Hiking is not allowed inside the range, but there are hiking trails all the way around the outside of the range. We estimate that 30-40 bison can live in the bison range. There are two parts to the park and you need to drive between them. It takes about 15 minutes. I wanted to go back and visit the bison at Minneopa, located near Mankato. Mankato has a strong local food scene where restaurants in the City Center and nearby neighborhoods serve everything from New York style pizza to creative burger creations and local craft beer. Please be sure to exit the bison range before the posted closing times. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Bison need grass to eat. In Mankato, we know that recreation is a big part of any vacation. Click on a topic below to reveal more information. Bison Ambassadors are volunteers who play an important role in helping the public better understand the purpose behind the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd and how to view these animals in a safe manner. And it’s the only place in Minnesota where visitors can drive through the bison enclosure looking for wildlife. Sadly, these animals were hunted to near extinction as the animal’s natural habitat became more populated. People purposely killed millions of American plains bison during the late 1800s -- a near extinction. Seppman Mill is a great lookout point, the Bison enclosure is in direct view of the Mill lookout area. We have hotels with on-site restaurants; game rooms and swimming pools and more! The road is closed every Wednesday for maintenance. Peter Herald) The steady flow of vehicles through Minneopa State Park’s bison drive June 10 might have been prompted by the free admission day, but the Mankato area treasure is one of southern Minnesota’s growing recreational attractions. Minneopa State Park is located off of US Highway 169 and State Highway 68. Minneopa State Park Information. By the 1960s Minnesota was transferring many such parks to city or county management; Minneopa needed to expand to stay a state park. You must drive through the park during the hours of 9 am and 3:30 pm. Bison Herd at Minneopa State Park Though the days of bison roaming across Minnesota’s prairies are long gone, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Zoo are working together to reintroduce them in several parts of the state, including Minneopa State Park near Mankato. Bison can be dangerous animals, especially when calves are present. Periodic Closure (typically in late winter, early spring)To ensure stable road conditions, seasonal closures may occur due to rapidly melting snow throughout the freeze/thaw cycle, which results in poor and unsafe road conditions. If bison are your thing, check out Blue Mounds State Park about a two-hour drive from Minneopa. While the WPA had helped, Minneopa Park was still small, had no campground, and attracted primarily local use. By Jim Umhoefer ... Another attraction at Minneopa is the 331-acre bison enclosure. Minneopa State Park is home to 11 bison, which happens to be North America’s largest mammal. Bison Viewing at Minneopa State Park Bison Drive Hours and Information The Bison Drive Road is open Thursday-Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. But we figured we would check on our old friends before we hiked. The Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd is managed in partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Zoo to preserve genetically diverse bison for the enjoyment of all people.Visitors can drive through the enclosed 331 acres of the park to catch a glimpse at these beautiful giants. Minneopa State Park Minneopa comes from the Dakota language which means “water falling twice”. The bison are free to roam 331 acres, so they may be difficult to spot at times. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Bison have been reintroduced to Minneopa State Park just outside of Mankato. Bison get nervous around loud noises or lots of activity. The road is closed every Wednesday for maintenance. The Bison Drive Seeing as though this is a continuation of the previous adventure we had a Minneopa State Park, I won’t bore you with too many details about the rest of the park. This herd of 20 is unique, having high quality genetics descending from the type of bison Lewis and Clark gazed upon in the 1830s. In Minnesota, that magical place is Minneopa State Park. Minneopa State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Minnesota.It was established in 1905 to preserve Minneopa Falls, a large waterfall for southern Minnesota, and was expanded in the 1960s to include the lower reaches of Minneopa Creek and a large tract of prairie. If the light was less than ideal at the falls I’d would cross the hill to the bison enclosure. Minneopa State Park. At Minneopa the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) funded road improvements, wetland restorations to provide water for the bison, interpretive exhibits, and a corral. We opted to drive, and we did it twice—hoping the bison might be closer to the road the second time. Keep your voices down and movements to a minimum to help keep the bison within easy viewing. Minneopa is one of two Minnesota state parks where buffalo (American plains bison) roam. Small herd sizes, crossbreeding with cattle and a lack of prairie to roam create long-term problems for bison. Go>. Minneopa State Park August 24, 2018 With Minneopa State Park a relatively short 85 mile/1.5 mile drive from Minneapolis I’d been making this trip often over the summer. The most descriptive name for the animals living in the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd is American plains bison. The drive through the park is still the same you just might have some Bison to look at now. Early French explorers called the North American animals "les boeufs," meaning oxen. Currently the herd has approximately 130 bison at three different sites: Blue Mounds State Park, Minneopa State Park and the Minnesota Zoo. “That told us we wanted to be a part of that wild bison heritage.” Kudelka said that Minneopa State Park could grow its herd to 30 or 40 animals comfortably. The Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd is managed in partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Zoo to preserve genetically diverse bison for the enjoyment of all people.Visitors can drive through the enclosed 331 acres of the park to catch a glimpse at these beautiful giants. Bison Drive road is closed on Wednesdays and has more limited hours. In greater Mankato, you’ll find more than just a comfortable night’s sleep. It was created in 1905 to preserve Minneopa Falls, a two-tiered waterfall once described as nature’s masterpiece. by Kristin Nicole Minneopa State Park is in the south-central region of Minnesota and approximately 85 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Whether you want to stay indoors or conquer the great outdoors, Mankato is your getaway destination in southern Minnesota! You’ll feel like singing Home on the Range or watching Dances with Wolves when you view the American bison herd at Minneopa State Park on the Bison Drive Road. The view both above and at the foot of the falls is spectacular! These partners are working cooperatively to preserve American plains bison with healthy genetics and conserve other prairie wildlife species native to Minnesota. 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