Devils Tower | Yellowstone

Devils Tower is a massive igneous butte in the Bear Lodge Ranger District of the Black Hills, rising 386 meters above the Belle Fourche River. Defined by its unique columnar jointing and its status as the first National Monument in the United States (est. 1906), it is a global landmark for rock climbing and a site of profound spiritual significance to Northern Plains indigenous tribes.

Historical Timeline

Inhabited and revered for millennia by over 20 tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa. A critical historical event occurred in 1875 when Colonel Richard Irving Dodge’s expedition arrived; a mistranslation of the native name "Bear Lodge" (Mato Tipila) led to the English moniker "Devils Tower." In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt utilized the newly passed Antiquities Act to designate it as the nation's first national monument. In 1977, the site gained massive international pop-culture fame as the landing site in the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In 2026, the monument operates with upgraded infrastructure to support nearly 500,000 annual visitors while managing ongoing name-change petitions.

Demographics & Visitation

The monument is located in rural Crook County (population ~7,500). Annual visitation fluctuates between 400,000 and 500,000. The economy of the surrounding "Devils Tower Country" (Hulett, Sundance) is driven by Tourism, Ranching, and Timber.

Site Layout & Features

The monument encompasses 1,347 acres of pine forest, prairie dog colonies, and the central tower.

The Tower: A "phonolite porphyry" intrusion with hexagonal columns; the summit is approximately the size of a football field.

Visitor Center: A 1935 log structure built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) containing geological and cultural exhibits.

Tower Trail: A 2-km paved loop around the base of the formation, providing the closest views and access to prayer cloth sites.

Belle Fourche River Campground: A 46-site National Park Service campground located within the monument's lush valley floor.

Top Landmarks & Activities

The Tower Trail: The most popular activity; the first 0.3 km is wheelchair accessible.

Joyner Ridge Loop: A 2.4-km trail offering the best panoramic photography points and views of the "red beds" (sedimentary layers).

Technical Rock Climbing: Features hundreds of parallel cracks, making it a world-class destination for crack climbing.

Prairie Dog Town: A large, active colony located along the main entrance road.

Stargazing: Designated as an International Dark Sky Park; hosts ranger-led "Night Sky" programs.

Transportation Network

Movement is automotive. The monument is accessed via WY-24, located 14 km south of Hulett and 43 km north of Sundance. The nearest major interstate is I-90. There is no public transit to the site. The nearest commercial airport is Gillette-Campbell County (GCC), 100 km west.

Safety & "Red Zones"

The general safety level is high. Standard awareness is required for rattlesnakes in the prairie dog town and falling rock near the base of the tower. Environmental hazards include severe thunderstorms, lightning strikes on the summit, and high-velocity winds. Climbers must register before and after all ascents.

Digital & Financial Infrastructure

Internet is extremely limited; Wi-Fi is only available at the Visitor Center. Mobile service is spotty due to topography. Card acceptance is universal at the entrance and gift shops. Wyoming has no state income tax. In 2026, a $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass is required for non-U.S. citizens/residents (Standard entrance is ~$25 per vehicle).

Climate & Air Quality

Temperatures range from -11°C to 1°C in winter and 12°C to 30°C in summer. The area is subject to sudden weather shifts. Air quality is pristine.

Culture & Social Norms

The standard tipping percentage in nearby gateway towns is 20%. A "Sacred-Respectful" etiquette is required: Do not touch, photograph, or disturb prayer cloths (colorful ribbons tied to trees). A voluntary climbing closure is in effect every June to respect American Indian ceremonies. The site is culturally defined by Geological Mystery, Indigenous Spirituality, and Alpinism.

Local Cost Index

1 Espresso: $4.75 (USD)

1 Standard Lunch (Hulett): $15.00 (USD)

1 Annual Park Pass: $45.00 (Standard) / $250.00 (Nonresident).

Nearby Day Trips

Hulett, WY: (14 km north; a classic Western town with the "Golf Club at Devils Tower").

Sundance, WY: (43 km south; where Harry Longabaugh became the "Sundance Kid").

Spearfish Canyon, SD: (100 km east; famous for limestone cliffs and waterfalls).

Facts & Legends

Devils Tower is not a volcano; it is an "igneous intrusion" that cooled underground and was exposed by 50 million years of erosion. A famous Lakota legend tells of children being chased by a giant bear (Mato); they jumped on a rock and prayed to the Great Spirit, who made the rock rise. The bear clawed the sides in a vain attempt to reach them, creating the vertical columns. Another legend suggests the tower is a "Giant Petrified Tree," a theory popular in alternative geological circles despite scientific evidence of its volcanic origins. In 2026, a satire-driven rumor of a "massive snowbank" capping the tower due to a wind storm circulated online but was debunked as AI-generated.