Prairie, Basins and Bison Herds

At Big Basin Prairie Preserve, prairie meets a striking geological formation. The preserve lies west of Ashland in Clark County and encompasses 1,818 acres of native mixed-grass prairie. It is listed on the National Register of Natural Landmarks.

Big Basin is a natural, circular, crater-like depression about one mile in diameter and 100 feet deep. Little Basin is about 280 yards wide and 35 feet deep from rim to bottom. These measurements show the difference in scale between the two basins. Big Basin, Little Basin and St. Jacob’s Well share the same origin: all three formations developed in the recent geological past through solutional subsidence.

St. Jacob’s Well is a natural sinkhole with a permanent, spring-fed pool. A footpath leads from the parking lot at Little Basin to St. Jacob’s Well, which has drawn travelers for many centuries. The preserve is also home to herds of American bison, which graze there as part of the natural preservation of the prairie ecosystem. U.S. Highway 283 runs through Big Basin.

Water and Trails

Another natural area is Clark State Fishing Lake, a 300-acre impoundment in Clark County in southwestern Kansas. Camping, picnicking and fishing are permitted throughout the grounds. Four boat ramps provide access for launching boats for fishing; boats may be used only for fishing.

The lake also features a named nature trail: the Jay R. Wood Memorial Nature Trail crosses Bluff Creek. Along with the activities expressly permitted at the lake, this gives it a different focus from Big Basin Prairie Preserve: here, fishing and recreation at the impoundment take center stage, while the preserve is all about prairie, geological formations and bison herds.

Traces of History and Aviation

Ashland Grade School was built in 1937 as part of the Public Works Administration. It is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Register of Historic Kansas Places. Thus, this building has a specific construction year and listings in two historic registers.

The Pioneer-Krier Museum displays two aircraft belonging to Harold Krier: the “Flying Chipmunk” and the Great Lakes. The museum’s County History Collection offers another way to explore the county’s history. It includes pictures and documents about families and events in Clark County before 1900. Aviation artifacts and local family and event history are thus two distinct themes within the museum.

Two named sites also lead to historical themes. Mount Casino Stone is a monument east of Ashland commemorating early missionaries. Mount Jesus is a high peak seven or eight miles northwest of Ashland; Major Inman named it in 1868. The sites have different associations: a monument to missionaries and the recorded naming of a peak.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Minneola, Anderson, Mcpherson County, Neosho County, Smith County, Thomas County, Jackson, Harvey County

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