Prairie and Bison Tour

Experience the sights and smells of the prairie as you travel into the bison range at Blue Mounds State Park on this educational 90-minute tour. Bison are wild and unpredictable and may not be visible along the tour route.

Tour schedule

Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day

• Thursday: 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

Second weekend in September through the third weekend in October

• Saturday: 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m., 2 p.m.

Adult group and school tours are available May through October.
Contact the park office at 507-283-6051 or email [email protected] to make arrangements.

Rates and reservations

• Adults (ages 13+): $10
• Youth (ages 4-12): $6

Youth four to eight years old are required to use a booster seat. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
No youth under four years old permitted on the vehicle due to safety restrictions.

Reservations are recommended. Refunds will not be available for late or no-show ticket holders.

Reserve tickets online or by phone at 866-857-2757.

Important! If you have reserved tickets, you must pick up your boarding passes at the park office at least 20 minutes prior to your tour departure time.

Same-day tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the park office up to 20 minutes prior to the start of the tour time.

What to expect

• Tours are one and one-half hours long.
• The prairie tour vehicle holds 12 passengers, ages four and above.
• The vehicle is open-sided and seating is close - dress for the weather.
• The tour route is off-road and bumpy. It may cause motion sickness.
• Pets, emotional support or therapy animals are not allowed on this tour. Service animals are welcome.
• Tours will be canceled in severe weather, heavy rainfall or if trail conditions are poor. 
• Bison are wild and unpredictable and may not be visible along the tour route.

Be prepared

• All riders must have their own ticket.
• Riders ages four to eight years old must use a booster seat. Bring one or borrow one from the tour guide.
• Use restrooms before boarding. None are available during the tour.
• Riders must wear prescription glasses, sunglasses or safety glasses while on the vehicle. Safety glasses are available to borrow from the tour guide.
• Cameras and/or cellphones that can be secured during the ride are allowed. No tripods or monopods.
• Only water in a sealable container is allowed on the vehicle. No other food or drinks.
• Leave tobacco and vapor products in your vehicle.

Accessibility information

The tour vehicle is equipped with a lift and can accommodate one wheelchair per tour.

Please notify the park at 507-283-6050 if you would like to use the lift or the wheelchair-accessible spot.

Getting to the park

GPS directions to the park are unreliable and may lead you to the incorrect entrance for tour check-in. Check-in for tours is located at the park office on 161st Street/County Road 20.

Tours are not accessible from the interpretive center or climbing parking lots!

• From Interstate 90: The park office is 5.5 miles north from exit 12.
• From Pipestone, Minnesota: 21 miles south on Highway 75.

Special thanks

The Prairie and Bison Tour is made possible with funding from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.