Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
The Nature Conservancy Preserve; Largest Protected Tallgrass Prairie Remnant On Earth · Pawhuska, Oklahoma
The largest protected remnant of tallgrass prairie on earth, about 39,000 acres of unploughed Osage County hills held by The Nature Conservancy since 1989. Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America; less than four per cent remains, most of it here in the Osage. More than 2,500 bison graze the preserve, descended from 300 animals reintroduced in 1993, and the Conservancy manages the grass the way it was managed for thousands of years, with fire and grazing rather than fences and mowing. Big bluestem and Indiangrass stand over head height by late summer, and greater prairie-chickens still boom on their leks in spring. A 15-mile gravel loop drive, scenic turnouts, hiking trails, picnic tables and restrooms are open free of charge during daylight hours, on land inside the Osage Nation reservation. The visitor centre in an old ranch bunkhouse opens only on days a volunteer docent is on duty.
15316 County Road 4201, about 17 miles north of Pawhuska, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, 74056, United States
Preserve roads and trails open daily during daylight hours, free. The bunkhouse visitor centre opens about 10 AM-4 PM on selected days only, staffed by volunteer docents — call 918-287-3623 after 10 AM to confirm (check nature.org for road conditions and burn closures).
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