Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Bud Jackson

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Pawhuska Oklahoma: "WOW!... or OH WOW!" just doesn't do this amazing place justice.  With almost 40,000 acres the property itself is massive.  When you look out across the Prairie it is more than you can imagine and truly represent the words "God's country" and put yourself in the shoes of the settlers that crossed this with only the hope of what was on the other side. If you choose to take the ride through this wonderful landscape be sure you take the bison loop which is approximately 15 miles long. Getting to that loop however can take an hour or better if you're stopping and really enjoying the views, but there are scenic pull-outs with signs describing some of what is there to help break up the drive. Be WARNED, there are no gas stations so fuel up first and you might want to take some water and granola bars just in case.  The chances of not seeing another vehicle for long stretches of time is a reality. Also be aware that your vehicle will come out the other end of this fantastic trip filthy dirty but it's worth it!  This is basically gravel and dirt the entire time so depending on whether or not it has rained your vehicle will either come out full of mud or completely covered in dust. But did I mention... It's worth it! Some reviews mentioned that they drove this whole thing (which for us took over 3 hours) and never saw a single bison.  That was not our experience at all. As a matter of fact we were within 20 ft of these giant creatures. We easily saw hundreds of them roaming all around us! When one mama in particular seemed to be getting a little edgy and moving towards us we realized it was time to move along!  Our campsite host warned us that multiple people that stayed in our Campground have had their vehicles attacked, so remember these are wild animals and you are warned at multiple spots along the way. Don't let that scare you, just use common sense and go see this once in a lifetime miracle!

Tom Webb

An area they have preserved that you can lose yourself, and go back in time 170 years, when Buffalo ruled the plains.

HVD

It was a lot of fun! Especially if you want to get a close range look of buffalo. I definitely recommend going with a truck. Accessibility is pretty decent as well. There are all kinds of birds and other wildlife out there too.

Jeremy Williams

We had a lot of fun here. There were many Buffalo grazing near the roads. The hiking trails are mowed and well maintained. We saw deer, many different butterflies and other wildlife. I highly recommend using insect repellent as ticks and other insects were an issue while hiking. Most of the trails are in the direct sun so sunscreen is really needed as well. There were several benches along the trails which is nice if you want to rest or watch the wildlife.