The last great prairie, and its bison.
Tram tours through 2,560 acres of native tallgrass prairie. A free-roaming herd of bison and elk, an hour from Wichita.
Kansas kids ride the tram free this summer.
Maxwell is part of Sunflower Summer, the Kansas Tourism program that gives Kansas students Pre-K through 12th grade free tram tour admission July 9 – August 2, 2026 — plus one adult free with each group.
Reserve your prairie experience.
Public Tram Tours
Open to all. Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10 AM, with an 11 AM run if the first fills. A covered tram tour across the prairie with a guide.
- $15 adults
- $7.50 kids 4–11
- Tue & Sat
Private Group Tours
For schools, scouts, churches, clubs, families, reunions, senior centers, tour buses, and corporate teams. Custom dates and sizes — reserve in advance.
- Custom dates
- $7 K–12 student
- Naturalist-led
Special & Seasonal Events
See the prairie in every season — from the fall elk rut and golden-hour sunsets to an Old-Fashioned Christmas on the Prairie. Limited seats, photo-friendly.
- Seasonal
- Limited seats
- Photo-friendly
Tailored prairie experiences.
Photography Tours
A slower-paced tram experience with longer, more frequent stops geared toward composition, lighting, and animal behavior out on the prairie.
School & Youth Group Field Trips
Field trips, homeschool co-ops, Scouts, and 4-H clubs. Pair the tram tour with a short, age-appropriate program on prairie ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation.
Church, Family & Community Groups
Youth groups, civic clubs, large family groups and reunions, senior centers, and motorcoach groups. Private tram options for an unforgettable day together.
Good to know
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 48 hours before your tour for a full refund. Tours run rain or shine.
Family friendly
Children welcome. The tram has bench seating; bring water and a hat.
What to wear
Closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and layers in spring or fall.
Accessibility
The tram is ground-level. Call ahead and we'll help with mobility needs.
Bison, elk, and a living prairie.
Less than 4% of native tallgrass prairie remains in North America. Maxwell helps protect a rare piece of that original landscape — and one of the last free-roaming bison herds on Kansas grassland.
Visitors
From recent guests.
“Beautiful place to connect with nature. The wild bison and elk are so beautiful. I love going on the tram tours and like to take visiting family and friends when we can. Check their website for tour info. You won't regret it!”
“It was really pretty. Got to see a bunch of bison. First time seeing them so up close. Was fun. (Picture was taken from inside my car. Please don't be stupid and walk by them)”
“I took two self-guided tours this year simply through Pueblo Road. One in the fall and the winter. I saw countless bison and multiple elk. Great spot.”
“I am from Germany and visited the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge during a business trip to the USA. And I am absolutely thrilled — it was truly an unforgettable experience! On the way there, bison were walking along the road, which was very impressive. We booked a “Private Suburban Tour” for $25 per person, and it is worth every cent. Our guide brought us very close to the bison. I will never forget these large, gentle animals in this vast landscape stretching all the way to the horizon.”
“Wonderful and beautiful place. We took horses for the August trail ride and had a lovely time. We did the half-day ride and wish we had signed up for the full day ride and it had time.”
“I love this place so much. You can fish (with a license) and you can camp for free. There are several camp sites with tables and fire rings. Just be polite and clean up after yourself.”
“When i say a DAMN cool experience. And from someone who is from KS and thinks they've seen enough Buffalo....you HAVEN'T! I could have spent all day here. Literally wish the tour was 6 hours long hahaha! They take such a good care of the animals and what they have to offer and teach on the tours was so cool to us! Also way more baby Buffalo then I was expecting which was AMAZING to see.”
“Beautiful State Park to go fishing, camping or just hangout with friends and family. There is not a shower but the park does have very primitive outhouse. On occasion you can drive down the main road through the park and see Bison up close.”
“Beautiful place to connect with nature. The wild bison and elk are so beautiful. I love going on the tram tours and like to take visiting family and friends when we can. Check their website for tour info. You won't regret it!”
“It was really pretty. Got to see a bunch of bison. First time seeing them so up close. Was fun. (Picture was taken from inside my car. Please don't be stupid and walk by them)”
“I took two self-guided tours this year simply through Pueblo Road. One in the fall and the winter. I saw countless bison and multiple elk. Great spot.”
“I am from Germany and visited the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge during a business trip to the USA. And I am absolutely thrilled — it was truly an unforgettable experience! On the way there, bison were walking along the road, which was very impressive. We booked a “Private Suburban Tour” for $25 per person, and it is worth every cent. Our guide brought us very close to the bison. I will never forget these large, gentle animals in this vast landscape stretching all the way to the horizon.”
“Wonderful and beautiful place. We took horses for the August trail ride and had a lovely time. We did the half-day ride and wish we had signed up for the full day ride and it had time.”
“I love this place so much. You can fish (with a license) and you can camp for free. There are several camp sites with tables and fire rings. Just be polite and clean up after yourself.”
“When i say a DAMN cool experience. And from someone who is from KS and thinks they've seen enough Buffalo....you HAVEN'T! I could have spent all day here. Literally wish the tour was 6 hours long hahaha! They take such a good care of the animals and what they have to offer and teach on the tours was so cool to us! Also way more baby Buffalo then I was expecting which was AMAZING to see.”
“Beautiful State Park to go fishing, camping or just hangout with friends and family. There is not a shower but the park does have very primitive outhouse. On occasion you can drive down the main road through the park and see Bison up close.”
Where to find us