When people think of the West, it's easy to envision wagon trains,
Buffalo Bill, the glory days of the Gold Rush. Cowboy hats come to mind.
-John Hickenlooper
The Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is just north of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in Osage County. It is here you will find the fully functioning tallgrass prairie on the land that use to be Barnard Ranch where actor Ben Johnson, Jr., was originally from. There is 2,500 head of bison roaming freely upon this 39,000-acre preserve. The Nature Conservancy manages this location to help protect the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.
Getting up a few hours before the sunrise, Scott and I rushed to find the right spot so we could welcome the sun. Not sure what we would find to take pictures of, we passed over the cattle guard just in time. We were not able to any bison at that time, but the hopes were high.
We drove along the gravel ranch road looking for the perfect place to show everyone what a tallgrass prairie looked like. As we came over one of the rolling hills, we saw the place we knew would show the life of this amazing landscape. We stopped the SUV and moved quickly.
The morning was cold but warmed up as the sun climbed in the blue sky. It gave a golden glow upon the tallgrass. After watching the sunrise, we climbed back in the SUV and started towards the visitor center. To our surprise, we found the road went downward toward an amazing tree-lined creek where we found a hiking trail. Knowing the visitor center was not going to be open for a few hours, we decided to go for a hike.
While we hiked we were greeted by a few white-tailed deer as they bounded through the woods. Both Scott and I were stunned to find this wooded area. We both had been under the impression that the prairie was nothing but rolling hills and tallgrass, but here we were surrounded by Blackjack and Post Oaks.
The ranch house, originally owned by the family of actor Ben Johnson, Jr., had been left in great disrepair for a long time. However, the building was restored in 1991 to be used as a place of historical significance and shelter for those who worked on the ranch during the roundups of the bison each year. Unfortunately, this was the time of year we arrived and the 2,500 head of bison had been rounded up for their yearly care. We were able to see a stray head here and there, but mostly, we could only see them from a huge distance.
There are so many amazing places to be seen in Osage County and this wonderful example of the beautiful places here. It was a wonderful, chilly morning for us exploring the area. There were surprises all around us and we do hope you enjoyed traveling with us.
Safe travels and remember to get out and live life outside your box,
You can also find this video on our YouTube channel:
All photos in this post are originals and the property of Scott and I and are subject to copyright.
