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Many of America's greatest national landmarks are located within the four state region, including America's first national park - Yellowstone; the crown jewel of the continent Glacier; and the most well known symbol of America - Mt. Rushmore. Check out our National Parks Itinerary that takes you through all three!
Yellowstone National Park
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The abrupt vertical rise of the jagged Teton Range contrasts with the horizontal sage-covered valley and glacial lakes at their base, creating world-renowned scenery that attracts nearly four million visitors per year. Grand Teton National Park
Devils Tower National Monument
1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. Once hidden, erosion has revealed Devils Tower. This 1347 acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are seen. Also known as Bears Lodge, it is a sacred site for many American Indians. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument in 1906.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, together with the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, form the world's first International Peace Park. But in this rugged section of the northern Rockies, exhilaration is the universal language. Mountain goats cling to craggy, glacier carved peaks. Pie is served fresh daily in a small town. And drivers watch the scenery unfold beyond their knuckles as they drive along a road that defies words. The park was designated America's 10th national park on May 11, 1910. Glacier National Park
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and later by his son Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents (in order from left to right) George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres (5.17 km2) and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument is not only the second-longest cave in the world (currently 150 miles and counting!), it is also one of its most structurally complex. Located just over an hour southwest of Rapid City, Jewel Cave is a regional gem tucked in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Exploration is ongoing in this pristine underground labyrinth, now the world's second longest cave. Visit chambers decorated with calcite, nailhead and dogtooth spar crystals and other speleothems such as draperies, flowstone and stalactites. Jewel Cave National Monument
Wind Cave National Park
With a maze-like, underground chamber system, Wind Cave features the world's largest concentration of box work, a rare formation of thin calcite fins that resemble honeycombs. Above ground, Wind Cave National Park includes a wildlife sanctuary of 28,295 acres for antelope, bison, elk, prairie dogs and other creatures to roam. Here, the ponderosa pine forest meets the rolling prairie, one of the last remaining mixed grassland areas in existence. Wind Cave National Park
Badlands National Park
Millions of years of wind, water and erosion have created the chiseled spires, deep canyons and jagged buttes of Badlands National Park. On-going rains, freezes and thaws have revealed millions of years of sediment that paint a colorful landscape on the prairies of southwestern South Dakota. When the Lakota first encountered the striking, moon-like landscape, they aptly called the area “Mako Sica” or “bad land.” Early French trappers also described the area as “bad land” after difficult travels over the rugged terrain. Today, visitors to Badlands National Park can explore this natural wonder on foot, on horseback or by car as they travel the scenic loop or roam the many trails. Badlands National Park
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
Described as a "weird and scenic landscape", Craters of the Moon certainly lives up to its reputation. It was established in 1924 to preserve the unique volcanic features of this enormous lava field. The 750,000-acre monument contains a diverse array of volcanic features including volcanic rifts, cinder cones, spatter cones, shield volcanoes and lava tubes (caves). A surprising number of plants and animals have adapted to live in the harsh volcanic and high desert environment. It is an excellent site for hiking, bird watching, photography, backpacking and caving. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
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