A slow 18-mile drive puts visitors among bison, pronghorn, elk and the park's famous burros. South Dakota keeps its best rewards for those willing to leave the pavement behind.

The loop road winds through open grassland where bison often block traffic.

What sets it apart

Pronghorn, the fastest land animal in North America, range across the flats. It is the kind of specific that turns a passing curiosity into a lasting fascination.

Dawn and dusk offer the best odds of seeing elk and deer on the move.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.