Kish-Ke-Kosh Prairie State Preserve consists mainly of upland prairie, which is recovering from being grazed in the past. It's main upland prairie is also accompanied by moist drainageways and wet swales. Springtime on the prairie brings hoary and hair puccoons, while the summer months welcome a peak of wildflowers like leadplant and prairie coreopsis. The end of September shows blooms like silky asters and sweet everlasting. Among the wildlife on the preserve are red-tailed hawks, which visitors can spot in the flying above the hills' edges. Ten butterfly species, including black swallowtail and orange sulphur, are also found on the preserve.
Kish-Ke-Kosh Prairie State Preserve was named after the Fox Indian chief and friend of the area's European settlers. The Iowa Conservation Commission purchased the land from the Keplinger family in 1980, and it became a biological state preserve the following year.
Fees, permits, and reservations may apply.
