Tower Trail
A paved 1.3 miles loop through the pines around the base of the tower, with the best close views of the columns and the prayer cloths.
Devils Tower
America's first national monument, a fluted rock tower sacred to the Lakota and other Plains tribes, ringed by an easy trail where prayer cloths hang in the pines.
Devils Tower rises almost 900 feet (265 m) above the pine forest of northeast Wyoming, a great stump of fluted rock columns. In 1906 it became America's first national monument. More than 20 tribes, among them the Lakota, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Crow, hold it sacred, and many know it as Bear Lodge, after stories of a giant bear clawing its sides.
An easy paved loop circles the base, and along it you'll see colorful prayer cloths and bundles tied to the trees, left by people who come here to pray. Climbers inch up the cracks above, and a prairie dog town chatters below.
- Best Time
- May–September
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round; check nps.gov/deto for visitor center hours
- Getting There
- About an hour from Gillette, Wyoming, and two hours from Rapid City, South Dakota (nearest airports), and two hours from Mount Rushmore.
What to See
3 of 3 are freeRed Beds Trail
A longer 2.8 miles loop past red cliffs and meadows, with views of the tower across the Belle Fourche River valley.
Prairie Dog Town
Near the entrance, hundreds of black-tailed prairie dogs pop up, bark and dive back into their burrows.
Know Before You Go
- There's an entrance fee per vehicle; America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
- Prayer cloths and bundles are sacred. Don't touch, move or photograph them closely.
- In June, the park asks climbers to stay off the tower voluntarily, out of respect for tribal ceremonies.
Where to Stay
Stay in Hulett or Sundance nearby, or make it a long day trip from the Black Hills.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Rocky Mountains list.