Osage County, Oklahoma
Whether you're after wide-open outdoor adventure, Native American cultural experiences, or small-town charm — Osage County has something waiting for you.
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Places to explore, discover, and experience throughout Osage County.
95 attractions
Explore Osage County
Tallgrass prairies, state parks, and hundreds of miles of open country — hike, fish, camp, ride, and watch wildlife across one of Oklahoma's most spectacular landscapes.
Dig into the layered history of the Osage Nation, the oil-boom era, and the frontier West through world-class museums, historic sites, and living cultural traditions.
From Oklahoma's beloved Cavalcade Rodeo to the National Indian Taco Championship — Osage County's event calendar is packed year-round with unforgettable experiences.
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Osage County offers some of Oklahoma's most rewarding hiking, from the cedar-lined trails of Osage Hills State Park near Pawhuska to the open grasslands of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. The preserve's nearly 40,000 acres are free to visit and open year-round, with informal trails through tallgrass that reaches over your head in late summer. Spring wildflower season (April–May) is peak hiking time, when the prairie blooms with Indian paintbrush, coneflower, and blazing star.
Skiatook Lake is the crown jewel of Osage County fishing — a 10,500-acre reservoir consistently producing trophy largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, and catfish. Multiple public boat ramps and shore-fishing access points serve anglers at every level. Wah-Sha-She State Park provides full marina services and camping. Beyond Skiatook, smaller ponds and creek drainages throughout Osage County offer excellent catfishing and perch fishing in a quieter setting.
The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve hosts one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in North America — over 2,500 animals managed by The Nature Conservancy. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, coyote, and bobcat are common throughout Osage County. Birdwatchers find a remarkable diversity of species, including Greater Prairie-Chicken, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Oklahoma's state bird), Bald Eagles along waterways in winter, and dozens of sparrow and warbler species during migration.
Osage County was made for driving. Oklahoma State Highway 11 between Pawhuska and Bartlesville winds through some of the most beautiful Osage Hills scenery in the state. The drive from Pawhuska north toward the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is a classic — rolling tallgrass, cedar breaks, and working cattle ranches with zero traffic lights. Fall (October) brings spectacular color to the oak-covered hillsides. Sunrise and sunset drives are particularly rewarding.
The Nature Conservancy
Nearly 40,000 acres of protected tallgrass prairie — one of the largest in the world. Free-roaming bison, wildflowers in spring, and silence you can feel. Admission is free.
Learn About the PreserveNeed Help?
Contact our tourism office and we'll help you plan the perfect Osage County experience for your group, timeline, and interests.
Osage County is the homeland of the Osage Nation, one of the most prominent Native American nations in the country. The Osage Nation Museum in Pawhuska — the oldest tribally owned museum in the United States — offers free admission and tells the full Osage story through artifacts and oral history. The Osage Nation Powwow, held each June in Pawhuska, is one of the most significant tribal ceremonies in North America and is open to the public.
Wah-Sha-She State Park at Skiatook Lake is the county's premier camping destination, with full hookup RV sites, tent sites, and lakeside access. Osage Hills State Park near Pawhuska offers a quieter, more wooded camping experience surrounded by cedar and post oak — ideal for those who prefer to sleep away from the water. Primitive camping opportunities exist throughout the county for those seeking backcountry solitude. Most sites can be reserved through the Oklahoma State Parks system.
The Cavalcade Rodeo, held every July in Pawhuska, is one of Oklahoma's oldest and most beloved professional rodeos — drawing competitors and spectators from across the country. The week-long event includes a downtown parade, live music, and nightly rodeo competition. Beyond Cavalcade, Osage County hosts county fair rodeo events, high school rodeo competitions, and team roping events throughout the summer and fall that give visitors an authentic taste of ranch life.
The layers of history in Osage County run deep — from Paleo-Indian settlements to Osage Nation sovereignty, the terror of the Reign of Terror era (as told in Killers of the Flower Moon), and the wild wealth of the Oklahoma oil boom. The Osage Nation Museum in Pawhuska and the Fairfax Osage Reservation Museum are the best starting points. In nearby Bartlesville, the Woolaroc Museum holds one of the finest Western American art collections anywhere, and Price Tower — Frank Lloyd Wright's only skyscraper — is an architectural landmark.
