maxwell wildlife refuge

We loved this! It was the first stop on our two week trip around Kansas. We stayed in McPherson the night before and it was a short drive to Canton. At first, I was sad that the tram wasn't running and we had to take the pick-up truck with the guide. But, this was a blessing in disguise. You get to do more "off-roading" in the pick up than the tram. I think you get a better tour. Make sure you go up in the watch tower and make a reservation for a tour. We saw the bison herd and would love to go back in the winter to see the elk.

I was able to go during Elk Days in March of 2014. We rode in a covered tram and saw both the elk herd and the bison herd. The guide also shared information about life on the prairie in the 1800's. In April and May wild flowers are blooming and add to the beauty of the prairie. If you want an authentic experience of the real prairie, take a step back in time at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. Call ahead to get the guided tour. It's a minimal price and well worth the guide's enthusiasm and knowledge. I felt like I had stepped into the pages of a Laura Ingalls Wilder novel.

We drove through - on a very rough road - on a December afternoon and were lucky enough to see the Bison herd grazing in the tallgrass prairie. The fishing lake was full of Canadian geese. It was a lovely drive through very rural Kansas!

A friend and I made reservations for the tour to see the bison and elk close up. We rode in a tram pulled by a truck that took us up into the hills where the bison were. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and gave us all kinds of interesting information and stories about them. She was also happy to answer any questions we had. The elk were off at a distance, but still visible. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and I took over 100 photos during that time! The visitor center has some nice displays including a covered wagon and many artifacts found in the area, lots of free literature, and sells snacks.The tour would be great for kids or anyone interested in wildlife, nature, or history.There are special events including Elk Days in January that we are thinking about returning for.