Maxwell Wildlife Refuge: The Only Place in Kansas Where Bison and Elk Share the Same Prairie: And what happens next

Tucked six miles north of Canton and roughly an hour’s drive from Wichita, Maxwell Wildlife Refuge protects more than 2,500 acres of native Kansas prairie where bison and elk roam the same open grassland — a combination found nowhere else on public land in the state. Native prairies like this one have been nearly wiped from the continent; fewer than four percent of North American grasslands of this type still exist, making the refuge’s rolling hills a genuinely rare landscape. Visitors can take it in from behind the wheel, but the refuge’s guided tram tours put travelers directly among the herds on the open grass.

The land traces its origins to a Scottish immigrant named John Gault Maxwell, who claimed this ground in 1859 with a vision of preserving native prairie where buffalo could live undisturbed for generations to come. He never saw that goal through himself, but his son Henry made it happen decades later by earmarking funds in his will. The refuge formally opened in 1951, starting with just 10 bison and 6 elk; today the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks oversees the property, stewarding one of the largest publicly accessible bison herds in the state. Beyond the two signature herds, more than 100 bird species have been recorded on the refuge, white-tailed deer and wild turkeys move through the grass, and native plant species including big bluestem and Indiangrass shift the landscape’s appearance from one season to the next. McPherson State Fishing Lake borders the refuge to the west, where anglers can pursue bass, catfish, and panfish from the shore or from piers, and basic camping is available for those who want to extend their stay.

Watching a bison herd move across the open grass feels like slipping back to the 1800s, before fences and highways cut up the prairie — and occasionally, one of the animals decides the road belongs to it, leaving drivers to wait until it moves along on its own terms.

Guided tram tours operate year-round on Tuesdays and Saturdays by reservation, with each ride lasting between 45 and 60 minutes and covering the animal, plant, and land history of the refuge. Booking at least three days in advance is recommended, particularly during the fall elk rut and peak wildflower season when seats fill quickly. Elk tend to be harder to spot than bison, favoring low ground and tree lines, so late fall through early spring offers the best odds of a sighting; fall visitors who catch the rut may witness bulls competing for the herd. A public road running through the refuge toward McPherson State Fishing Lake allows self-guided driving at any time the gate is open, and the refuge also sits along the 80-mile Prairie Trail Scenic Byway connecting Canton to Kanopolis State Park, Ellsworth, and Interstate 70. Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is located at 2565 Pueblo Road in Canton, Kansas, and binoculars are worth bringing regardless of which way you choose to explore it.