Information
Landmark: Devils Tower National MonumentCity: Sundance
Country: USA Wyoming
Continent: North America
Devils Tower National Monument, Sundance, USA Wyoming, North America
Overview
Rising above the plains near Hulett in northeastern Wyoming, Devils Tower National Monument stands as one of America’s most unmistakable natural landmarks, its sheer stone columns catching the light like a giant sculpture, as a result soaring 867 feet from its base and standing 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, this towering monolith is a breathtaking blend of geology, heritage, and adventure, its rough surface glowing gold in late-afternoon light.Geology and Landscape: Devils Tower formed from a mass of igneous rock called phonolite porphyry, its tall vertical columns rising like organ pipes and giving the monument a sharply fluted shape, meanwhile the tower shoots up suddenly from the prairie and stands tall among ponderosa pines, its stone face cutting sharp against the soft, rolling grasslands.It seems, Some columns stretch more than twenty inches wide, their polygonal sides pressed close together like puzzle pieces, giving the tower a texture you can almost feel under your fingertips, not only that when the sun rises and again as it sinks, long shadows stretch over the columns, picking out the tower’s rough stone, while thin clouds curl around its peak, lending the whole scene a quiet, mysterious glow.The monument carries deep spiritual meaning for several Native American tribes-among them the Lakota, Cheyenne, Crow, and Kiowa-who detect its wind‑worn stone as part of their living history, besides according to tribal legend, a bear once scraped deep grooves into the stone while clawing upward toward children who’d climbed to the top for safety.The site is still sacred, and many tribes gather there to keep their ceremonies alive-drums echoing softly in the dust, moreover in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt declared Devils Tower the nation’s first official monument, a move that underscored its national importance and the raw, wind-carved power of its stone walls.Frankly, Hiking the Tower Trail-a favorite 1.3‑mile loop-takes you around the base, where you can pause to study the towering stone columns and read signs that share the story of the local rocks, wildflowers, and wildlife, likewise trails like Joyner Ridge and Red Beds wind through hills and pines, giving you fresh angles on the tower and the wide, sunlit valley around it.Rock climbing at Devils Tower draws climbers from around the world, its steep columns glowing gold in the late afternoon sun, not only that climbers scale the sheer columns with a mix of free moves and steady, antique-school technique, fingertips brushing cool stone as they rise.Climbing rules protect both safety and cultural respect, and each June, the cliffs close voluntarily to honor Native American ceremonies held at dawn, meanwhile around the monument, you might spot deer slipping through the grass, prairie dogs popping up from their burrows, and flocks of birds flashing color against the sky.Wildflowers burst across the meadow, their colors brushing the air with sweetness, while tall ponderosa pines rise beyond the mixed grasslands to frame the view, therefore at the monument, you’ll find a visitor center filled with displays on geology, history, and tribal culture, plus a modest bookstore and ranger-led programs that bring the stories to life.You can stay overnight at nearby campgrounds and catch the tower at dawn or dusk, when the shifting light turns its stone a warm, golden gray, at the same time visitors often talk about the rush of awe they feel when the tower suddenly appears on the open prairie, rising out of the flat grass as if from nowhere.Tall stone columns rise straight into the air, their weight of history and quiet holiness making the monument feel immense yet somehow personal, in addition sunrise and sunset create unforgettable scenes-the rock catches shifting bands of color while the nearby hills shimmer gently in the pale glow.Rising sharply from the plains of northeastern Wyoming, Devils Tower National Monument draws you in with its sheer rock walls, rich Native history, and wide‑open trails-an adventure you won’t forget.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-11-17
