MANKATO – To celebrate the arrival of bison to Minneopa State Park, free bus tours of the park’s bison range will be offered three times each day on April 2, 10, 16 and 17.

Visitors will have an opportunity to ride through the bison range with Minneopa Area Naturalist Scott Kudelka and learn more about North America’s largest mammal and the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd. These tours will offer special access to the range as the bison range road is closed to vehicles until May 1.

Participants must pre-register to take part in a guided tour. Tours depart at 10:30 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. and last one hour.

Pre-register for this event by sending an email to scott.kudelka@state.mn.us or calling 507-384-8890. Visitors should plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure. Tours will leave from the group camp where parking and vault toilets are available. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

While there is no charge for the tours, a vehicle permit is required to enter Minnesota state parks ($5 for a one-day permit or $25 for a year-round permit).

Those who don’t already have a Minnesota state parks vehicle permit (www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/permit.html) can purchase one at the park. Meet at the Group Campground on the campground side of Minneopa State Park.

Note that this event may be changed or canceled due to weather or poor road conditions. For more information, including event details, weather updates and directions to the park call 507-384-8890 or visit the Minneopa State Parkpage at www.mndnr.gov.

Minneopa State Park is located off U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 68, five miles west of Mankato. For more information on Minneopa State Park, including a virtual tour of the park, visit mndnr.gov/state_parks/minneopa/index.html.

Information is also available by calling Scott Kudelka, Minneopa area naturalist, at 507-384-8890 or by calling the DNR Information Center, 651-296-6157 (888-646-6367 toll free) between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.