Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve — Attraction in Foraker

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...

This is an absolutely beautiful area. It feels untouched other than the road. Takes you back to what the earliest days on this land might have looked like. Keep in mind to definitely set your expectations accordingly. If you're looking for something to jump out at you, this might not be the spot you're seeking. Super peaceful. Broad vistas. You can see for miles. It's really great to see herds of buffalo what would have been close to their natural environment.This drive has an entirely different type of beauty all its own. As for improvement, they really only need a few more places to pull off the road slightly to let traffic by and be able to take in more of the beauty of the natural surroundings. Some people might buzz through here and think it was a whole lot of nothing burger. If you think that's likely to happen to you, then don't waste your time. If you want a beautiful drive in the country on the way to Pawhuska, then this delivers. The gift shop was closed but that didn't change anything either way about the quality of the visit. There are some nice hiking trails and a picnic area down by the stream. It'd be great to see a more comprehensive map at each of the entrances and more instructive signage to help visitors get the most out of the experience. It's a great chance to explain the significance of the grasslands and what the habitat means to...

We took a Saturday drive out to Tallgrass Prairie in early June. The views on the drive through the Osage Nation Reservation which we went through are pretty incredible. Easy to see why this part of OK is called Green Country.

We went though downtown Pawhuska. It was wall to wall people and cars primarily drawn there by The Pioneer Woman mystic. But there are other roads which will take you to the Preserve without going through downtown. However a lunch in Pawhuska and a drive through the Tallgrass Prairie would certainly make a great day trip.

Once in the Preserve the roads are dirt. Do stop and read all the information signs located in the "turnouts." They are very informative. Aside from some power poles, when you realize you are in the section of the US where the land is almost untouched, It is pretty spectacular.

Groups of bison are located near the entrance and about the midway point of the 15 mile road running through the prairie. The Visitor Center, with bathrooms, has some of the standard tourist items...