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Devils Tower is one of the most iconic national monuments in the United States. It’s a truly unique landmark and completely stands out from its surroundings. So, what do you need to know about visiting Devils Tower? Well, this Ultimate Guide to Visiting Devils Tower National Monument has everything you need to know to make the most of your trip there!
How to Get to Devils Tower
Devils Tower National Monument is located on the eastern side of Wyoming near Devils Tower, Wyoming. This is between Sundance and Moorcroft on I-90. It sits about 30 minutes off of I-90 from both of these cities.
While Devils Tower is in its own designated area, it is very close to the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota. This makes it an easy addition to any road trip to the Black Hills, Custer State Park, or the Badlands National Park.
It’s also a great stop if you are traveling further west to Yellowstone or Grand Tetons.
History of Devils Tower
Devils Tower is a massive butte that sticks up from the middle of nowhere and is truly different from its surroundings. It was the first national monument in the United States!
Devils Tower was originally called “Bear’s Tipi,” “Bear’s Lodge,” or “Bear’s Home” by the Native American tribes in the area. It got its name Devils Tower because of a bad translation from “Bad God’s Home” during an early expedition.
Fun Fact! Devils Tower is spelled without the apostrophe because of geographical naming standards.
Devils Tower has a deep spiritual significance to the local Native American tribes. It is a sacred spot for them where they go for ceremonies, rituals, and prayer.
This is very important to keep in mind when visiting Devils Tower because you will see prayer cloths tied to the trees throughout the area. Please do not touch or disturb them in any way. Some say do not even photograph the prayer cloths out of respect to the Native Americans.
Devils Tower Entrance Fee
The entrance fee for Devils Tower is similar to all other national parks. You can get a 1-7 day pass for $25, but we recommend getting the $80 annual pass. That way you can visit a bunch of other national parks around the US!
The annual pass is valid for one year from the date you purchase it too! This means you don’t lose out if you get it halfway through the calendar year.
Hiking at Devils Tower
Devils Tower has a few different hikes that can all be done in a day. They are all fairly short and relatively easy to do, so you could actually do more than one in a day if you wanted to.
While the hikes at Devils Tower are all pretty easy, it’s still good to be prepared for your day hikes. Check out our Complete Day Hike Packing List for everything you need to pack for a day hike.
Tower Trail
The most popular hike is Tower Trail. It goes right around the base of Devils Tower. It’s 1.3 miles long and is completely paved. There are slight uphills and downhills on the trail, but it is super easy.
If you want a great spot to see Devils Tower up close and personal and spot some climbers, Tower Trail is the perfect hike at Devils Tower. It’s also a great hike if you are just making a quick stop at Devils Tower and then continuing onto other national parks.
Red Beds Loop
The Red Beds Loop, and second most popular hike at Devils Tower, is a 2.8 mile loop that starts off close to Devils Tower and brings you through the red rock formations you see as you approach the tower.
You can hike the Red Beds Loop right from the trailhead to Tower Trail as well. It makes for an easy addition to the Tower Trail hike since you don’t have to drive to another trailhead.
Joyner Ridge Trail
The Joyner Ridge Trail is the furthest trail from Devils Tower and probably the least visited, given that most people want to hike close to Devils Tower.
It’s only 1.5 miles, so it could be done before or after another trail.
Climbing Devils Tower
If you are much more adventurous and the Devils Tower hikes don’t appeal to you, climbing Devils Tower is another option. You have to be MUCH more adventurous and very skilled at climbing though.
While we can tell you about all the Devils Tower hikes, we won’t pretend to be experts in climbing Devils Tower.
For information about climbing Devils Tower, check out:
Ultimate Guide to Rock Climbing at Devils Tower Wyoming
Climb Devils Tower on Devils Tower Country
Devils Tower Climbing on Mountain Project
National Park Service Devils Tower Climbing Information Page
All of these websites give you information and resources if you are interested in climbing the 867 feet up to the summit of Devils Tower.
Where to Stay Near Devil’s Tower
Devils Tower is located in Devils Tower, Wyoming, which is basically a very small town with very basic amenities for visitors. If you are spending the night and want to know where to stay near Devils Tower, your best option is going to be camping.
There is only one campground at Devils Tower National Monument, the Belle Fourche River Campground. There are no reservations required as it is first come, first serve.
You can also stay at the Devils Tower KOA, which provides more amenities than the other Devils Tower campground. However, it does cost more too.
Learn How to Do a Car to Camper Conversion for Any Car if camping in a tent isn’t for you. Check out how we converted our Honda Fit into a camper too!
If you are looking to stay near Devils Tower but want something different than a campground or KOA, you can also check out Airbnb. There are a few Airbnbs near Devils Tower. They have cabins, houses, campgrounds, and even tipis!
You will have more options for places to stay too if you drive the 30 minutes back to Sundance or Moorcroft.
Ultimately, wherever you decide to stay is up to you and will be determined by what type of accommodation you like most.
Nearby Parks
Seeing as though Devils Tower is in a relatively isolated area in northeast Wyoming, you will probably be visiting other places too. In fact, Devils Tower is an easy place to stop between places in South Dakota and Wyoming.
If you are traveling to or from Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Grand Tetons National Park, or Yellowstone National Park, consider stopping at Devils Tower, even if is just for a few hours.
While you can spend just a few hours at Devils Tower or an entire day, it is something definitely worth stopping at, and this Ultimate Guide to Visiting Devils Tower National Monument will help you make the most of your time here!
