Prairie State Park
Subnational Park · Mindenmines, Missouri
Nearly four thousand acres in the far west of Missouri preserving the largest remaining piece of tallgrass prairie in the state - an ecosystem that once covered around a third of Missouri and of which a fraction of one per cent survives. Herds of bison and elk range on it, which is the reason most people come and also the reason the trails close without warning. It is a working prairie rather than a park with a view: the interest is in the grass, the birds and the animals, and it is very quiet.
128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines, Missouri, 64769, United States
FREE and open daily, generally dawn to dusk, year round. The visitor centre keeps limited and seasonal hours and is often weekday-only - check before relying on it. TRAILS CLOSE WHEN THE BISON ARE ON THEM, which happens without notice and is not negotiable; the park posts closures at the trailheads. Backpack camping only, no vehicle campground. Prescribed burning happens in spring and closes sections.
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