Exploring the Natural Wonders of South Dakota and the Great Salt Lake

Twenty U.S. state parks offer landscape and recreational features comparable to the national park system, according to a report by Quartz. These sites include the Great Salt Lake in Utah, which in wet years covers more surface area than the state of Rhode Island, and bison ranges in South Dakota.

The analysis identifies state-managed lands that provide similar ecological or geological scale to federal parks. In South Dakota, the report highlights a bison range and a mountain road as primary examples of state-level attractions that mirror the scale of national park offerings.

Utah’s Great Salt Lake Scale

The Great Salt Lake serves as a primary example of state park infrastructure with national-level proportions. According to Quartz, the lake’s surface area exceeds that of Rhode Island during years with higher precipitation levels.

This geographic scale places the state-managed resource in a category of significance typically associated with the National Park Service, though it remains under state jurisdiction.

South Dakota State Park Features

South Dakota’s state park system includes features that the Quartz report compares to national park standards. These specific assets include a dedicated bison range and a mountain road.

The inclusion of bison ranges at the state level reflects a conservation effort that parallels the wildlife management seen in federal parks like Yellowstone, though the report focuses on the aesthetic and recreational value of these sites for visitors.