One of the largest state parks in the country wraps 71,000 acres of granite, grassland and roaming herds. In a state that turned a mountain into a monument, few places carry more weight than this one.

The park sustains a bison herd of roughly 1,300 animals across its rolling grasslands.

What sets it apart

Its annual autumn Buffalo Roundup gathers the herd for health checks and herd management. Small as it sounds, it is exactly the sort of thing that defines the experience on the ground.

A band of friendly 'begging burros' has become one of the Wildlife Loop's best-known sights.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern plains and the people drawn to them. However you come to it, this is a place that stays with you long after the drive home.