Two hours is enough time. The Devils Tower park and visitor center is relatively small. The trail is fairly flat and easy to navigate. Devils Tower, a unique rock tower that apparently towers in the middle of nowhere, is an iconic American landmark.
However, many people still wonder if Devils Tower is worth a stop on their Midwest road trip. After all, can't you see Devils Tower from the road? Do you really need to spend time in the park? What else can be done? Devils Tower itineraries (things to do near Devils Tower) The Devils Tower is located in the northeast corner of Wyoming. It's in the middle of nowhere, which contributes to its dramatic nature, but also makes it a little difficult to get to. The Devil's Tower towers over the landscape.
In addition to the fact that it looks great, much of it is due to its geological importance. When you look at Devils Tower, its most obvious and striking feature are the tall vertical columns that form its structure. This feature is called a columnar junction, and Devils Tower is the world's largest example of a columnar junction, with some columns up to 10 feet wide. According to the National Park Service, the tower was originally named Bear Lodge on maps (translated from a Lakota name).
It is suspected that a mistranslation gave rise to the name “Bad God”, which was later transformed into Devils Tower. Controversy still exists over the name today and over whether the name was changed on purpose. A lot of people wonder if it's worth paying to see Devils Tower, because, well, can't you see Devils Tower from the road without going to the park? Before we dive into the things to do at Devils Tower, here's a map that will serve as a reference to guide you on the park's design. A map of Devils Tower taken from the park brochure.
Here you can see all the hikes and points we mentioned in our guide then. As you can see, it's a fairly small park, with a main road running from the entrance to the visitor center and main trails. Walking the Tower Trail was our favorite activity at Devils Tower National Monument Walking the Tower Trail is the most popular activity at Devils Tower, making it number one on our list. Along the Tower Trail, there are some interpretive signs about Devils Tower, its formation and the surrounding landscape, and there is a point where you can see a small staircase sandwiched between two columns, a vestige of an early climbing adventure.
An old staircase nailed to the walls of Devils Tower Although it's a busy path, we recommend that you make this trail one of the best things to do in Devils Tower, as it's very easy and has some of the best views of the tower. Satellite view of our Tower Trail hike from our Garmin watch The view of Devils Tower from the picnic area where the Valley View and South Side trails begin. If you want to learn more about the Tower and its formation, history and importance, attending a ranger program is a great option at Devils Tower. Ranger programs are usually held in summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and include activities such as guided hikes, talks near the visitor center on various topics, and even evening programs to observe the night sky. Check the park's calendar to see what programs are being offered at any given time.
Also called the Wind Circle Sculpture, this unique statue is located next to the Devils Tower picnic area and has an interesting meaning. This particular sculpture creates an image of the first puff of smoke that comes out of a pipe and is intended to represent the importance of Devils Tower to the native tribes of the area. While there's no lodging (or food) at Devils Tower National Monument, just outside the park there are a few camping and lodging options, such as Devils Tower KOA, Devils Tower Lodge, and Devils Tower View. This way, you'll be very close to the best things to do in Devils Tower.
Nearby cities with lodging options include Hulett, Sundance and Moorcroft. Devils Tower is a year-round tourist destination, but if you're looking for the best weather, spring and fall are a good time to visit Devils Tower National Monument. Always check the conditions before going there. For an overview of the monthly weather to help you decide when to visit Devils Tower, visit this site.
In just an hour or two at Devils Tower, you'll be able to enjoy views of the tower. We spent just a couple of hours here, walking the Tower Trail, seeing the sculpture and watching the adorable prairie dogs, and we felt like we had visited the National Monument enough. The visit didn't take long and was free for us because we had the annual park pass. Plus, it was practically right on our route anyway. While there isn't much to see and do at Devils Tower, we found it incredible to see this crazy formation up close and learn all about it.
You can visit the monument for a couple of hours and see all the highlights (the visitor center and the tower trail) or spend a couple of days, take it easy and enjoy multiple walks. If all you want is to see the Tower and walk around the base, you can do it in about 1.5 hours or less on the 1.3-mile circular trail. When climbing the Tower, you can spend several hours here, provided you have a permit. If you're interested in Native American history, Devils Tower is also an important site for the Lakota. With a full day at Devils Tower, hike the Tower Trail, choose between the Joyner Trail and the Red Beds Trail, and enjoy a picnic-style lunch in the picnic area.
Geologists agree that Devils Tower is an igneous intrusion; this means that it formed underground from molten rock. The Devil's Tower was protected in 1906 for its scientific value, since, although much is known about it, there is still disagreement about how it actually formed the Devil's Tower. They do a late-night movie night where they play Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which takes place in Devils Tower. Devils Tower National Monument Road crosses the park and connects the entrance station to the main places to visit and the visitor center.
The Devils Tower National Monument has a campground, called Belle Fourche River Campground, which is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and can accommodate caravans up to 35 feet. Continue along Devils Tower National Monument Road, cross the Belle Fourche River and you will arrive at Prairie Dog Town.
