Prairie State Park

Prairie State Park is a state preserve spanning 4,000 acres of grasslands in Barton County where bison and elk roam through native vegetation and open meadows. The terrain consists entirely of natural tallgrass habitat characteristic of the Midwest.

The park was established in 1980 as a response to rapid prairie loss during the 1970s when soybean farming expanded across the region. Its creation represented an effort to protect this vanishing landscape.

The nature center features exhibits about prairie ecosystems and the Native American peoples who inhabited these grasslands for centuries. Visitors gain insight into how communities shaped and depended on this landscape.

The park offers approximately 15 miles of hiking trails for visitors to explore, with a nature center providing educational programs throughout the year. Wildlife watching is most rewarding during evening hours.

A herd of roughly 100 bison grazes on native grasses here, representing one of Missouri's last remaining natural prairie environments. This living herd demonstrates what the landscape looked like before European settlement.

Location: Barton County

Inception: 1980

Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/prairie-state-park

GPS coordinates: 37.51220,-94.57170

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:26