Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

Location:  From Manhattan, take Hwy K-177 south.  Just across the Kansas River Bridge turn onto Mc Dowell Creek Road and continue south for 6 miles to the Konza Prairie sign and trail head.  Can also be reached by from Exit 307 on I-70 and driving 5 miles north on Mc Dowell Creek Road.

Nearest Town:  Manhattan

Contact:  Ph.   785/587-0441 or  visit the Website:  Konza Prairie

Hours:  Nature Trail is open daylight hours, weather permitting

This is laboratory, even though it may not look like one.  The Tall Grass Prairie once covered 400,000 square miles of the United States, but now less than 1 percent of that is left, and almost all of that is in the Flint Hills of Kansas.  While most of the prairie was turned over with the plow and farmed, the land in this region was too steep and rocky.  Today it is one of the richest grazing areas in the world.  The Konza Prairie was acquired by the Nature Conservancy in the early 1970's and is operated as a field research station by the Kansas State University Division of Biology.  The studies include long term ecological research as well as research into grassland management.  Scientists and students come from all over the country and world to study this unique area.

Prairie Grass is not the only thing that grows here.  There is an abundance of flowers throughout the growing season.  These are called "Forbes" and they are an important part of the prairie ecosystem providing food for insects and animals that make the prairie their home.

This is the "Prairie Rose" which blooms in late May and Early June.  It is quite common along the Nature Trail at Konza Prairie.

There is an amazing diversity of life at Konza.  Since this is a scientific research area, public access is limited to the nature trail except for the open house which is held every other year.  A small herd of bison is maintained, but the only chance to see it would be during the open house.  The nature trail is a loop trail with several cut-offs so it can vary in length from 2 miles to a maximum of 14.  To walk here with the birds singing and the wind blowing through the tall prairie grasses is pretty neat.  Special Note:  One of the forbes growing along the trail in the area of the small stream is Poison Ivy.   Stay on the trail an you will have no problem.  Venture off the trail in this area and you will need an ocean of Calamine Lotion!!!

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