prairie. We went a little before dusk because the nice gentleman at the post office told us this was the best time. He was right! Hundreds of bison all around but had to drive quite aways back, almost to the visitors center. Well worth the trip though. They walked right along the road by our vehicle, many calves in herd and more herds in the distance.

This was a quick and great trip from Bartlesville. I saw lots of bison, birds, and the wild flowers are breathtaking. Great park to go and get away from it all. So peaceful and tranquil. I definitely will return.

Drove here on our way out of town and got a kick out of the warning signs as you enter the preserve. We drove for several miles (on gravel), following signs for the visitor center, but got tired of the gravel with no indication of how far away the visitor center was. We saw lots of buffalo along the several miles we drove and called it good. Was neat to see the buffalo roaming freely and up close.

I have visited this amazing place a number of times, and every experience is different. This time, before we even got to the entrance, there were buffalo as far as we could see. Mamas and red/brown babies...buffalo by the hundreds. A few were up close, right near our vehicle.

The road is either packed or loose gravel so drive slowly, even though local trucks may pass you going at high speeds. At first we got discouraged since we didn't see any bison. We visited the Preserve HQ and found out where we could drive to increase our chances of seeing bison. Since it was almost 100 degrees out most of the bison were away from the road under the trees. Went to the bison scenic loop, and saw several groups of bison, even a really small baby. Unfortunately we also saw a bigger baby that appeared to be going lame hobble across the road. It had a problem with its back hooves. Got lots of great pictures.

Maybe it's because I'm a city girl, but you know you're in the country where the deer and the antelope play, when you take this 15 mile drive into the center of the Oklahoma universe. I haven't seen that expanse of country from a spot on the ground before. It was January when I was there, and the colors were mostly brown, tan and blue sky. And it must be spectacular in the spring. But anytime you're in Pawhuska, this is a "Must See." There's nothing else in the state of Oklahoma that could capture the spirit and the essence of the land the way the Tall Grass Prarie Preserve can.

We have been to the tall grass prairie before. Beautiful and tranquil setting. Lots of bison this visit. Temperature was 72 degrees so beautiful day for a hike. Saw a few deer on the hike and enjoyed the sunshine. It is a must see.

If you like seeing miles of prairie grass and a herd of bison, this place is for you. We drove down a gravel road for over 15 minutes and still didn't get to the visitor center. We finally called and found out it was closed so glad we didn't waste our time getting there. Kids would find this place pretty boring.

As soon as I entered the west gate I was greeted by at least twenty Bison. Make your way to the visitor center to get a map of the preserve. Unfortunately the visitor center is closed but it’s still a good place to stretch your legs, use the restroom and look at the deer that tend to congregate near there. I saw several herds of Bison mostly near the Bison loop. You will also see a lot of Hawks as well.

After visiting the Mercantile for breakfast and shopping, my friends and I took a little drive through the Tallgrass Prairie and it was fascinating. Small herds of buffalo just hanging around. A great opportunity for photos - but don't get out of the car!

Beautiful scenery. Saw Bison from a distance. But still neat. Long ride on a rocky dusty road. Worth the drive. Would recommend it. The volunteer were very insightful and helpful.

Amazing place to visit, if you have never seen Bison in the wild this is a great opportunity, we were right after they had burned the grass and it was just turning green and the Bison were everywhere. Great opportunity for you to catch a glimpse of the prairie the way it use to be

We were expecting to see bison. We had read reviews about seeing bison and that they sometimes come up to the car. We went through the whole preserve and never saw a single bison. We saw hawks, cattle, birds and an armadillo. Obviously someone hit him going too fast on the road as he was deceased and the hawks were already on him. At least it was free.

After going to the PW Mercantile and Lodge, we drove over to the Preserve, which is owned by the Nature Conservancy, and are so glad we did! A herd of bison, including a number of calves, crossed the road in front of us and we just sat in the car observing them. They are such beautiful animals. We also enjoyed the visitor's center and two nuns serving as docents were very informative about the Preserve.

The preserve was recommended to us by a local resident in Pawhuska. It was well worth the trip. We saw a lot of buffalo as well as Texas Longhorns and deer. It’s a dirty gravel road but we enjoyed the adventure

WE enjoyed our ride through the scenic route. We saw a group of buffallo a good ways off but nothing up close. Very pretty area!

Loved seeing the Bison Herds its a long drive on a gravel road but well worth it and if you have time pull into the headquarters

This is my second time to visit the Preserve, and I loved it this time just as much as the first. We were worried we might not get to see any of the bison as we headed north to the headquarters. As they were the first time, the employees at the headquarters were very friendly and helpful. The man we talked to suggested we try another route (the bison loop), and we saw many bison, some of which were right up along the road.

I love that we have this area protected in Oklahoma. As we drove along, we started talking about how the early settlers must have viewed Oklahoma during the Land Run and the obstacles they must have had with the hills. It is definitely a peaceful landscape that allows your mind to wander. I would definitely go back again.

All that being said, I would recommend taking binoculars just in case.

If you want to see lot of buffalo in a natural setting you need to go here early in the day so you see the buffalo in large numbers and up close. The Preserve headquarters is a must see as well the staff is all knownledgable about the area and the buffalo

I had never heard of the preserve until I started looking for things to do around Pawhuska. It was so calming and relaxing just slowly driving the dirt/gravel roads, watching for bison. And there were plenty! Anyone in the area should take time to see this and imagine what it must have been like 200 or more years ago!

We drove this, and it was wonderful. The buffalo (bison) walk within feet of your vehicle, being free roaming. I got some great photos, and we loved it. Would be even nicer when the grasses had greened up, and flowers are out.

We drove the Buffalo loup that is not far from Pawhuska. It is part of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve where you get to see herds of buffalo (and cows in the road, at least on our trip!) It was a a very scenic drive with multiple stops and opportunities to take pictures and read some information. You can see for many miles in some locations. It was a nice relaxing drive and fun to take our Jeep as the roads are not paved.

The dusty drive is worth it to see all the bison in their natural habitat. The rolling prairie was beautiful.

Something that you have read about in books and would never expect to see in life. Bison of all ages by the hundreds, crossing the road without fear for us, small deer ran out in front of us and we both stopped and looked at each other.

Amazing Adventure! Expansive spaces of fall flowers and grasses, we were in the middle of a Bison herd and even a small prairie fire!
Take your time lots to see and if you can go morning and late afternoon!

While in Pawhaska we went on this trail. It was very interesting and enjoyable. They have several head of roaming buffalo and Mavericks. Great trail to see the land as it was and image how it would have been to be in a wagon train traveling through. Signs in town direct you to it. Follow the signs but be aware that it doesn’t start right at edge of town. You think you’ve missed it but just keep going. About half way through is a manned information station. Has set hours and not open in evening. 2-3 hours for trip to really enjoy it it’s huge acreage.

We saw tons of bison here. My wife, daughter and I enjoyed it. Only saw a few cars too so not busy at all.

We spent a few hours following the trail through the Prairie Preserve while visiting Pawhuska. 'Very fun trip. The preserve is home to thousands of bison and we saw many! They roam free; grazing beside the road, walking across the road. The trail ends at the Visitor Center where the original bunkhouse is preserved from the days when this area was a massive cattle ranch. Scenic and enjoyable... well worth your time!

Totally worth the trip! We saw soooo many bison. The staff at the information center was excellent in advising us about best views, hiking trails and teaching us about the area.

Loved our drive out here. Saw lots of buffalo & even got to see a baby buffalo! Nice educational place at the end of the drive. Learned lots from the people working there. Got a few souvenirs. Warning that these buffalo are not pets. Read the signs & do not try to get a picture by a buffalo. We kept our distance & we’re fine. Can’t wait to go back! A must see when in the area. Your vehicle will be dirty afterwards cause these are all dirt roads. Well worth it!!

Way off the beaten track. It was free and enjoyable. Lots of bison, crossing the road or just resting in the grass. GPS is a bit wonky this far out in the boonies, so it’s easy to get turned around if not paying attention, like we did 😳. Really a good place to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Oklahoma.

These are the foothills of the Ozarks and have beautiful prairie like views. Whether taking a docent tour or self-tour, it's easy to imagine how the early settlers loved this land. The preserve is mostly virgin land (never having been plowed) and because of the Nature Conservancy, the old Chapman-Barnard Ranch is returning back to how nature made the landscape. The Nature Conservancy has added more than care-taking, but has done extensive research into the ecology of the prairie and has aided the local ranchers in making the prairie more productive and better land for generations to come. It's a quick trip north of Pawhuska with easy hiking trails and guided drive through the property.

The reserve is about 15 miles from Pawhuska, and it is mostly gravel/dirt road with many potholes. We saw many herds of bisons grazing on the prairie. Quite a beautiful and relaxing view. Glad to see this powerful species thrive on this “largest remnant of tallgrass prairie left on earth”.

After lunch at Pioneer Woman we decided to take a drive to the Prairie to see the bison. Gas up before you go. There are no facilities if you run out of gas or have car trouble. It was a 17 mile drive on dirt road to visitor center and restrooms. They do have coke machine and candy but nothing to eat so do before you go and bring water. Interesting info on prairie life and lots of bison to be seen. It can get very hot in summer no shade or cover. It was quiet and very pretty. Not much unplowed prairie left so this is special. The bison are wild and can be dangerous so stay in your vehicle.

Many many acres of grass and cows and horses and Buffalo. We drove around for almost an hour; saw thousands of cattle and horses but only maybe 25 Buffalo. Cell service is not good out there so plan your route ahead of time. The visitor station and bathrooms were closed.

We went in July, so not the best time to get the best of the tall grass (taller in Sept/Oct), but it was an impressive, vast section of land (nearly 40,000 acres) set aside for preservation and protection. The Bison Loop did not disappoint with most of the 2700 bison there grazing. Unlike a national park like Yellowstone, the bison are right there by your car...cute calves and massive bulls....very neat to see. We included this as part of a day trip to Pawhuska to visit the Pioneer Woman store/deli. The folks at the visitor center were very knowledgeable and helpful. I agree with other reviewers....long drive down the road but it was worth it.

The Tallgrass Prairie is a remnant of the almost endless prairies that covered the middle of North America, almost none of which survive these days. These prairies supported bison and the native Americans who depended on them. The feel of the Tallgrass Prairie is of another world and time, and the vistas, the silence of the prairie, and the majestic bison give a sense of what once was. The nearby town of Pawhuska is also from a different time, and well worth a visit.

We have visited Tallgrass Prairie several times. Prairie flowers, buffalo, and miles and miles of rolling hillsides. At the end of the preserve is a small gift shop and very knowledgeable staff who can answer any questions you may have about the preserve.
Seeing buffalo is not a guarantee as they are rounded up yearly for a headcount, etc. You can call ahead to see if there is a possibility of seeing them.

It was a beautiful drive. We saw several bison and deer. The small gift shop and visitors center closes as 4:00. It was very interesting and enjoyed talking to the park rangers. They were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their job. There are restrooms there and a drink machine.

Disappointed that we didn’t see one bison! Maybe it was the time of year we went (May). Still it was a lovely scenic drive through a prairie.

We drove out to the Prairie Preserve. The day was perfect, clear sky, warm breeze and it seemed like you could see to Dakota. The landscape is stunning and breathtaking. The buffalos are roaming the prairie, and the sight makes you think you've stepped back in time. We never could find the visitors center but that was ok. We stopped, spread our quilt and had the perfect picnic. A must see if you are in the area.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve will give you a great idea of what Oklahoma looked like years ago before there were trees. You can travel the preserve and experience what it must have been like when bison roamed the prairie. If you are lucky, you can see some herds. Admission is free and well worth the trip to see.

We took this scenic drive after a lot of rain earlier in the day. I would not recommend this. Didn’t see any wildlife and Spent evening cleaning rental car at car wash. However, we met folks at visitor center 20 miles in who reported the last time they visited they seen herds of bison. If you are a city person, you can see plenty of bison at the preserve in Bartlesville, although not in their natural habitat like the Tall Grass Prairie.

Loved visiting this place we saw plenty of wildlife. Absolutely great free thing to do if you go have your camera ready

This is such a cool drive through the preserve. The visitor center was not open while we were there though, so that was a little disappointing. We saw lots of buffalo, some very close to the road. It's a good thing to do on a Sunday, as EVERYTHING is closed in Pawhuska

Yes it's a long ride on a gravel road but worth it to see the Bison and visit the Information office. You can tell the staff loves their jobs and are passionate about the Tall Grass Prairie and the Bison.

The beautiful rolling hills and vast expanse of the beautiful prairie land was more than I expected. I came here not knowing anything about this place but it exceeded my expectations. I was here in the fall so it appeared the bison had been rounded up into the holding pastures where they work them each fall. They were all along the fence line of these pastures so I only got to see them there. They were HUGE and magnificent looking. I spent half the day alone just driving slowly along these gravel county roads with my windows down on a warm day and completely lost track of time. I heard coyotes howling. I saw bald eagles and dear. The only other human I saw was a rancher pulling his cattle trailer through. Driving slowly through this preserve reminded me of when I was a kid and my grandmother would take us on a Sunday drive out in the country. This preserve of open prairie, rolling hills and tranquil environment is absolutely beautiful and a perfect cure to escape the rat race of civilization.

Lovely views and wild life, Oklahoma is very green and inviting. It is a positive experience to reconnect with the outdoors.

This is a free attraction where you drive through an area populated by a variety of wildlife including bison, hawks, and other animals. Remember bison are wild animals and can be dangerous if approached, especially if there are calves in the area; but they are amazing animals. There are several places to pull over to observe the animals and landscape.

Being from Georgia I wasn't sure what to expect. I am used to hills and lush green hills. The prairie did not disappoint. It was amazingly beautiful. I saw lots of bison on⁹ my trip. There is a beautiful hike near the visitor center. You will definitely have to wash your vehicle afterwards.

My wife and I plus her sister and husband drove into and through the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve earlier this week. It is both enjoyable and beautiful. My brother-in-law said: "it may not be the end of the Earth, but you can see it from here." Not exactly but the drive, all on a gravel road, is definitely in wide open spaces. During the drive basically all one can see is the rolling "Oklahoma Hills," and miles and miles of nothing but open prairie. From the beginning of the drive and all the way to the visitor center, we saw nothing but prairie, many hawks, two coyotes, and a deer...but no bison. Once to the visitor center we found out why. The wonderful and very knowledgeable docents explained that we had arrived during the annual "bison round up." During this period, the bison are being driven toward and into pens about two miles North of the visitors center. The bison are rounded up, weighed, given inoculations, and released back into the preserve. The docents told us where to find the herd and holding pens. Wow, they were right. We followed their directions and were able to see hundreds of bison on the rolling hills...East of our viewing site. A very dramatic moment! Is this a "site" worth visiting? Oh...absolutely! As an aside, we chose to drive out of the North entrance. Not sure that was smart...but, very beautiful and dramatic drive. After leaving the preserve, we drove more than twenty miles on basically a "dirt road"...not gravel. Did we find the "Pioneer Spirit and isolated farms and ranches?" Absolutely! The first sign of civilization was Highway 160 just about 10 miles West of Sedan, KANSAS! Was this a great event...oh yes it was. The only thing I feel comfortable saying is..."this is truly America as it should be seen! Do it!"

We were undecided about making the 17-mile drive from Pawhuska to see the Prairie Preserve, but we’re so glad that we did. The preserve has bison herds roaming free and we got to see several herds including a herd with calves. The staff at the visitor center was very friendly and provided 3xcellent inormation about the work the Nature Conservancy and the bison. I woukd highly recommend taking advantage of this free attraction If you are visiting Pawhuska.

The space is huge, I was surprised how few bison we saw. But we did get to see a few from a distance before leaving.

My husband and I took a trip to Oklahoma for our Anniversary. Never been any further west than Louisiana/New Orleans area. We were told to make sure we saw this Preserve if nothing else. The road is gravel all the way through about 30 miles round trip. The visitor center and restrooms are 15 miles in. Don’t miss it either! Not bad but just beware it’s not a paved road and traveling is slow. This didn’t deter us in the least, especially when we were the only people out there and about 2 miles in we spotted our first male Bison! He just meandered by the road in the the tall grass and we got his picture! Then we saw a few more and the views of these wild animals mixed with the rolling hills and y’all grass are simply awe inspiring. You couldn’t hear a sound except for the birds. The visitor center is staffed by volunteers I think, they are Docents and have tons of knowledge about the area.
We left there and took the Bison Loop and were rewarded with seeing 3 Bison Mamas and 3 babies!!! Could hardly contain our excitement! You must stay in your car at all times except of course the visitor center. The number one rule is STAY IN YOUR CAR! Bison are huge, they are fast and Mamas will protect their babies at all cost. Again, STAY IN YOUR CAR!
There are deer, Jackrabbits and fox etc out here. If you want to see unspoiled, true Osage Indian land make sure you come here. It’s free and even if we’d have needed to pay, we would have. Don’t miss it!

This preserve is an hour or more north of our home. I called in advance to ask how large the herd of bison is....2,500!

Having just visited South Dakota, I was surprised to find out this location had more than we saw in SD.

We saw a few initially upon entrance...then a few (30 or so) near the first pond. The next 15 miles to the Visitor’s Center....NOTHING!

Disappointed, I asked how I should return to Pawhuska. I was told there was a second Bison Loop heading to Foraker, OK. That’s where all the buffalo were that day...we saw hundreds! That section had more ponds. Good fun.

This is one of those rare opportunities to see magnificent animals roaming free in a natural habitat. The best time to go is early morning or late evening. The park is always open. I was expecting to get the binoculars out and start spotting bufallo in the distance. Within minutes of driving there was a heard crossing the road only a few feet from the car. Don't be tempted to get out as they are dangerous but will pass very close. It's a humbling experience to see a small heard in the knowledge that a couple of hundred years ago there were millions roaming these grasslands only hunted by native Americans.

I've lived in Oklahoma all of my life and this is my first visit. I would recommend driving a rental from Tulsa since the roads are gravel. You can see for miles....it's where the buffalo roamed...and still do!

We loved driving out on the preserve and looking at all the buffalo! They have over 2,000 buffalo and they are in their natural habitat. It is a beautiful sight!

I'm so glad we drove here after our visit to the Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska. It is an amazing experience to see these magnificent creatures in this natural setting.

The preserve is accessible via a gravel road, so expect a slightly rough ride and dust. We got there around 4 in the afternoon, and the bison were plentiful. At first they were just visible from the road, but then we encountered 2 or 3 groups crossing the road in front of us. There were also groups alongside the road.

The visitor center was already closed when we got there; it closes at 4, so keep that in mind when you visit.

What a pristine spot right out of Pawhuska! The bison still roam here. You can feel the spirits of the Native Americans and early pioneers as they explored these grasslands. History and geography come together here

While in Pawhuska, visiting the Pioneer Woman Mercantile, we wanted to drive the few miles to see these incredible animals in their natural habitat. We kept a safe distance but were able to photograph them, in and outside of the car. The road is gravel, so I recommend an SUV if you have one. We didn't get out and hike but next time I'd like to spend more time there. Definitely worth the time if you like wildlife and the prairie.

When shopping in the mercantile in pawhuska becomes a bore then head out to the tall grass prairie. Lots of Bison and it’s right outside of the town. Beautiful wildflowers as well.

This was a wonderful outing with my mom and two boys. With 2100 free ranging bison, there were plenty to be seen, both near and far from the road. In addition to the bison, the landscape is gorgeous. The visitor center is well worth the stop. The staff were knowledge and super friendly. Highly recommended!

We drove through the preserve last week. This was our 3rd time through. Most of the roads through are gravel, but they are very well maintained (no matter what color your car is, it will be gray by the time you finish). From the time we entered the preserve until we reached the visitor center, we saw hundreds of bison and about 7 deer on the prairie. There are signs every so often warning visitors to stay away from the bison as they can be unpredictable. At the visitor center, you can also tour a ranch building, but you might want to call ahead and make sure it will be open the day you plan to visit (the preserve is always open). There are picnic tables and hiking trails near the visitor center (safe from the bison, but not other animals such as deer and snakes). Be sure to follow the signs for the visitor center and the bison loop, it is easy to wind up in Kansas by mistake. This is a great relaxing day trip.

I enjoyed the drive, even though it was on dirt roads- but was able to see many hundreds of heads of buffalo.

We enjoyed this beautiful area. First we went to the Safari Zoological Park in Caney, KS (only 30 minutes away from Pawhuska). It was a scenic drive and the Safari Park was GREAT! We loved holding baby animals and feeding them. The experience was unique. The Tallgrass Prairie is a Preserve and has a different purpose and feel. Both are nice but best if combined with the nearby Safari Park. After the Tallgrass Prairie we at the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile. It was very good and we were ready to eat!

Living near the Flint Hills, the Tallgrass Prairie is nothing new to us, nor are roaming buffalo, but we were intrigued by possibility of seeing the sheer number of buffalo on this prairie. We did see a nice size herd right by the road, however we didn't see anywhere near the numbers of buffalo that we anticipated. It was a long drive on roads that were pretty muddy when we had to pull over for vehicles coming from the other direction. Glad we had a pickup truck.

A good experience and a fun outing. Probably better in spring or summer!

Lovely drive, beautiful day. But, the only bison we saw were so far away, we could barely tell they were bison. In all fairness, it’s thousands of acres! Just don’t go thinking you will for sure see bison up close.

Sept 2017
A great tall grass prairie in Oklahoma where you can see herds of wild buffalo roaming and feasting in sweet tallgrass as you drive through the 'loop'.
Make sure that your first stop is at the headquarters building where the volunteer staff have a vast array of knowledge to impart.
Gift items so available here.

This is in the middle of no-where, dirt roads. Make sure you start from Pawhuska...not any other roads as most are not straight and are private property-with no guarantee of being open. That being said, we made it out there, the visitor center is closed due to Covid-19, but all the trails and roads are still open. We hiked and saw pretty creeks, lots of plants, but no bison until we were leaving. We saw one loner in a wallow pretty near the entrance. That's not saying there weren't more in the distance that might have been, but this was the only one we saw up close. Disclosure, we did not drive the entire park as well. It is a really beautiful drive, with plenty to see even if you don't encounter a bison. I'd go back and plan to spend more time hiking next time.

I hope you'll plan a drive through this glorious, beautiful, prairie, where past meets today. The road is hard-packed gravel, forcing you to slow down and soak it all in. As an artist, my brain lit up at the colors of the variety of prairie grasses, the golds, reds, greens, blues, against the gorgeous Oklahoma-blue sky and gently rolling hills and pastures.

The buffalo were out in droves the day we visited. Another reason it's necessary to drive slow, the bison roam free across the road and fields. This is their protected land and they deserve to own it with attitude. Fortunately(?), they've become accustomed to vehicles going by and tourists starting at them. Be patient and they will get out of road sooner rather than later. Be patient and take all your pictures from inside your vehicle please. Remain in your vehicle at all times. They DO charge, and they are VERY fast! You're here as an observer, play your role with respect for nature, and be proud you're here to witness this.

If you want to know what the American Praire looked like before people came, you've got to see this place. So peaceful and amazing. Just rolling hills and lots of buffalo. They will come up close to your vehicle so stay inside. The information building has good displays and the people there are very friendly and happy to answer questions.

It is about 90 minutes from Tulsa. Set in some amazing Prairie, which has never been plowed. The bison herd is probably about 1000 now and very easy to see from the road. Not much else to see, there is a shop and a ranch house to visit at the end of the road. But nothing else to really do, but appreciate nature.

Our guests from Europe were enthralled by the bison.

This was such a cool experience! There are literally thousands upon thousands of bison that are just chilling by the road. They are peaceful and intimidating at the same time. We got lots of amazing pictures and were generally awestruck by the landscape and the bison.
I will say it's not an all-day activity, we went right before sunset and saw a ton of bison but once we got our pictures it was pretty much done.
Honestly, I'm amazed it's free. Highly recommend, especially if you're new to Oklahoma.

I don't think there is really anything to do here besides driving with some pretty scenery searching for Buffalo, but my husband and I enjoyed it! When we went the closest Buffalo we saw was at the very end of the Buffalo loop towards the headquarters building.

This was our second trip and we saw more bison on this trip. They also have a small ranch house tour. This is really only about an hour or so of entertainment.

We visited after a trip to the Mercantile and the lodge. I really enjoyed it. At first I was a little disappointed because the buffalo seemed so far away. Then, as we continued along, we came across several herds close to the road. The docents at the Welcome center we’re very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely worth a visit.

Got told don’t come in oct because they are doing the round up. Second time here was very nice stop and go though the lodge