Discover How to Explore North America’s Most Endangered and Overlooked Ecosystem

When you think of ecosystems at risk, you might picture the Amazon rainforest or the Great Barrier Reef. However, right here in North America lies one of the rarest and most endangered ecosystems on Earth: the prairie. Before the 19th century, this vast sea of grass stretched from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all the way to Texas, and from Montana and New Mexico in the west to Indiana in the east. Its simple appearance—endless expanses of grassland—often leads travelers to overlook it in favor of more striking environments, yet these areas are rich in biodiversity and offer incredible opportunities for hiking, wildlife observation, bird-watching, and more.

The easternmost region, known as the tallgrass prairie, once flourished in the U.S. Midwest, and it is now critically endangered. Before westward expansion, the tallgrass prairie spanned approximately 170 million acres—about the size of Texas—and was part of a broader expanse of grasslands (including shortgrass and mixed prairie) that covered a third of the continent. Throughout the mid- to late 1800s, as pioneers sought to conquer what they termed the Inland Sea, this fragile environment suffered irreparable harm. Species like the bison (which once numbered up to 60 million) and the black-footed ferret were nearly driven to extinction, while native grasses were replaced by monoculture farms and settlements. Today, more than 95 percent of the tallgrass prairie has been lost.

Yet there is hope! National and state parks, along with private and public preserves, are making commendable efforts to protect this ecosystem and its residents. They are working to reintroduce species, eliminate invasive plants, and promote native grasses. If you’ve previously considered the American prairie to be a dull landscape to simply drive through on your way to more exciting destinations, now is your opportunity to pause and experience the land where buffalo roam and deer and antelope play. These seven parks across Canada and the United States serve as excellent starting points for visiting—and contributing to the conservation of—one of North America’s most valuable treasures.

Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oklahoma

Covering 40,000 acres, this northern Oklahoma preserve is the largest remaining protected tallgrass prairie in the world, home to around 2,200 free-roaming bison, reintroduced in 1993. The experience here evolves with the seasons. Starting in late March, you can hear the “booming” calls of greater prairie-chickens at sunrise, accompanied by their captivating mating dance where males inflate their vibrant orange neck sacs. By May, 600 to 700 bison calves start to frolic in the wildflower-dotted grasslands. As the weather warms, you’ll spot Oklahoma’s state bird, the graceful scissor-tailed flycatcher, followed by raptors like bald and golden eagles in the fall and winter.

Food Network star Ree “The Pioneer Woman” Drummond launched this eight-room “cowboy luxury” hotel in 2018 within a historic 1920s building that previously housed a silk shop and a department store. Guests enjoy perks like personalized morning coffee, a truffle at turndown, and complimentary wine and beer during happy hour.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Renowned for its buttes and spires showcasing layers of vibrantly colored sedimentary rock, this beloved national park played a significant role in the 2020 Oscar-winning best picture Nomadland. While visiting, you can drive through the park to spot familiar prairie residents such as bison and pronghorn, or drop by the Fossil Preparation Lab to engage with active paleontologists. The park also hosts a successful reintroduction initiative for the critically endangered black-footed ferret, once believed to be extinct. They are making a comeback in the Conata Basin, but being nocturnal and underground dwellers, these elusive creatures are hard to catch a glimpse of—an advantage when hunting prairie dogs.

The sole lodging option within the park features a collection of charming cabins; originally established in 1928, they were completely renovated in 2013, furnished with locally crafted lodgepole pine that embodies the quintessential national park lodge aesthetic. The nearby restaurant is famed for its fry bread, which is served in Sioux tacos topped with refried beans and buffalo meat.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas

The Kansas Flint Hills boast some of the last remaining intact sections of tallgrass prairie, and this preserve is the only National Park Service unit entirely focused on this vanishing ecosystem. You can discover the landscape through guided van tours or a self-directed drive featuring a downloadable podcast. To witness the tallgrass in its full glory, remember the saying “tall in the fall”: Grasses begin at just a few inches in spring and take the entire season to reach their impressive height by autumn, soaring up to around eight feet in the most fertile areas.

Housed in a late-Victorian limestone mansion built in 1883, this elegant B&B offers additional accommodations in separate houses and cabins on the historic ranch. The owners raise bison, which you can observe in the pastures—or sample at the Cliff Restaurant. (Be adventurous and try the fried Cliff Hangers, also known elsewhere as Rocky Mountain oysters.)

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

Situated just across the border from Montana, this mixed-grass prairie park is the only location in Canada where you can find black-tailed prairie dogs. They inhabit expansive “dog towns” filled with intricate, interconnected burrows, and they’re a delight for wildlife watchers: If you rise early, you’ll see them foraging and eating during the first two hours of daylight, followed by dust bathing, grooming, and socializing. In the summer, you might also spot adorable burrowing owls (about 10 inches tall) that use prairie dog colonies to raise their young. Visitors can also explore over 20,000 tepee rings, remnants of centuries of First Nations presence; drive the scenic Badlands Parkway; stargaze in one of Canada’s largest and darkest Dark Sky Preserves; or even join paleontologists from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum for their annual Fossil Fever dig.

For those who love camping but prefer a touch of comfort, Parks Canada provides a dozen “oTENTiks” in the Frenchman Valley and Rock Creek campgrounds. These structures are a blend of tent and A-frame cabin, complete with beds and a raised floor—but they lack plumbing.

Homestead National Historical Park, Nebraska

This park in southeastern Nebraska honors the human history of the prairie, celebrating the Homestead Act of 1862, which allowed individuals to claim up to 160 acres of federal land provided they lived there for five years and made improvements. While it reflects the spirit of Manifest Destiny, it also brought challenges to the prairie. Since 1939, the National Park Service has been dedicated to restoring the tallgrass prairie—its oldest restoration project—by planting grass seeds, managing invasive species, and performing controlled burns. During your visit, you can explore three miles of trails across 100 restored acres, which include remnants of the life of Daniel Freeman, a Civil War veteran and the first person to file a claim under the Homestead Act.

While there are many chain hotels near the park, for a stylish stay, consider making Lincoln, about 45 minutes away, your home base. The city’s first boutique hotel is dedicated to welder and industrial artist Ken Kindler, showcasing his copper artworks in the lobby.

Living Prairie Museum, Manitoba

While it may not be the largest area, if you're looking to immerse yourself in the tallgrass prairie within a relatively big city, Winnipeg’s Living Prairie Museum is the perfect spot. Established in 1968, this 32-acre preserve safeguards a variety of ecosystems, boasting around 150 species of grasses and wildflowers. Every July, the museum hosts a monarch butterfly festival where visitors can receive free milkweed plants to encourage these vibrant pollinators in their own gardens, and during summer Fridays, naturalists offer complimentary guided trail walks. Additionally, the museum features a medicinal garden where local First Nations members can gather sage, sweetgrass, and other culturally significant plants for rituals and healing.

This boutique hotel is located in the downtown area where the Assiniboine and Red rivers converge, right in the lively entertainment district known as the Forks. Its on-site restaurant, Smith, focuses on Canadian cuisine, featuring dishes like pan-fried pickerel, Manitoba beet salad, and a cheese platter with local Saskatoon berry compote.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Before ascending to the presidency, a young Teddy Roosevelt traveled to the Dakota Territory in the 1880s to hunt bison, and his legacy of exploration and conservation continues to resonate at this lesser-known national park. The park consists of three sections: the North Unit, featuring a 14-mile scenic drive; the South Unit, close to the lively town of Medora, known for its Old West musical revue and the Pitchfork Steak Fondue feast; and the remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit, where Roosevelt lived and raised cattle. While the Badlands are famous for their unique geological features, it’s the seemingly ordinary grasslands that showcase the highest biodiversity, providing habitat for grazing animals like reintroduced bison, elk, and bighorn sheep, as well as livestock demonstration herds of longhorn cattle and horses.

It’s said that Roosevelt delivered a speech from the balcony of this historic hotel, which now boasts pressed-tin ceilings, a restaurant serving bison osso buco, and one of the largest private libraries dedicated to books about the 26th president.