tallgrass-prairie | KS | Find park

Fall is the season for another assortment of color on the prairie

Historic 1881 Spring Hill Ranch house

Historic 1882 Spring Hill Ranch barn

Hike among the tall tallgrass species in the fall

View a collage of summer flowers among a carpet of green in the spring and early summer

Physical Address:

2480B KS Hwy 177

Strong City, KS 66869

Mailing Address:

2480B KS Hwy 177

Strong City, KS 66869

contact-details

Phone Number: 6202738494 Voice
Phone Number: 6202738660 Fax

Email Address: tapr_interpretation@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America, but within a generation most of it had been transformed into farms, cities, and towns. Today less than 4% remains intact, mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills. Established on November 12, 1996, the preserve protects a nationally significant remnant of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Here the tallgrass makes its last stand.

park designation:National Preserve

Directions:

The preserve is located in northern Chase County, Kansas 2 miles north of intersection U.S. Hwy 50 and Flint Hills National Scenic Byway 177 (K-177) west of Strong City. Watch for brown attraction signs. **2 miles north of Strong City, KS on K-177** **16 miles west of Emporia, KS on U.S. Hwy 50 and 2 miles north on K-177** **17 miles south of Council Grove, KS on K-177** **85 miles northeast of Wichita on I-35, U.S. Hwy 50, and K-177** **60 miles southwest of Topeka on I-335 (Kansas Turnpike) to Emporia**

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Hours

Hiking trails are open 24/7; no camping, no open flames, no drones. Prescribed fire and cattle/bison operations may close specific trails. Watch for signs. Trail maps available at the Visitor Center and most trailheads. Cell phone tour information is available at the kiosk and on the waysides. Visitor center and historic buildings are open daily from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm May 1st through October 31 and 9 am to 4:30 pm November 1 - April 30.

Weather Information:

Typical weather for the preserve ranges from lows of 0 degrees in the winter and highs of 90 + degrees in the summer. Prevailing prairie winds attribute to winter blizzards and occasional summer storms. Thunderstorms that form on the Great Plains have a rare chance of producing tornadoes. Lightning poses a danger when hiking into the prairie. Please check current weather conditions at NOAA before hiking into the preserve.