Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is one of America’s most iconic natural landmarks. The moment you pull up, the massive rock formation rises more than 1,200 feet above the river below, and its unique geology instantly grabs your attention.
History
From wikipedia, here is how Devil’s Tower got its name:
The name “Devil’s Tower” originated in 1875 during an expedition led by Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, when his interpreter reportedly misinterpreted a native name to mean “Bad God’s Tower”. All information signs in that area use the name “Devils Tower”, following a geographic naming standard whereby the apostrophe is omitted.
What I find more interesting is the site has a huge American Indian cultural significance with unique stories from various tribes. Below is the story I was must familiar with from Wikipedia
According to the traditional beliefs of Native American peoples, the Kiowa and Lakota, a group of girls went out to play and were spotted by several giant bears, who began to chase them. In an effort to escape the bears, the girls climbed atop a rock, fell to their knees, and prayed to the Great Spirit to save them. Hearing their prayers, the Great Spirit made the rock rise from the ground towards the heavens so that the bears could not reach the girls. The bears, in an effort to climb the rock, left deep claw marks in the sides, which had become too steep to climb. Those are the marks which appear today on the sides of Devils Tower. When the girls reached the sky, they were turned into the stars of the Pleiades.
In addition to the cultural stories, understanding the geology of how it was made over the course of million of years from erosion makes it truly unique.
Planning your Visit to Devils Tower
Getting to Devils Tower
- 61 miles (about 1 hour) northeast of Gillette, WY
- 107 miles (about 1 hour 40 minutes) northwest of Rapid City, SD
Trail
We did the Tower trail and recommend it to see all angles this beautiful monument.
- 1.8 mile (2.9 km) out and back that is paved. This includes the 1.3-mile loop trail
- Trail Access: visitor center parking lot or Red Beds Trail
- Stretches of moderate elevation change
- Offers close-up views of the Tower and boulder field, as well as sweeping views of the surrounding landscape
- Most popular hike in the park, can get very crowded
Views of Devil’s Tower
Jumping into photos as we hiked the Tower Trail, we captured different angles and views of Devils Tower along the way.
If you look closely on the bottom right there is a person climbing. Check out the parks website for the latest climbing rules.
On the way in or out, recommend stopping at Prairie Dog Town. We stopped to see the prairie dogs, where dozens of them were running around, chirping, and ducking into their burrows.
Conclusion
A trip to Devils Tower delivers a mix of beautiful views, interesting history, and easy to explore. Whether you hike, hang out at the base, or just take a few minutes to soak in the landscape, it’s a stop that worth adding to any road trip through the West.