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Opportunities to experience the tallgrass prairie feeling await on the many connected trails of the park. These natural surface trails are mowed and carry visitors through the prairie landscape, where early settlers once traveled. If hikers connect to each of the trails, they can hike a total of 12 miles. For your safety, please contact staff at the visitor center before hiking.
Smoking is not allowed while using any of the trails or the backpack camp. Pets are not allowed on the trails due to the proximity of bison and elk in the park.
Coyote Trail -- 2 miles
This trail begins at the picnic area. If you travel in a counter clockwise direction and cross through the fence, the trail will lead you to a connection with Gayfeather Trail. Along this portion of the trail, the elk can often be viewed along the hillside west of the trail. The best time to hike here is early in the morning to view the morning sunshine glistening off the backs of the elk calves. Hike in late September or October and listen to the occasional bugle of the majestic bull elk. This portion of the trail also provides access to the backpack camp. If you travel clockwise on the trail, it will carry you through the campground and across the small footbridge. This portion will take visitors back to a connection with Drovers Trail and eventually to the visitor center. If hikers choose to connect to a portion of Drovers Trail and Gayfeather Trail, they can make the entire three-mile loop.
Drovers Trail -- 2.5 miles
This trail can be accessed from the visitor center and has three loops. The smallest one-half mile loop is accessible to people with disabilities. It provides a quick glimpse of what it must have been like to see tallgrass prairie for the first time. The middle loop is 1.5 miles and leads hikers just over the hill from the visitor center. The third loop is 2.5 miles and connects with Sandstone Trail.
Gayfeather Trail -- 1.5 miles
This trail can be accessed from the Regal Prairie Natural Area parking lot one mile south of the visitor center. It leads hikers to the highest quality natural area in the park and provides for the best floral displays throughout the growing season.
Path of the Sky People -- 1.5 miles
This loop trail can be accessed from the Tzi-Sho Natural Area parking lot on the east side of the park, on Central Road, one-half mile west of Route NN . Tzi-Sho is an Osage American Indian term for sky people, one of the grand divisions of the Osage tribe. This trail highlights the hardpan prairie natural community with it’s extreme soil conditions. Follow the outer loop of this trail and cross 130th Lane to connect with Sandstone Trail. This trail is not accessible to the bison and elk so it can be hiked at any time.
Sandstone Trail -- 4.5 miles
This loop trail can be accessed from the trailhead on 130th Lane, three-fourths of a mile north of the intersection of Central Road. This is the most remote trail and provides access to East Drywood Creek Natural Area. This natural area is known for it’s quality as a prairie headwaters stream and has been designated as a State Outstanding Waterway. There are two loops of the trail. The east loop is 2.5 miles and meanders through a portion of Tzi-Sho Natural Area, which exhibits one of the best floral displays in the park. The west loop is 2.33 miles and provides access to the most isolated portions of the park.
