A mature American bison grazes in the rolling prairie of Custer State Park in South Dakota, part of one of the largest publicly owned herds in the United States. Once on the brink of extinction, the park’s bison herd—established in 1914—now numbers more than a thousand animals, representing a critical effort in the preservation of the species. These massive mammals, capable of weighing over a ton, roam freely across the park’s 71,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest. The setting reflects both the ecological restoration of the Great Plains and the enduring legacy of America’s native megafauna, which has been tied to the land for millennia.

Bison in Custer State Park in Custer, South Dakota.

Sylvan Lake is a lake located in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States. It was created in 1881 when Theodore Reder built a dam (the Sylvan Lake Water Dam) across Sunday Gulch Creek. The lake area offers picnic places, rock climbing, small rental boats, swimming, and hiking trails. It is also popular as a starting point for excursions to Black Elk Peak and The Needles. -- Wikipedia

Along Highway 87 in the central Black Hills National Forest, this view captures the rugged landscape typical of the region’s granite highlands. Massive weathered outcrops rise sharply from the forest floor, remnants of the ancient Harney Peak granite formation that underlies much of this terrain. Scattered ponderosa pines cling to crevices in the rock, while fallen trunks and new saplings trace the slow recovery of the forest from past fires. The setting lies near the scenic Needles Highway corridor—an area known for its narrow tunnels, steep grades, and ever-changing mountain light that defines the wilderness character of western South Dakota.

Sunrise over our tent at the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. This Bureau of Land Management spot is one of our absolute favorite camping spots.