South Dakota’s most fascinating natural features lie in this area. Here, you can tour the colorful badlands formations, created by centuries of erosion. Watch for wild ferrets, prairie dogs, and bison, or study the fossilized remains of other ancient animals. At Wind Cave, explore one of the world’s longest cave systems, plus the acres of grassland above it that support bison, elk, deer, and pronghorns. In the Black Hills, you can breathe in the sweet scent of the ponderosa forests. Then take a look at Mount Rushmore and its incredible carvings of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.