Devils Tower

The name Devils Tower is almost certainly a translation error. In 1875, Colonel Richard Dodge escorted a scientific survey through northeastern Wyoming and wrote the name down from a phrase he believed the local tribes used. The best current interpretation of the Lakota name is Mato Tipila, which means “Bear Lodge,” not anything devilish. The “Bad God’s Tower” rendering that apparently influenced Dodge has never been traced to a specific source. The name stuck anyway, and in 1906 it became the first United States national monument, signed into being by Theodore Roosevelt.

The formation itself is extraordinary. It is the world’s largest example of columnar jointing, a process that happens when shallow igneous bodies cool rapidly. As the magma contracts, it fractures into columns with geometrically regular cross-sections, mostly hexagonal but sometimes four-, five-, or seven-sided. At Devils Tower, those columns reach up to 6 metres wide and 180 metres tall. The rock is phonolite porphyry, injected between sedimentary layers roughly 40.5 million years ago. It never erupted as a volcano; it simply cooled underground and the surrounding sediment eroded away over millions of years, leaving the tower exposed. In the upper section the columns run almost vertical; lower down they flare outward, which gives the tower its characteristic bulging profile when seen from the base.

It rises 386 metres above the Belle Fourche River and 264 metres from base to summit.

Getting There

Devils Tower sits in Crook County in the northeast corner of Wyoming, about 60 kilometres north of Sundance. The most practical approach is to fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) in South Dakota, roughly 130 kilometres to the northeast, and rent a car. The drive through the Black Hills and along the Belle Fourche River valley is genuinely scenic and takes about 90 minutes. Gillette airport (GCC) is a closer option but has fewer direct flight connections.

The monument is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle, valid for seven days. America the Beautiful annual passes cover the entrance fee. The visitor centre has standard park service hours and is worth stopping at for the geology and cultural history exhibits before you walk the tower trail.

The Tower Trail and Climbing

The paved Tower Trail circles the base in 2.4 kilometres and takes about 45 minutes at a relaxed pace. The loop passes through stands of ponderosa pine and offers continuously changing angles on the columns. Look for prairie dogs in the open meadows on the south side. Early morning light on the east face is exceptional, and the tower takes on an orange-pink tone at sunset that is hard to match anywhere else in Wyoming.

Rock climbing here is serious. The columns create defined crack systems that draw experienced climbers from around the world. The NPS requires a free climbing permit (registration before climbing, check-in after) and expects climbers to have appropriate skill levels for the routes they attempt. There are over 200 established routes from 5.7 to 5.13 difficulty.

One point worth knowing before you book a June visit: June is the month of voluntary climbing closure. Many Native American nations, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa, hold ceremonies at and around Devils Tower each June. The NPS asks climbers to voluntarily refrain from climbing during the entire month out of respect for these practices. Most climbers comply, making June quieter on the walls but culturally significant on the ground, with prayer flags and tobacco ties sometimes visible tied to trees at the base.

Crowds and Best Times

July and August are peak season and the parking area fills before 9:00 on busy summer weekends. Late May and early June (before the voluntary closure begins on June 1) or September offer a genuine crowd advantage. The monument receives around 500,000 visitors annually, with the vast majority concentrated in summer. A September visit gives mild temperatures, golden grasslands, and a parking lot that has not overflowed by mid-morning.

Where to Eat

Food options near the monument are limited by design. There is a small cafe at the Tower Trading Post just outside the entrance that handles basics: sandwiches, snacks, and coffee. For a proper meal, Hulett, about 13 kilometres north, is the closest town. The Ponderosa Cafe in Hulett is the reliable local option for diner-style breakfasts and burgers.

Sundance, around 50 kilometres south, has more choice. The Wyoming Steakhouse there is the area’s standard recommendation for a proper sit-down dinner. Plan on a drive; this is not a region with restaurant density.

Where to Stay

Devils Tower Lodge (0.7 kilometres from the monument entrance) is the most convenient option, a bed and breakfast in a converted climbing gym with a handful of rooms and a setting that lets you walk to the visitor centre. Rates are mid-range.

Best Western Devils Tower Inn in Hulett is the straightforward comfort option, with an indoor pool, hot tub, and included breakfast. Rates from around USD 130 per night in summer.

For campers, the Belle Fourche Campground inside the monument itself (operated by the concessionaire) sits just below the tower and is the obvious choice for early-morning access, though it books out quickly in summer. The Devils Tower KOA outside the entrance has RV hookups and cabin rentals if the campground is full.

If you are willing to drive, Spearfish in the South Dakota Black Hills (about 80 kilometres east) has a wider range of hotels and restaurants and makes a sensible base for a multi-day itinerary that combines the tower with Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park.

Stargazing

Northeastern Wyoming has some of the darkest skies in the continental United States. On a clear night at the monument, the Milky Way is clearly visible without any optical aid, and the silhouette of the tower against a dense star field is something that is difficult to prepare for. The NPS occasionally runs ranger-led astronomy programs in summer. Even without a program, bring a blanket and stay at the campground after dark.

Practical Notes

Water is available at the visitor centre and campground but not on the trails. Summer afternoons can be hot (often over 35 degrees Celsius in July), and there is no shade on the tower trail’s south side at midday. Start your loop by 8:00 if you want comfortable conditions. Rattlesnakes inhabit the rocky areas at the base; stay on the trail and watch where you step around boulder fields. They are not aggressive and encounters are uncommon, but they are real and present.

Cell coverage is spotty around the monument. Download offline maps before you arrive.

The monument is a full day if you hike the loop, visit the exhibits, and linger for the evening light. Pair it with a half-day drive through the Black Hills and you have one of the more rewarding road-trip days possible in the northern plains. The best practical tip: arrive before 8:00, complete the trail before the tour buses arrive, and stay until sunset rather than leaving in the afternoon heat.