The route connects the Transamerica Trail in West Yellowstone, MT, to the north end of Minneapolis, MN; Includes a wide variety of terrain, including hills, mountains, and meadows; Can be joined with other routes for a cross-country trip; ; Experience the diversity of scenic hotspots and variable terrain while hiking this route. The 1,288-mile route consists of three maps and includes two short alternates in Black Hills and Badlands National Park. In 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park thanks to its hydrothermal wonders. It sits atop a dormant volcano and has more geysers and hot springs than anywhere else on earth. Devils Tower rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River and dominates the landscape of northeastern Wyoming. ; The Black Hills are an isolated mountain range in western South Dakota. Their name comes from the dark appearance of the trees that cover them, seen from a distance. Mount Rushmore National Memorial and other notable sites are