By Matthew D. Firestone

America is a country of immensely stunning natural landscapes, though few are as iconic as the Great Plains. A broad expanse of prairie lands lying east of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains gave birth to both pioneers and cowboys, and figured prominently in the creation of the American Dream.

Grand Teton, near Cottonwood Creek.
© David Tomlinson Lonely Planet Images.

Although the Great Plains have undergone considerable changes since the early days of America, there are still places where the heart and soul of this unique landscape are thriving. In the northern Great Plains, particularly in the states of Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota, locations such as Grand Teton National Park, the Beartooth Highway and Badlands National Park continue to evoke images of classic Americana.

Grand Teton

The Great Plains give way to the Rocky Mountains at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, one of the largest intact temperate zone ecosystems on the planet. Here, herds of bison still roam the grasslands, while classic American predators including bears, mountain lions, wolves and coyotes still thrive in the wild. One of the great American national parks dating back to the early days of the country's conservation movement, Grand Teton contains an expansive network of hiking trails, nearly 200 miles long.

Beartooth Mountains.
© Carol Polich Lonely Planet Images.

Situated near the park environs, the tranquil mountain town of Jackson Hole is the preferred base for most travelers passing through the area. Established by fur trappers in the early 19th century, Jackson Hole has since evolved into one of the region's top tourist spots and is now home to rustic hotels and lodges. The area is also home to a good mix of fine dining, laid-back watering holes, art galleries and boutique shops.

Beartooth Highway

One of the best ways to take in the surreal beauty of the northern Great Plains is on a scenic drive – and there is perhaps no better route than Montana's justifiably famous Beartooth Highway. Running between the towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City, the Beartooth Highway is a 69-mile section of U.S. Highway 212 zigzagging along the Montana-Wyoming border. Charles Kuralt, the Peabody award-winning journalist who was famous for his "On the Road" segments on the "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite," once dubbed this road "the most beautiful drive in America."

The Beartooth Highway is open each year from May to September, although this is dependent on the weather (heavy snowfall and high winds can see the road shut). The entire route takes roughly two hours to drive, but it is a good idea to inquire locally about conditions as road closures are common. If you're passing through the area, a great place to spend a night or two is the town of Cody, a hotbed of cowboy culture that is the self-proclaimed "Rodeo Capitol of the World."

Badlands

Commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful national parks in America, the Badlands in South Dakota protects the largest mixed grass prairie in the United States and is famous for its dramatic rock formations, including towering pinnacles and eroded buttes. Despite the fact that much of the park appears to be inhospitable, the Badlands has evidence of nearly 11,000 years of human history, and it contain the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, which are around 23 to 35 million years old.

Big Badlands Overlook.
© Richard Cummins Lonely Planet Images.

Visitors to the park revel in the endless opportunities for back-country hiking and camping, though self sufficiency is essential due to the harshness of the terrain. However, travelers who are decidedly less rugged can easily base themselves in Deadwood, a historic pioneer town that contains the final remains of lawman Wild Bill Hickok and frontierswoman Calamity Jane.

Summertime is all about the quintessential road trip, and few locations in America offer the same breadth of wide open roads as the northern Great Plains.

Bio: Matthew Firestone is a trained biological anthropologist and epidemiologist who abandoned a successful career in academia for a life on the road. When not traveling the world for Lonely Planet, home is a shoebox apartment in the urban jungle that is Tokyo.

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