Western South Dakota offers a diverse range of spectacular landscapes, from the prairie grasslands and rock formations of Badlands National Park to the mountains, canyons, and forests of the Black Hills, and the gigantic carvings at Mount Rushmore.

Learn why Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial were built in South Dakota, what they represent, and the vision behind the projects. The area played an important role during periods of westward expansion, attracting people drawn by opportunity and the discovery of gold. The route takes you past the Homestake Mine, once one of the most productive gold mining operations in the world. You'll also pass through flourishing nature on the Custer Wildlife Loop Road, where you might watch deer, antelopes, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, coyotes, and buffalo.

Across the border in Wyoming, the route offers views of Devils Tower, the first US National Monument and a place of ongoing cultural and spiritual significance for several Native American communities.