Description
The Four Canyon Preserve encompasses 4,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie, rugged canyons and floodplain along the Canadian River in southern Ellis County. Scenic prairie ridges traverse the landscape, dissected by deep chinquapin oak-lined canyons draining into the river.
These prairies provide habitat for a number of rare grassland birds such as Cassin's sparrow and Swainson's hawk, and other species of concern including reptiles like the Texas horned lizard and most notably, the imperiled lesser prairie chicken. The cool, wooded canyons stand in contrast to the surrounding prairies and provide habitat for migratory birds like the red-bellied woodpecker and painted bunting.
The Canadian River provides habitat for the federally endangered least-tern, the threatened Arkansas River shiner and serves as a stopover point for migratory shorebirds like the sandhill crane.
