Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Buffalo Wallows Circuit

The old ranch roads through Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve follow cattle paths that once guided million-strong bison herds across the Flint Hills. You’ll cross Fox Creek where it cuts through limestone bedrock, pass the crumbling stone foundations of the Z Bar Ranch headquarters, and navigate around buffalo wallows that still hold water after spring rains. The two-track winds through native bluestem grass that can tower over your hood, with views stretching to the horizon broken only by scattered post oak groves.

This is easy driving in a stock pickup, though spring creek crossings can get muddy and the grass can hide ruts that’ll test your approach angles. Summer brings extreme heat and ticks, so spring and fall offer the best conditions. No permits required, but check with the visitor center for seasonal closures during prescribed burns. The payoff is authentic prairie solitude and some of the last intact tallgrass ecosystem in North America — you’ll understand why early settlers called this the Great American Desert.