Devil's Tower

An Hour from the Devils Tower

From Gillette to Devils Tower is just an hour. Make this your home base to explore the nation’s first national monument. Looming more than 1,200 feet above the serene Belle Fourche River and northeastern Wyoming plains, Devils Tower is rich with culture, history and pristine natural beauty.

Devils Tower Legend

According to Kiowa and Lakota tribe legend, seven young girls were playing outside when they spotted a sloth of large bears. Terrified, the girls ran and climbed on top of a large rock, where they fell to their knees in prayer, asking the Great Spirit to save them. The Great Spirit took mercy and grew the rock high into the heavens.

The bears furiously climbed and pawed up the rock after their prey, scratching everlasting claw marks deep into the rock, but it was too steep. Eventually, the rock took the girls into the sky, where they became the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, an asterism and an open star cluster. Their sanctuary rock remained as a towering reminder of the Great Spirit’s power.

This legend seems to be true. Scientists agree that the intrusion of igneous material formed Devils Tower, but the process that took place has never been agreed upon. Among other theories, some geologists speculate that it’s a volcanic plug. In contrast, others argue it could be an eroded remnant of a laccolith (a mushroom-shaped mass of igneous rock that intrudes layers of sedimentary rocks but does not reach the surface).

Its significance has been observed throughout history, and in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt declared Devils Tower America’s first national monument. The park is open every day outside of Christmas and New Year’s and is spectacular in any season

Things to Do at Devils Tower

Stop in Gillette on your way through for a good night’s sleep, amazing dining options and local tours (bison ranch, coal mine or self-guided).

Learn more about Devils Tower on a ranger-led tour of the monument. During the 90-minute walk, you’ll discover the geological and anthropological history of the area. 

Eight miles of trails are found near the monument. Most will take the 1.3-mile paved path that circles the formation, with the adventurous exploring the surrounding forest and terrain.

Not only will you be delighted by the beautiful wildflowers that bloom here, but the area is teeming with wildlife. None are more famous than the prairie dog, a herbivorous burrowing ground squirrel. You can see these super cute, native residents at Prairie Dog Town at the base of Devils Tower.
Feel nature’s magic at work at Devils Tower after the sun goes down. During special night viewing events, you can experience the park beneath the Wyoming stars.

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Use the link below or navigate to our contact page to order a copy of our visitors guide!