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SOUTH DAKOTA — Most of us have been to Yellowstone a time or two. And on those trips, you've probably encountered some bison. It's incredible to see these magnificent beasts lumbering across the meadows or rolling around in the dirt.
Occasionally, the bison decide to use the park's roads to get around. It's thrilling for the kids… and a little concerning for those driving in such close proximity to the massive bison.
But I've never seen anything in Yellowstone that would compare to the thundering intensity of the stampede in this video.
The footage comes from South Dakota's Custer State Park, which is famous for its abundant bison. More importantly, the drivers were on Wildlife Loop Road. This 18-mile stretch of road offers the park's best opportunities to come face-to-face with animals. In fact, rangers will even warn you about the possibility of "wildlife jams."
"Wildlife Loop Road twists and turns its way through the prairie and ponderosa pine-studded hills that harbor many of the park's wildlife species," says the park's official website. "On most days, guests will come face to face with the No. 1 inhabitant of the park, 1,350 free roaming buffalo. White-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk are most visible early in the morning and late in the afternoon; if you're lucky, you may see bighorn sheep, burrowing owls, coyotes, or even a mountain lion."
Even with all this context, I imagine that nothing could prepare you for the intensity of 200 stampeding bison grunting their way past your car.
