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Take a trip to explore the prairie Arkansas
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Arkansas
Baker Prairie-
70 acres of tallgrass prairie
in the Ozarks. Brochure and maps.
Harrison Arkansas. Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (501)372-2750
or Arkansas
Natural Heritage Commission
(501)324-9150. Rare plant species.
The following prairies are all owned or managed by the Arkansas
Natural Heritage Commission:
Cherokee Prairie Natural
Area
565 acres; Franklin County; Cherokee Prairie Natural Area
represents one of the largest remaining tracts of tallgrass
prairie in the Arkansas River Valley. Located just north of
Charleston, this tract is a high-quality prairie representative
of the more extensive Cherokee Prairies that once occurred across
the western portion of the Arkansas River Valley.
Chesney Prairie Natural Area
60 acres; Benton County; Chesney Prairie Natural Area is one of
the few tallgrass prairie remnants left on the Arkansas portion
of the Springfield Plateau. Much of its flora and fauna is
representative of the once extensive upland prairies and savannas
of the western Ozark Mountains.
Downs Prairie Natural Area
34 acres; Prairie County; Down’s Prairie Natural Area is one
of the few remnants of tallgrass prairie left on the Grand
Prairie of eastern Arkansas (Mississippi Alluvial Plain). The
natural area contains a diverse assemblage of wildflowers from
Indian paintbrush, narrow-leaved sunflower, to white wild indigo.
The area also hosts several species that were probably once more
common across this part of the state, such as prairie evening
primrose (Oenothera pilosella ssp. sessilis).
H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area
257acres; Franklin County; H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area is
an excellent example of the tallgrass prairie that once occurred
across this part of the Arkansas River Valley. Along with prairie
grasses, the natural area hosts a wide variety forbs. H.E.
Flanagan Prairie, along with the nearbyCherokee Prairie Natural
Area, comprise the few remnants of the once more extensive
Cherokee Prairies that formerly occupied approximately 135,000
acres of the western portion of the Arkansas River Valley.
Konecny Prairie Natural Area
49 acres; Prairie County; Konecny Prairie Natural Area is the
largest block of high-quality tallgrass prairie left in the Grand
Prairie of eastern Arkansas (Mississippi Alluvial Plain). Konecny
Prairie is dominated by big bluestem, little bluestem,
switchgrass, and Indian grass. Forb diversityis high with such
plant species as compass plant, prairie gayfeather, blazing star,
American aloe, and black-eyed susan being common.
Railroad Prairie Natural Area
244 acres; Prairie County; Railroad Prairie Natural Area occupies
portions of the abandoned right-of-way of the former Chicago,
Rock Island, and Pacific railroad along U.S. Highway 70 between
Carlisle and DeValls Bluff. Its long, linear shape encompasses a
variety of habitats and communities, from prairie to forest. A
large portion of Railroad Prairie consists of tallgrass prairie,
a habitat that was once much more common across the Grand Prairie
of eastern Arkansas (Mississippi Alluvial Plain). Parts of the
prairie have been little disturbed and are dominated by grass
species typical of tallgrass prairies such as big bluestem,
little bluestem, and Indian grass.
Roth Prairie Natural Area
41 acres; Arkansas County; Roth Prairie Natural Area is a tract
of tallgrass prairie formerly managed for hay production. Grass
species typical of tallgass prairie dominate the site, such as
big bluestem and Indiangrass. Prairie mounds occur across Roth
Prairie, with some rising up to 3 feet in height. Prairie mounds
are generally considered to be an indication that the prairie has
never been plowed or leveled.
Searles Prairie Natural Area
10 acres; Benton County; Searles Prairie Natural Area is a
10-acre remnant of a 10,000-acre tallgrass prairie that once
occupied part of the Springfield Plateau of the Ozark Mountains.
Prairie mounds are scattered throughout the natural area and are
thought to have originated from wind blown material deposited
during earlier glacial periods. Plant species such as big
bluestem, little bluestem, prairie cordgrass, and switchgrass
occur across the site. Located in the City of Rogers, this
natural area provides opportunities for environmental education
to school groups to garden clubs.
Terre Noire Natural Area
71 acres; Clark County; Terre Noire Natural Area, located in the
West Gulf Coastal Plain, is one of the highest-quality blackland
prairies remaining in the state.
Illinois
Illinois
Prairie Page
Goose Lake Prairie Nature Preserve.
1,513 acres. near Morris, Illinois. Illinois Department of
Conservation. 815-942-2899.
Liberty Prairie. 2500 acres 40 miles north of Chicago. Openlands
Project.
Nachusa Grasslands. 1,000
acres. Rochelle, Illinois. The Nature Conservancy. 312-346-8166.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie 30071 South State Highway
53 | Wilmington, Illinois 60481 (815) 423-6370. 19,000 acres of
the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant being restored to
prairie.
Iowa
For more information on Iowa
prairie sites call Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(515)281-5145 or write to Wallace State Office Building, East 9th
and Grand, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034.
Cayler Prairie
160 acres ranging from dry to
wet prairie and marsh. West of Spirit Lake. Butterfly species.
Contact: DNR (515)281-8524.
Five Ridge Prairie
789 acres of dry prairie and
woodland on steep wind-blown loess deposits. North of Sioux City,
west of Spirit Lake. Contact: (712)947-4270.
Freda Haffner Kettlehole
110 acres of dry-mesic
prairie, wetland, and hayfield. Two kettleholes formed when
gravelly deposits settled around a large, isolated block of
glacial ice. Spirit Lake area. Contact:
The Nature Conservancy
(515)244-5044.
Hayden Prairie
240 acres of mesic to wet
prairie in northeast Iowa. Black soil prairie. Howard County.
Contact: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (515)281-8524.
Kalsow Prairie
160 acres of mesic to wet
prairie and pothole wetlands. Near center of Manson Crater,
formed by meteor impact in pre-glacial times. West of Fort Dodge.
Contact: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (515)281-8524.
Neal Smith National Wildlife
Refuge (formerly Walnut Creek)
8,654-acre site planned for
prairie restoration. Near Prairie City, east of Des Moines.
Contact: Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge-Prairie Learning
Center, PO Box 399, Prairie City, IA 50228 (515) 994-3400
Friends of the Prairie Learning Center.
Or: US Fish and Wildlife
Services / (515)994-2415. http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/walnut/index.html
Rolling Thunder Prairie
123 acres of tallgrass prairie
on steeply rolling landscape.
Warren County. Contact: Warren
County Conservation Board (515)
961-6169.
ElDorado State Park
8,000 acres, much of which is
in prairie. North of ElDorado.
Contact: Kansas Department of
Wildlife and Parks (316)321-7180.
Konza Prairie
8,616 acres of tallgrass
prairie including a nature trail and small area open to the
public. Kansas State University. South of Manhattan. Contact:
The Nature Conservancy(913)272-5115.
The Prairie Center
A 300 acre nature preserve in
Olathe Kansas managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife &
Parks. More than 6 miles of trails through virgin tallgrass
pairie, restored grasslands, woodlands, stream and pond
habitats. Hiking trails are open to the public every day.
No charge.
Contact: Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks at (913)894-7669 or The
Grassland Heritage Foundation at (913)262-3506.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
A historic ranch and prairie
preserve established by The National Park Trust in the Flint
Hills of Kansas. For more information, contact the
Superintendent, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, PO Box 585,
Cottonwood Falls, Kansas 66845 Telephone: 316-273-6034.
Minnesota
Agassiz Dunes
674 acres in a large dune
field associated with Glacial Lake Agassiz. Norman County south
of Grand Forks.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (612)331-0760.
Blazing Star Prairie
160 acres dominated by
porcupine grass and flowering plants.
East of Felton.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (612)331-0750.
Bluestem Prairie
3,258 acres with the range of
greater prairie chicken. Native prairie grasses and plants. East
of Glyndon.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (612)331-0750.
Ordway Prairie
580 acres including an oak
grove and aspen thickets. East of Brooten.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (612)331-0750.
Pembina Trail and Pankratz
Memorial Prairie
Over 2500 acres of a
vegetation community known as aspen parkland. Birds.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (612)331-0750.
Richard and Mathilde Elliott
Scientific and Natural Area
529 acres of mesic and wet
prairie in greater prairie chicken range. North of Lawndale.
Contact: The Nature Conservancy (612) 331-0750.
Staffanson Prairie
95 acres of open water to
mesic prairie. Northwest of Kensington.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (612) 331-0750.
Missouri
For more information on prairie
sites in Missouri, call The Missouri Department of Conservation at (314)751-4115, or write to PO Box 180,
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.
For an extensive list of Missouri
Prairie areas see the Missouri Prairie Foundation Web site.
Diamond Grove Preserve
570 acres of prairie on cherty
soil in Southwest Missouri with rich display of spring flowers.
West of Diamond Grove.
Contact: Missouri Department
of Conservation (314)751-4115.
Marmaton Bottoms Prairie
609 acres of bottom and wet
prairie and mix of wet-mesic savanna and bottomland forest.
Largest unplowed wet prairie in Missouri. Northwest of Nevada.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (314)968- 1105.
Niawathe Prairie
320 acres rich in flora and
showy in spring and early summer.
North of Lockwood.
Contact: Missouri Department
of Conservation (314)751-4115, or The Nature Conservancy
(314)968-1105.
Osage Prairie
1,467 acres of diverse flora
and fauna, including prairie chicken and deer. South of Nevada.
Contact: Missouri Dept. of Conservation (314)751-4115 or The
Nature Conservancy (314)968-1105.
Paint Brush Prairie
234 acres of upland prairie
over soils formed from cherty limestone and shale. Showy spring
flowers. Pettis County south of Sedalia.
Contact: Missouri Department
of Conservation (314)751-4115.
Prairie State Park
2,982 acres of rolling upland
prairie over sandy and silt loam soils derived from shale and
sandstone. Coyote, deer, prairie chicken, and northern harrier.
Trails, guidebook, and nature center on site. West of Liberal.
Contact: Missouri Dept. of
Conservation (417)843-6711.
Shaw Nature Reserve
Miles of hiking trails through various plant communities,
including tallgrass prairie. See restoration in progress. Also
demonstration gardens illustrating native plants for home use. 35
miles southwest of St. Louis, at Gray Summit, Missouri. Owned by
Missouri Botanical Garden.
Taberville Prairie
1,680 acres with some 400
plant species and a permanent flock of prairie chickens. East of
Appleton City.
Contact: Missouri Dept. of
Conservation (314)751-4115.
Tucker Prairie
146 acres of flat, upland
prairie over silt loam soils derived from loess. 224 plant
species. West of junction of I-70 and US 53.
Contact University of
Missouri-Columbia (314)882-7541.
Wah-Kon-Tah Prairie
1,040 acres containing three
permanent springs and several woody draws among prairie soil.
Large expanses of prairie on rolling terrain. Prairie chickens,
deer and wild turkey. Northeast of El Dorado Springs. Contact:
TNC (314)968-1105.
Nebraska
Burchard Lake Wildlife
Management Area
560 acres of tallgrass prairie
with prairie chicken booming grounds. Pawnee County.
Contact: Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission (402)471-0641.
Homestead National Monument of
America
more than 100 acres of
restored tallgrass prairie. Self-guided trails. South of Lincoln.
Contact: Homestead National Monument (402)223-3514.
Nine-mile Prairie
260 acres of tallgrass
prairie. Outskirts of Lincoln.
Contact: University of
Nebraska (402)472-2971.
Rock Creek Station
Over 500 acres of tallgrass
prairie and wooded ravines with interpretive center and visible
Oregon Trail wheel ruts.
North of Endicott. Contact:
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (402)729-5777.
Twin Lakes Wildlife Management
Area
1,370 acres consisting of
mostly native prairie land. North of I-80 at Pleasant Dale
interchange.
Contact: Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission (402)471-0641.
North Dakota
For more information concerning
North Dakota prairies, call North Dakota Parks and Tourism
Department at (701)224-2525 or write to Parks and Outdoor
Recreation Sites Division, Liberty Memorial Building, 604
E.Boulevard, Bismark,North Dakota 58505.
Kraft Slough
1.310 acres of tallgrass
prairie with few rare plants and animals.
Southeast of Crete.
Contact: North Dakota Natural
Heritage Inventory Program )701)224-4892.
McHenry School Prairie
130 acres of tallgrass
prairie, home of Sprague’s pipit. Northeast of Towner.
Contact: North Dakota Natural
Heritage Inventory Program (701)224-4892.
Shell Valley Prairie
60 acres of natural fen
community with drooping locoweed, bog willow, and white
lady’s slipper. North of Rolette. Privately owned.
Contact: NDNHIP (701)224-4892.
Sheyenne National Grasslands
71,000 acres of sandhills
tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and hardwood forest. Numerous
state rare plants including western prairie fringed orchid. A
25-mile portion of the North Country
National Scenic Trail crosses
through the grasslands. Southeastern North Dakota, east of
Lisbon.
Contact: US Forest Service
(701)683-4342.
Oklahoma
Springer Prairie Preserve
40 acres of tallgrass prairie,
mostly bluestem and switchgrass with short-eared owls,
badgers,and jackrabbits. Northeast of Enid. Contact: Oklahoma
State University (405)744-9560.
Tallgrass Prairie
32,000 acres of tallgrass
prairie where fire and bison are being used to create a
functional tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Self-guided nature
trails, a 50 mile scenic drive on gravel roads, and free-ranging
cattle and bison. North of Pawhuska.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (918)287-4803.
South Dakota
Crystal Springs Prairie
1,920 acres of tallgrass
prairie with rare plant, butterfly, and fish species. Calcareous
fens. North of Clear Lake. Owner: Ducks Unlimited. Contact: The
Nature Conservancy Dakota’s Field Office (701)222-8464.
Wisconsin
Avoca Prairie Savanna
1,885 acres dominated by
little bluestem, northern dropseed, and
Junegrass. Open for group use,
research, and individual nature study. Near Avoca.
Contact: Wisconsin Bureau of
Endangered Resources (608)266-7012.
Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie
16 acres of dry-mesic
prairie with more than 80 plant species. Near Black Earth.
Contact: The Nature
Conservancy (608)251-8140.
Chiwaukee Prairie
580 acres of richest known
prairie in Wisconsin. More than 400 plant species and variety of
wildlife. Open for hiking and observation. Near Kenosha.
Contact: TNC (608)251-8140.
Kettle Moraine Fen and Low
Prairie
250 acres of fen and wet
prairie, wet-mesic and dry-mesic prairie, southern edgemeadow,
and oak openings. Open for group use, research, and individual
nature study. North of Eagle.
Contact: Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources (608)266-7012.
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