The nimble goats near the monument are descendants of a small escaped herd from the 1920s. Between the Black Hills and the Badlands, the state is built for a life spent outside.

The goats trace back to animals gifted to a nearby park in 1924.

What sets it apart

They favor the steep granite around Mount Rushmore and the Needles. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

Though iconic here, mountain goats are not native to the Black Hills.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern plains and the people drawn to them. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.