A serpentine mountain road threads narrow tunnels and towering rock needles in the heart of the hills. South Dakota wears its history on the land itself, and this landmark is a case in point.

The 14-mile route was completed in 1922 and was once deemed impossible to build.

What sets it apart

Its tunnels are so tight that larger vehicles must fold in their mirrors to pass. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

The Needles Eye, a slender rock slot, gives the highway its name.

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.