Hike the Prairie at the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Pawhuska, OK
You don't often hear “hike the prairie,” and think of great hiking opportunities. We felt the same way, but that was until we got out there and started to explore and experience just what it meant to be in the middle of last remaining remnants of the original tallgrass prairie that covered central North America. For us, it was something so completely different then our hikes anywhere else.
Paul, aka the Oklahomo Hiker took us on a hike in the Joseph Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve just outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
At almost 40,000 acres, the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Pawhuska, OK, is the largest protected piece of tallgrass prairie left on earth. Farming and development have left this once extensive landscape, at less than 4% of its original size today.
Do pick up a trail brochure: first it’ll help you navigate the three interconnected trails so you maximize your hike and cover all the terrain; and second there are numbered markers along the trails that coincide with information presented in the brochure, so you can learn about the ecology and history of the area as you hike along.
We began our hike at the trailhead and followed the Study Trail up to its intersection with the Prairie Earth Trail. From there we followed the Prairie Earth Trail for its entire two miles. The trail gently climbs to top of a hill on the prairie, then descends down towards Sand Creek where it at first follows the edge of an oak forest that surrounds the creek, and then enters the forest and follows Sand Creek downstream. It’s here where some of that “steep and rugged” terrain comes into play, but it’s just the trail going up and down the drainages along Sand Creek, along with rocky and during wet times, muddy conditions. The trail eventually moves away from Sand Creek towards the intersection with the Study Trail.
For More Information On This Hike and the Preserve
To find additional information about the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve visit:
Paul, aka the Oklahomo Hiker took us on a hike in the Joseph Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve just outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
At almost 40,000 acres, the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Pawhuska, OK, is the largest protected piece of tallgrass prairie left on earth. Farming and development have left this once extensive landscape, at less than 4% of its original size today.
The Nature Trail at the Joseph Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is made of up three interconnected trail loops which pass through major habitat types found on the preserve and across the prairie. The trails are all well maintained and easy to walk, though that’s all relative. For us coming from the Catskills, these trails were about as easy as they come, but if you read the trail description in the brochure, some of the trail sections traverse “rough terrain with steep hills.”
Do pick up a trail brochure: first it’ll help you navigate the three interconnected trails so you maximize your hike and cover all the terrain; and second there are numbered markers along the trails that coincide with information presented in the brochure, so you can learn about the ecology and history of the area as you hike along.
We began our hike at the trailhead and followed the Study Trail up to its intersection with the Prairie Earth Trail. From there we followed the Prairie Earth Trail for its entire two miles. The trail gently climbs to top of a hill on the prairie, then descends down towards Sand Creek where it at first follows the edge of an oak forest that surrounds the creek, and then enters the forest and follows Sand Creek downstream. It’s here where some of that “steep and rugged” terrain comes into play, but it’s just the trail going up and down the drainages along Sand Creek, along with rocky and during wet times, muddy conditions. The trail eventually moves away from Sand Creek towards the intersection with the Study Trail.
For More Information On This Hike and the Preserve
To find additional information about the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve visit:
- Their Website
- Download the Joseph Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Brochure
- Download the Trail Brochure
Watch all of our videos about hikes in Oklahoma and Arkansas
Explore the rest of Oklahoma’s natural areas and hiking opportunities with these guides:- Purchase the Hiking Oklahoma Guidebook, which include this hike
- Purchase the Oklahoma Hiking Trails Guidebook
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Advice and Recommended Gear:
Gear we used on this hike:
- Goodr Sunglasses
- Osprey Talon 22 Pack
- Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack
- Altra Lone Peak Shoes
- Deliberate Life Designs Sandals
- Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles
- Darn Tough Socks
- Nalgene 32-ounce Wide-Mouth Water Bottles
- Lenny & Larry's The Complete Cookie
- Gatorade Endurance Carb Energy Chews
- GU Energy Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Drink
- Jelly Belly Sport Beans - Energizing Jelly Beans
- Garmin Instinct Watches
- Garmin inReach Plus GPS
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