Land of Liberty Explorers

Overview

Devils Tower is a striking butte of igneous rock that protrudes from the Wyoming prairie near the Black Hills. It is a scared place for the Northern Plains Indians, who know the site as “Bear Lodge.” According to Lakota and Kiowa legend, a group of young girls was playing at the site when they were attacked by a group of bears. They prayed to the Great Spirit, who heard their prayers and raised the ground to a height that the bears couldn’t reach. The bears’ sharp claws left the deep grooves in the side of the tower.

The tower was named Devils Tower by Colonel Richard Irving Dodge’s 1875 expedition, when Dodge’s interpreter misinterpreted the native name to mean “Bad God’s Tower.” President Theodore Roosevelt designated Devils Tower the nation’s first national monument on September 6, 1906. The tower is featured prominently in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Getting to Devils Tower

Most visitors access Devils Tower from I-90 exiting at U.S. Highway 14. From Highway 14, turn on Wyoming Highway 24 at “Devils Tower Junction” – about six miles south of the tower. The tower can also be accessed by driving south on Wyoming Highway 24 from Huelett, Wyoming.

Be aware that parking is limited at the tower. If possible, visit the tower during off-peak times to ensure you can get a parking spot.

Tower Trail

The Tower Trail is a paved 1.3 mile loop that circles the base of Devils Tower. Hiking this trail provides an opportunity to see the tower up close and from various angles. We enjoyed watching climbers on their ascent to the top from along the trail. As the most popular hike in the park, the National Parks Service advises this trail can become over crowded. If that’s the case, the Parks Service recommends the Valley View or Red Beds Trails. Also note, that Native America tribes often leave prayer clothes along the Tower Trail. Please be respectful of prayer clothes by leaving them in place and not taking photos.

We had a great afternoon at Devils Tower! We actually visited Devils Tower on Independence Day. The KOA just outside the park entrance hosts a raging Fourth of July party every year! We enjoyed seeing some fireworks on our way to Rapid City.