interstitialRedirectModalTitle

interstitialRedirectModalMessage

interstitialRedirectModalRedirectCTA
interstitialRedirectModalDismissCTA
Skip to content

Places We Protect

Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Kansas

A few strands of tall grass wave above rolling fields.
Tallgrass Prairie Of the 170 million acres that once covered the North American heartland, less than 4% is left, and most of that is in the Flint Hills of Kansas. © Dave Bryan (Timeless Changes)

Now Open!

For the first time in 50 years, this preserve is open to the public. Enjoy a leisurely 1/2 mile stroll to the South Fork Cottonwood River or hike the 2.5- and 4-mile trails.

Overview

Description

This tallgrass prairie preserve is set among low rolling hills of limestone strata that cover layers of sandstone, flint and chert. The headwaters of the South Fork Cottonwood River run through the preserve that was purchased in 1972 and 1973. Public access trails were opened in 2023.

This preserve contains healthy populations of big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, switch grass and other plants typical of the tallgrass prairie.

Here, we also protect grassland birds like greater prairie-chicken and Henslow’s sparrow which require a large and diverse area of healthy prairie for habitat. Coyotes, deer and bobcats also roam this prairie.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Access is limited to marked trails during daylight hours only.

Hours

Sunup to sundown daily, all year round.

Highlights

Topeka shiner—a small, endangered minnow that was once common throughout the state but is now mostly found in the prairie streams of the Flint Hills

Size

2,188 acres

Explore our work in Kansas

Find More Places We Protect

TNC owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

See the Complete Map