Northeast Wyoming is a beautiful area. Slightly rolling grasslands, the occasional wildlife and a few towns scattered here and there. It’s all part of what you’d expect from a drive to the “Forever West” state. What you don’t expect to see is a huge mountain jutting out of the ground, but there it is. Devil’s Tower is beyond impressive and well worth the hour detour off the interstate and $10 admission to explore!
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Devil’s Tower
Landmark
In September 1906 Devil’s Tower became the first national monument in the USA, thanks for Wyoming Senator Francis E. Warren. Devil’s Tower is visible for miles and miles around. It juts out of the flat grasslands of northeastern Wyoming and with it’s flat top and height is a hard sight to miss. It was featured prominently in the 1970’s SciFi movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, starting out as a mashed potato sculpture on a dinner plate.
Sacred Site
The Circle of Sacred Smoke sculpture- by Junkyu Muto as part of his International Peace Project. According to the signage at the sculpture It represents a puff of smoke from a ceremonial pipe used by Native American people.
Over 20 tribes consider Devil’s Tower to be sacred. Signs along the paths of the park remind people to not disturb the prayer bundles and prayer cloths. They also remind people to stay on the trail, so as to not disturb the sacred ground.
A blue and green prayer bundle hangs from a tree below devil’s tower. A sight that’s quite common- some of the cloths being so old they no longer hold any color, while others being as vivid as if they were placed there that day.
The Terrain
Devil’s Tower sits at 5,112 feet. The columns in of the tower are a result of stress to the rock as shrank during cooling. As you walk around the park the terrain changes from large boulders and rocks to more of a grassland feel.
Kiowa legend of how Devil’s Tower came to be is much more exciting. A bear was chasing a young girl and a flat rock agreed to help save her. The rock told her to run around it four times and then stand on top. Once she was on top the rock began to grow. As the bear tried to reach the girl he raked the sides of the rock with his claws- which is why the deep gouges and furrows surround Devil’s Tower. Today the girl and her brothers can still be seen in the night sky as the constellation Pleiades, followed by five stars, which are the bear.
If you look closely at the bottom center of the photo above you’ll see the orange-headed figure of a climber. Climbing is allowed at the tower, but you need to register first. According to the national park service website, one of the fastest climbs of Devils Tower was done in 18 minutes by Todd Skinner in the 1980s. A climb to the top typically takes 4 to 6 hours.
How to get there: In Sundance take exit 185 from I-90W onto US-14W and follow for 19 miles. Turn right at WY-24E and follow for 6 miles- by now you should be able to see the tower off in the distance and can follow signs. Turn left at WY-110W and follow for another 3 miles, until you reach the entrance.
Entrance: $10 fee per vehicle to enter.
Where to Stay:
Home Rentals: Devil’s Tower is pretty isolated so there are a not a lot of chain options, but there are some very cool VRBO and homeowner rentals available in the area. It’s always fun to have your own house!
Camping is allowed in the park during the summer season. Check the national park service website for more information.
