17 Wild Places In Montana And South Dakota Where Bison Still Roam
Bison once thundered across North America in massive herds numbering millions.
Today, these magnificent creatures still roam free in select wilderness areas, particularly in Montana and South Dakota.
Visiting these majestic animals in their natural habitat offers a glimpse into America’s wild past and the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve these iconic symbols of the American West.
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
America’s oldest national park houses the nation’s most famous bison herd. Approximately 5,000 bison wander freely throughout the park’s vast landscapes.
Lucky visitors might witness these one-ton beasts crossing roads, grazing in valleys, or even taking dust baths. Winter provides spectacular viewing opportunities as the animals gather in lower elevations.
2. National Bison Range, Montana
Established in 1908 specifically for bison conservation, this refuge spans 18,500 acres of pristine Montana grassland and forest.
Sharp-eyed visitors can spot around 350 bison roaming freely across rolling hills and prairie. A scenic drive offers multiple pullouts where patient wildlife watchers are rewarded with close-up views of these magnificent creatures.
3. American Prairie Reserve, Montana
Ambitious conservation efforts have created this massive prairie ecosystem restoration project spanning over 400,000 acres in north-central Montana.
Genetically pure bison have been reintroduced here, creating a growing herd that now numbers several hundred animals. Camping under vast Montana skies while bison graze nearby offers an authentic Great Plains experience few other places can match.
4. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Rugged buttes and colorful spires create a surreal backdrop for approximately 1,200 bison that inhabit this otherworldly landscape.
Visitors driving the Badlands Loop Road frequently encounter bison crossing or grazing alongside. Morning and evening hours provide the best viewing opportunities when the animals are most active and the dramatic landscape glows with golden light.
5. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Beyond its famous cave system lies a lesser-known treasure – a genetically important bison herd roaming 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie.
Around 350 bison maintain the prairie ecosystem through their grazing patterns. Wildlife Loop Road provides excellent opportunities to observe these magnificent animals against a backdrop of rolling hills and prairie dog towns.
6. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Named after the conservation-minded president, this park preserves badlands wilderness where approximately 400 bison roam freely.
Scenic drives through both the North and South Units offer frequent bison sightings. Watching a bison herd move across the rugged landscape that inspired Roosevelt’s conservation ethic connects visitors to America’s conservation history.
7. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Majestic mountain backdrops frame approximately 500 bison that inhabit this spectacular landscape just south of Yellowstone.
Bison frequently graze in open meadows near Mormon Row and Antelope Flats. Photographers flock to capture iconic images of these massive creatures with the dramatic Teton Range rising sharply in the background.
8. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
Rocky outcrops and mixed-grass prairie provide habitat for around 650 bison in this historic refuge established in 1901.
Descendants of bison saved from extinction now thrive across 59,000 acres. Visitors can drive through open range areas where bison frequently approach roads, offering close-up views of these magnificent creatures against ancient granite mountains.
9. Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas
Home to the official Texas State Bison Herd, this colorful canyon landscape preserves the last remaining examples of the Southern Plains bison.
Approximately 200 genetically pure bison roam freely throughout the park. Hiking trails wind through dramatic red rock formations where visitors might round a corner to find themselves face-to-face with these living symbols of the American West.
10. Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska
Sprawling across 19,000 acres along the scenic Niobrara River, this refuge maintains a herd of approximately 350 bison.
A self-guided auto tour route offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Spring brings adorable red-orange calves that frolic alongside their massive parents, creating memorable wildlife watching experiences for lucky visitors.
11. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa
Ambitious prairie restoration efforts have recreated tallgrass ecosystem where a small herd of approximately 50 bison now roams.
An auto tour route winds through reconstructed prairie where visitors can observe these massive animals. Fall brings spectacular colors as prairie grasses turn golden and bison prepare their thick winter coats.
12. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado
Just minutes from downtown Denver, this urban wildlife refuge has transformed from chemical weapons facility to thriving ecosystem.
Approximately 180 bison now roam across 15,000 acres with the Denver skyline visible in the distance. An 11-mile wildlife drive provides excellent viewing opportunities where visitors might spot bison alongside deer, prairie dogs, and raptors.
13. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas
Nearly vanished tallgrass prairie ecosystem is preserved here, with a growing bison herd helping maintain this rare landscape.
Approximately 100 bison roam freely across 11,000 acres. Hiking trails wind through prairie grasses that can grow taller than a person, creating magical moments when hikers suddenly encounter massive bison amid the waving sea of grass.
14. Henry Mountains, Utah
Wild and remote, this mountain range hosts one of America’s few truly free-roaming bison herds not confined by fences.
Approximately 300 bison move across public lands, requiring determination to find. Adventurous visitors with high-clearance vehicles can explore rugged backcountry roads for a chance to spot these animals in a truly wild setting.
15. Blue Mounds State Park, Minnesota
Rising dramatically above surrounding farmland, this park’s quartzite cliff line provides backdrop for a small bison herd.
Approximately 100 bison help maintain native prairie on 1,830 acres. Viewing platforms allow visitors to safely observe these massive animals grazing across prairie dotted with prickly pear cactus – a surprising find in Minnesota.
16. Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas
Research meets conservation at this 8,600-acre tallgrass prairie laboratory where bison help scientists understand prairie ecology.
Approximately 300 bison participate in ongoing research projects. Limited public access during scheduled tours allows visitors to learn about prairie restoration while observing bison in their natural habitat.
17. Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada
Just outside Edmonton, this fenced sanctuary has played crucial role in bison conservation for over a century.
Wood and plains bison herds totaling approximately 700 animals inhabit separate sections of the park. Hiking trails wind through aspen parkland where visitors frequently encounter these massive creatures, sometimes requiring patient waiting for bison to clear paths.
