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On the road: Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
Published: 10/12/2011 7:00 AM
Last Modified: 10/9/2011 5:22 PM


A bison grazes at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

This time of year is perfect for a mini road trip.

With busy work schedules, school and college football, not many of us have time for a road trip of the Grand Canyon variety. But a short, fun excursion out of town is just the thing for a long weekend or fall break.

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska is beautiful in early fall. The preserve is huge, massing 39,000 acres and is managed by the Nature Conservancy.

It's easily driveable, on a scenic, twisting road that takes you 50 miles, if you're up for doing the whole thing.

If you're bringing kids, carry along a wildlife book or bring pictures of some of the wildlife they can expect to find. Each time you've found one, mark it or log it in a field journal. This makes the ones who aren't driving feel like they're doing something besides looking out the window.

You'll likely see bison, woodchucks, white-tailed deer, coyotes, rabbits and more. If you're into birding, you've hit the jackpot. Nature Conservancy information says the preserve is home to more than 300 species of birds.

Along the 50-mile drive are scenic stops, picnic benches, a hiking trail, nature trail and a gift shop.

The gift shop, which includes loads of nature-related finds, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through mid-November.

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
  • From downtown Pawhuska at the Oklahoma 60 junction, drive north on Kihekah Avenue approximately 17 miles. This road becomes Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Drive.



    • Reader Comments 1 Total
    ozarkokie (last year)
    We went there a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. But be prepared to drive some way before you see any bison, we saw a couple of groups shortly before we left. At least we were close enough to photograph them and enjoy them.
    But the trip would have been fun anyway.
    1 comments displayed


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    Tulsa To Do

    Nour Habib joined the Tulsa World in 2011 as a general assignment reporter for the Scene section. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in journalism and political science. Before joining the World, she covered education for a community newspaper.

    She looks forward to keeping up with all there is to do in Tulsa and sharing it with you. Because, after all, the more she finds, the more she gets to do, too.

    Send any fun or interesting events her way at nour.habib@tulsaworld.com.

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