Not a well-known park, Prairie State Park has nearly 4,000 acres that preserves Missouri’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. Did you know that tallgrass prairie used to be more than one fourth of Missouri’s landscape? Now, only one percent remains.
Since it’s not too far from where we live, Robert and I decided to take the hour and a half drive to visit Prairie State Park. It was a beautiful day, and we wanted to go for a little walk in a place we hadn’t been before. It’s a place where bison and elk roam the grounds. We always love to visit State Parks, and we wanted to see what this one had to offer.
Although we visited early in the Spring and it was too early for the blooming wild flowers, we thought it was well worth the leisurely hike. At the end of our hike, we were able to view a herd of bison for quite some time. Keeping our distance and staying close to our car, the herd crossed the road and moseyed along their way through the prairie. It’s amazing that such a large animal can be camouflaged in the brush and grass practically next to you and suddenly hop onto the road, never knowing they were there to begin with.
Early Spring is mating season for the endangered prairie chicken. The trails close around 4 p.m. during mating season. We were told soon the prairie will be full of color with blooming wildflowers. Later in the summer, the Indian grass may reach as tall as 8 foot.
Walking on the prairie trails made us think how the pioneers traveled out west and how they set up their homesteads in the area. Life certainly had to be hard. It sure does makes us appreciate the land and what our ancestors went through.
The next time you are near Mindenmines in Southwest Missouri, close to the Kansas border, be sure to take the by-way and visit Prairie State Park.
