Standing tall against the sky, Devils Tower National Monument dominates the northeastern Wyoming landscape, visible from miles away. Although it’s tucked away in a remote part of the state, the journey to Devils Tower is undeniably worth it. Rising in solitude from the rugged wilderness, this towering rock formation contrasts dramatically with the surrounding flatlands, rolling hills, and tree-lined meadows. The Devils Tower’s uniqueness and impressiveness more than compensate for the effort it takes to reach this incredible natural wonder.
Designated as America’s 1st National Monument in 1906 by President Teddy Roosevelt, Devils Tower has held this title for 118 years. Rising 867 feet (264 m) from its base to the summit, it reaches an impressive elevation of 5,112 feet (1,558 m) above sea level. To put this into perspective, Devils Tower is just 117 feet shorter than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, one of the world’s tallest structures. Composed primarily of sedimentary rock, it began forming underground during the Triassic period, and over millions of years, the surrounding ground eroded, revealing the massive tower we see today. In fact, due to ongoing rain and snow, the land around the rock will continue to erode, gradually exposing even more of the tower over time.
Native American tribes have long known it by various names, including “Bear’s House,” “Bear’s Lodge,” “Bear’s Tipi,” “Aloft on a Rock,” “Tree Rock,” and “Great Gray Horn.” The name “Devils Tower” originated in 1875, when Colonel Richard Irving Dodge’s interpreter reportedly misinterpreted a Native name during an expedition, translating it as “Bad God’s Tower”. Many of the Native American names reference a legend in which a group of girls while playing, were chased by giant bears. The girls climbed atop a rock to escape and prayed to the Great Spirit for help. In response, the Great Spirit caused the rock to rise toward the heavens, putting the girls beyond the bears’ reach. The bears, attempting to climb the rock, left deep claw marks along its sides, which can still be seen today on Devils Tower.
We undertook an ambitious journey to reach this gigantic, no-bear-zone rock formation. Flying into Denver, we picked up our rental car. We drove 5.5 hours through northern Colorado and eastern Wyoming to Lead, South Dakota, where our Airbnb served as home base for the next two days. The following morning, we set out early for the 1.5-hour drive west to Devils Tower. Thanks to the remote, rural nature of the region, the drive was smooth and free of traffic. For a shorter drive, you can fly into Rapid City, South Dakota, about 2.5 hours from Devils Tower. I chose Denver because I had Southwest points, making the trip cheaper. United, American, and Delta fly into Rapid City, but all are significantly more expensive than flying to Denver.
Given how middle-of-nowhere Devils Tower is, I highly recommend filling up on gas before heading out. The nearest decent-sized towns are Sundance, Wyoming (30 minutes away), and Spearfish, South Dakota (1 hour away). While neither is too far, they will feel distant if you try heading out with a quarter or even half a tank and begin running low on fuel. To avoid unnecessary, self-induced stress or issues, it’s best to ensure your tank is full before starting the drive.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, Devils Tower is located at WY-110, Devils Tower, WY 82714. However, entering “Devils Tower National Monument” into your GPS should get you there easily. The monument offers four trails: one main trail and three less-traveled paths. These are:
- Tower Trail: the main trail, a 1.8-mile paved loop that circles the tower’s base.
- Joyner Ridge Trail: a 1.5-mile loop along Joyner Ridge, offering scenic views of the tower and surrounding prairies.
- Red Beds Trail: a more challenging 2.8-mile loop that involves climbing between the river valley and the visitor center.
- South Side Trail: a short 0.6-mile path connecting to Red Beds Trail, passing through prairie dog territory.
If you have several hours or half a day, all four trails are more than worth exploring and very doable. If you’re short on time, as we were, I highly recommend Tower Trail for the best experience.
The primary trail, Tower Trail, begins at the parking lot near the visitor center, with a slight uphill walk up a winding concrete ramp, passing displays such as a metal 3D model of Devils Tower. After the ramp, the trail transitions from concrete to pavement, taking you past numerous “prayer bundles”—sacred pieces of cloth tied to trees by Native Americans. These holy objects should not be touched, and while they can be found around the entire tower, they are more concentrated near the front. As you follow the paved trail, you’ll experience Devils Tower up close and personal, gaining a new perspective on its immense size. While the tower’s grandeur is evident from afar, being at its base magnifies its scale even further. If you’re lucky, you might spot rock climbers, as scaling Devils Tower is a renowned accomplishment for rock climbing daredevils (pun intended). We saw several groups of climbers, each appearing like tiny specks.
If you don’t have time to explore the other trails like Joyner Ridge, don’t worry—Tower Trail offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, including rolling hills and prairies. There are several lookout points along the trail, many of which provide benches, making it the perfect spot for resting and taking in the vast scenery. As the trail winds through the woods surrounding Devils Tower, you’ll pass by massive boulders, which are fallen pieces of the tower that have come to rest along the path. Walking past these gargantuan fallen rocks offers a clear sense of the immense scale of the tower.
Overall, if you find yourself traveling to the Rapid City area, perhaps to visit the iconic Mount Rushmore or Deadwood, or to explore Badlands National Park, passing up the chance to see the mesmerizing Devils Tower would be a missed opportunity and a poor choice. Frankly, if you have a passion for exploring the geographical marvels of the United States (and beyond), visiting Devils Tower should be at the top of your list. While its remote location requires a bit of a drive, it’s a short trip by many travelers’ standards and absolutely worth the effort. Sometimes, you must sacrifice to experience the world’s incredible wonders. 😊
