If you are in the Afton, Minnesota area, I highly recommend a visit to the Belwin Conservancy. You will find the Bison Prairie and Observation Platform, which is a raised deck where you can safely see a herd of bison. This area is open from mid-May through late September or early October (which is when I visited) and it is absolutely free. When I was there, the bison were gathered in a group near the platform, making them easy to see. They are able to roam on 130 acres. To get to the two-level platform, you first climb a small platform that is next to the large parking lot. From there, you walk about 100 feet that are enclosed by fencing to the second two-level platform, where you can observe the bison. There are displays to explain the history of the area and of the bison. Belwin has a number of areas beside the bison platform including: F miles of trails (easy to moderate) on 280 acres (free); Tallgrass Trains, Oxbow trails - 1.25 miles of chipped trails; m the Lucy Winston Bell Athletic Fields; the Joseph Casby Observatory (open for special events); and the 246 acre Savanna Hills and Center. See website for details. I recommend combining this visit with a trip to nearby Afton, which is a cute town with restaurants and antique stores. Nearby is the famous Afton Alps Skiing area and Afton State Park. read more

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