It's going to be a great weekend to hit the bike trails and check out the local scenery, including the community’s newest attraction: the herd of bison that’s taken up residence in the Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings.

The Birds & Bison Bike Tours starts are staggered starting at 8 a.m.  Saturday. The Birds & Bison Bike Tours are a partnership between the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Hastings, Port of Hastings Outfitters and the Carpenter Nature Center.

The tours showcase three unique bike trails with stunning river views, connecting the historic downtowns of both Hastings and Prescott. Riders have the opportunity to get up close to the prairie bison and unique birds. Tour guides will be on hand to customize experiences based on skill level and interests.

Tours are free, but riders are asked to preregister for them at visithastingsmn.org.

Here’s a look at each of the rides:

Point Douglas Trail

The tour starts at 8 a.m. with check-in starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce Office, 237 Broad St. N.

The Point Douglas Trail connects Hastings and Prescott and runs right along the Mississippi River. The 7-mile round trip is great for cyclists of all levels and offers and incredibly view from the Hwy. 61 bridge. Guests are encouraged to stop, shop and dine in the two downtowns.

Riders will arrive in Hastings at 8:30 a.m.

The 10-Mile Loop

Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m. on the Hastings Riverwalk under the Hwy. 61 bridge, and the tour starts at 8:45 a.m.

Riders will explore the loop around the City of Hastings with stops at The Vermillion Falls, Mississippi River Scenic Overlook and Lake Rebecca Dike. The trail starts and stops in Hastings’ historic downtown. The experienced tour guide is from the Port of Hastings Outfitters.

Staff of the Carpenter Nature Center will be on-hand at registration with local wildlife and great tips for bird watching.

Riders coming from the Point Douglas Trail tour are welcome to join the 10-mile loop tour and are asked to register for both so guides can take attendance.

The tour group is expected back at the Hastings Riverwalk by 11 a.m.

Mississippi Greenway Trail

Check-in for the Mississippi Greenway Trail tour starts at 8:15 a.m. at the Hastings Riverwalk under the Hwy. 61 bridge with the tour starting at 8:45 a.m.

The 20-mile tour features stunning views of the Mississippi River bluffs. Riders will follow the trail along Ninninger Road to Spring Lake Park and Schaar’s Bluff.

A scheduled 20-minute stop at Schaar’s Bluff will include the opportunity to use the restrooms and have a water break. After the break, riders will continue along the Mississippi River and past Bison Prairie in the park. Dakota County and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have recently reintroduced a small herd of bison to the 150-acre prairie.

A second stop will be at the Bison Prairie Outdoor Classroom, featuring naturalists from Dakota County and Carpenter Nature Center.

Riders interested in exploring the Bison Prairie portion only can park and meet the group at Schaar’s Bluff at 9:45 a.m.

The tour will conclude in downtown Hastings at 11:30 a.m.