Is Devils Tower Worth Visiting on a Wyoming Road Trip?

Devils Tower National Monument may not get the foot traffic of the bigger national parks in Wyoming, but it’s still an impressive site if you’re able to make the drive. 

We found the park to be so evocative and worthy of national park status if the folks in charge ever want to consider the upgrade.

If you’re short on time traveling Wyoming, you only need about an hour to see the tower from all of its impressive angles. I’ll get into all of that here plus a little history on what makes Devils Tower so special.

Is Devils Tower worth visiting?

Devils Tower is worth visiting for its historical pedigree alone. This was the first national monument in the United States.

While it became a national monument thanks to political pressure from Wyoming Representative Frank W. Mondell, its importance today remains. This is a site of cultural and spiritual significance for Native Americans.

Devils Tower is also worth visiting for its easy hiking trails, potential wildlife spotting, and geological intrigue.

How Much Time You Need for Devils Tower

You only need about an hour if all you want to do is see the tower and spend some time at the visitor center. As it’ll likely take you a bit of driving to get here from your starting point, I’d suggest a few hours to hit the park’s best trails.

The power of this place is in its size and spiritual importance. I know we’re all busy, but spending some time here to reflect on those things can be a special addition to your trip.

You also need to pay to see the park, so you may as well linger. It costs $25 per vehicle to enter the park or $15 per person if you’re on foot. Your Devils Tower entrance fee is covered if you hold an America the Beautiful Pass.

What is Devils Tower?

Devils Tower is a geological feature and national monument that strikes quite an imposing figure. It’s nearly 900 feet tall and over 5,000 above sea level. Its summit is about the size of a football field. 

Many researchers believe Devils Tower was formed by a geological process called igneous intrusion 50 to 60 million years ago. Magma cooled underground in the shape of a tower and was then exposed to erosion over time.

That’s just one theory, though. Some stand by the idea of the tower as part of an ancient volcanic system, but that hypothesis is less popular. 

How to Get to Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower is located in the Black Hills near the town of Hulett, Wyoming. Sundance, Wyoming, is another popular location, only 30 minutes from Devils Tower.

Fun fact: That’s where The Sundance Kid got his name after stealing horses from a local rancher. 

You can fly into Gillette-Campbell County Airport in Gillette, Wyoming, or Rapid City Regional Airport in Rapid City, South Dakota, to see Devils Tower.

Gillette is closer, but you’re unlikely to find any deals out of that small of an airport.

We visited Devils Tower on a day trip from Rapid City. It took nearly two hours, but it was the best base for other adventures in the area and a solid road trip itinerary. 

READ MORE: Starting in Rapid City, too? Check out my detailed guide to the South Dakota town.

The monument’s proximity to South Dakota is likely why some people seek out Devils Tower in South Dakota. (You won’t find it there. It’s in Wyoming.)

If you’re already in Rapid City, you can also see Mount Rushmore, hike Badlands National Park, and explore Custer State Park. It’s a great base for outdoor adventure.

The Cultural Significance of Devils Tower

Native Americans call Devils Tower Bear Lodge as a nod to the site’s cultural and spiritual significance. This goes back to narratives about the origins of the site.

In one such story from the Crow Tribe, two young girls found themselves chased by a large bear. They climbed to a rock to escape, but it wasn’t tall enough.

The Great Spirit stepped in and allowed the rock to grow taller and out of reach of the hungry bear. This rock became Bear Lodge.

The site today is still a place of reverence, worship, and celebration. As such, you should not climb Devils Tower. Many local tribe members consider climbing the tower a desecration of a sacred site.

As a mild show of support, the National Park Service promotes a voluntary climbing closure each June in honor of religious ceremonies held there during that month. Since it’s voluntary, it’s up to tourists to honor that tradition. 

Some don’t. We visited in June, and despite signage all over the site to honor the closure, people were still doing their thing on the rock walls.

I still remember watching tourists climb Australia’s Uluru when it was still open for doing so during my study abroad trip. We had people in our own group do it, despite warnings from our guide about the inherent disrespect to indigenous people in doing so.

There is a lot to climb out there that isn’t in poor taste. Do that, instead. 

Fun fact: Vedauwoo in Buford, Wyoming, isn’t that far away from Devils Tower and is known for its great climbing. 

Things to Do at Devils Tower

You won’t spend multiple days exploring Devils Tower, but it’s a great day trip on road trips throughout Wyoming and South Dakota. Let’s get into some fun things to do when you visit Devils Tower on a one-day itinerary that doesn’t involve climbing.

Hike the Tower Trail.

This 1.8-mile trail is the most popular trail at the park. It’s where you’ll stroll around the base of the tower and where you’ll see most of the tourists. 

Note: There are no dogs allowed on any of the trails in the park but you’ll inevitably see them anyway. People do what they want because they’re entitled brats.

Even though I’ll be more complimentary about the next trail below, I’d still recommend starting with this paved option for a close-up perspective.

You’ll also get some interpretive signage along the way to learn more about how the tower came to be and its importance today.

If you see any short spur trails, take them. They’ll take you to the best photo opportunities. Start at the visitor center parking lot for this one.

Hike the Red Beds Trail.

You’ll get much better views of the tower along this moderate 2.8-mile loop without the need to zoom out on those smartphones. You also get to walk through a meadow and see the Red Fourche River valley below on the other side as you hike. 

Note: I recommend hiking pants on this one because the trail was overgrown in some spots. I’d also recommend hiking shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. It was dry when we visited, but we could tell it gets muddy after a rain by the shoe imprints along the way.

We did the trail counterclockwise and saw the trail’s namesake, the red badlands, on the back half.

It didn’t seem like there was an easy way or more challenging way to do this one. Just take your time and enjoy the view, as you will tackle some elevation gain on this one. You may not see a soul while you’re out, though, which is exactly how I like my trails.

Enjoy the view on the Joyner Ridge Trail.

This 1.5-mile loop trail offers similar views of the tower as the Red Beds Trail at a shorter distance overall. You’ll stroll through prairie and ponderosa pine forests along the way.

It’s just 230 feet of elevation on this one, but it comes at a short distance along the eastern portion. This one is rated as moderate. Access this one via a dirt road from the main road in the park.

Visit a prairie dog town.

If it’s early on your road trip throughout the region and prairie dogs are still a novelty, pull over for a quick stop at the park’s prairie dog town. You’ll see digging activity on both sides of the road, but don’t get too close.

Prairie dogs carry the plague, and that’s not hyperbole. Yes, you’ll still see tourists getting super close to the chirping critters. Be smarter. 

If you want to walk through the prairie dog town in a park-sanctioned way, hike the Valley View Trail or South Side Trail.

At just over half a mile, you’ll get prairie dogs and views of the Belle Fourche River on both trails. You can connect to my favorite, the Red Beds Trail, along the way.

See the Wind Circle sculpture.

The Wind Circle sacred smoke sculpture from Japanese artist Junkyu Muto offers a beautiful keyhole view of the tower. It’s a quick stop unless you have to wait for your photo opportunity.

If you’re hungry at this point, there’s a spacious picnic area on the other side of the parking lot.

Partake in a ranger program.

Devils Tower National Monument offers a variety of ranger programs if you’re here in the summer through the start of fall.

If you’re interested, check out their online event calendar or pop by the Devils Tower visitor center for the day’s pop-up stations and other activities.

When to Visit Devils Tower National Monument

The best time of year for Devils Tower depends on personal preference, but summertime offers the most pleasant weather and access to ranger talks.

We visited mid-June and didn’t encounter the crowds one might expect during peak tourist seasons in our national parks. We also got lots of wildflowers during our trip.

The shoulder months of April to May and September to October mean even fewer people, but temperatures are variable around those times.

I wouldn’t recommend winter at Devils Tower due to limited accessibility in and around the park.

More Attractions Near Devils Tower

You may not need a full day at Devils Tower, but there’s quite a bit to do within a short(ish) drive of the monument.

Here are some ideas:

• Devils Tower to Wind Cave National Park: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Devils Tower to Mount Rushmore National Memorial: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Devils Tower to Custer State Park: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Devils Tower to Badlands National Park: 2 hours 30 minutes

On a longer road trip, you can plan Devils Tower as part of a bigger national parks road trip. 

Devils Tower to Yellowstone National Park is about six hours, which sounds like a lot until you’ve been driving through the Dakotas for a while. Everything requires some time on the road, so pack those snacks, fill up the car, and hit it.

Grand Teton National Park is another hour from Yellowstone. Wyoming is full of natural wonders if you’re willing to put in the effort.

READ MORE: Love the idea of a Wyoming road trip? Use my detailed guide to the state to get you started.

Where to Stay When You Visit Devils Tower

We visited Devils Tower on a day trip from Rapid City, but there are accommodations closer to the tower if you’d like to linger here or make it your base.

The Devils Tower Lodge offers impressive views of the tower from its rooms, but it’s pricier than most for that privilege.

If you want to camp, the Belle Fourche River Campground is your only option inside the park. It’s first come, first served, though, so have a backup plan if you travel in the peak summer months.

Use the map below to browse more traditional accommodations near the park:

Devils Tower is worth seeing.

You should go to Devils Tower to see one of the most impressive geological formations in the United States. It’s just as impressive as many of the bigger national parks out there and typically much less crowded.

Your visit will be even better if you’re able to hit any of the trails that encircle the tower to see the tower from a few different vantage points.

Need some ideas for adventures nearby? Check out these posts:

• A Guide to One Day in Laramie, Wyoming
• Should You Plan a Visit to Deadwood?
• All the Best Things to Do in Cheyenne, WY
• Make the Trip to Fort Collins, Colorado
• A Guide to Worthwhile Day Trips from Cheyenne

Love national parks? Read these next:

• How to Spend the Perfect Day at Theodore Roosevelt
• An Accommodations Guide for Yellowstone
• Visiting Beautiful Jackson Hole & Yellowstone
• How to See Death Valley National Park in One Day
• Spend the Perfect Day at Canyonlands National Park

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