4-12 HoursNo fee.
Take 12 to West Branch
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Up for a full day hike? Set out for marker 27 on the north end of the preserve. This 12 mile rounder provides a grand view of the landscape, bison, and who knows what else. Learn more about backcountry hiking.
Set out along the Scenic Overlook Trail for the north end of the preserve. Enter Windmill Pasture where bison graze. Keeping a safe 100 yard distance may take patience or going off-trail. Continue north atop the ridge of Prairie Fire Loop with a grand view of the landscape. Be prepared for full exposure to Kansas weather: wind, sun, or rain. West Branch Trail ends six miles from the visitor center at marker 27. Marker 27 provides a tranquil place to rest. Palmer Creek has water to soak sore feet. Fossils are plentiful in the limestone. Take pictures and leave the rocks for others to enjoy. No fires, flames, or camping are permitted in the backcountry. Plan responsibly. Learn more about backcountry hiking at the preserve. Journey back on the eastern Prairie Fire Loop with rolling hills. The elevation changes only a few hundred feet allowing fresh scenery every few minutes. The Davis Trail winds past the cattle pens connecting with the Scenic Overlook Trail. The Schoolhouse Spur detours a half-mile to a single-room schoolhouse from the 1880s.
Tags
Backcountry HikingAnimalsBirdsBisonGeologyGrasslandsPrairiesNatural SoundsScenic ViewsTrailsWestward Expansionhikeshikerhikebackpackbackpackingfossil bedsfossilsbisonlimestonesolitudeday hikeday hikingTallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Visitor Photos
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Details
Duration
4-12 Hours
Fees
No fee.
Fees Apply
No
Seasons
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Time of Day
Day, Night, Dawn, Dusk
Accessibility
The Scenic Overlook Trail has a grade of 1-2% or 5 degrees. The section is 12 foot gravel width and an additional 2 feet of mown grass. Elevation rises about 230 feet. Trails to the north in Big Pasture are old ranch road varying in width from 6-8 feet of stone to mown grass. Grade is steeper in some sections. Trails along hillsides slope sideways 1-2% or 5 degrees. The creek crossings can be impassable after a heavy rain. Service animals are NOT permitted.
Pets
No — No pets are allowed in the backcountry of the preserve.
Reservations
No — No reservations necessary.