Devils Tower National Monument

Very impressive rock formation!! We loved hearing about all of the legends and how sacred this place is to the natives. The views all around the bas wood it are incredible. It’s a moderate hike up and down around it. My kids and dad were tired so they didn’t go around. Took me a little over an hour to complete. Nice visitor center as well. Bathrooms are below and behind the center or at the end of the parking lot at the beginning of the trail. Lots of trash bins around as well. There a junior ranger program for kids that you can pick up a booklet for them to complete. Bring plenty of water to take with you. It was a warm day for us. I did see some people can climb the rock with permits. There are also longer trails to walk.

Outstanding! This should be a "bucket list" item for each and every person! It's so beautiful and impressive amongst natural beauty that's been well kept! They're a couple of trails to walk around the monument! The 2.8M is the outer trail with a handful of places to actually take photos of the monument without obstructions! The inner trail is 1.2M, surrounds the base, is busy with people, and is full of opportunities for beautiful photos throughout! This is definitely a national treasure! We did learn instead of following the crowd into the massive parking lot, we pulled up to the entrance and parked in front! We did wait on traffic for approximately an hour, too get into the park itself. It was a busy time to visit, but well worth the wait! The gift shop is small, and the bathrooms are beyond filthy, so be prepared! Anytime we're close to this national monument, we're gonna take the time to stop! It's mesmerizing! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Safe travels!

Great experience! Beautiful sights and lots of history. Definitely a great day trip. The trails are awesome too. All levels of hikers can do whichever fits them the best.

Geology in all its awesome glory. Surrounding landscape is often not mentioned but is similarly impressive, like a flawless ring for the solitaire that is Bear Lodge. Visited in March when visitor center was closed. (Bathrooms available). Fewer than 15 people at site. Magnificent!

Breathtaking Experience at Devils Tower! The drive to Devils Tower is already an experience on its own—absolutely scenic and awe-inspiring! We stopped at the picnic area before heading to the base, and it was perfect. You get a stunning view of the tower while enjoying your meal, which made the stop extra special. The restrooms at the picnic area were surprisingly clean and well maintained. Big kudos to the friendly rangers and staff—they were very accommodating and greeted everyone with a smile. Highly recommend adding this to your road trip itinerary!

IT was a wonderful place to hike or stroll with a 2.6-mile trail and a 1.6-mile paved trail around the base. Wear good non-slip shoes and take water. HAVE FUN! Beautiful views. GO EARLY! Prairie dog town up the trail.

My visit to Devils Tower National Monument was absolutely unforgettable! For anyone planning a trip, I highly recommend downloading the GuideAlong app. It adds so much depth to the experience by sharing the monument’s fascinating history and cultural significance, including its original name, Bear Lodge. It really helped us appreciate the landscape beyond just the incredible views. We took the 1.5-mile walk around the monument, which was beautifully maintained and fully paved, great for visitors of all ages and abilities. Despite being an easy walk, it still feels immersive and natural, with plenty of benches to sit, relax, and soak in the surroundings. It’s quiet, peaceful, and a perfect way to enjoy the tower from every angle. As you stroll the loop, be sure to look up. You might just catch a glimpse of climbers making their way up the rock face. It’s wild to see how high they actually get and makes the whole experience feel even more epic. The visitor center is small but informative, with interesting displays and a charming little gift shop that’s worth a stop. Overall, Devils Tower is a must-visit. It’s the perfect mix of scenic beauty, cultural history, and a bit of unexpected adventure.

Got there at 8 AM on a Monday, had no problems getting a parking spot but when we left at noon, there was a half mile long line waiting to get in. The trail around Devils Tower offers closeup views and informational signs along the way. Each side of the tower has a very unique look to it. The Joyner ridge trail is easy but gets a little steak as it drops into the ravine. Saw wild turkeys on this trail. Joyner ridge trail parking area is a good spot to watch stars at night. The red rocks around the tower are beautiful and changes as the sun hits it from different times of the day.

Review Visit: July 25th, 2015 If you have seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind, then you are very familiar with Devils Tower. This was about the final stop on a 2 week cross country trip and I am happy it was one of the last. We didn't get to get close, as we were tight on time, but still seeing it was awesome. I didn't know too much about it besides what we talked about in Geography classes in college, but I knew some of the legends and the uniqueness of the tower. It appears that there are trails around the tower you can hike. You can also climb the tower too, which is weird, since I thought it was all protected grounds by Native Americans. Maybe it's a limited window each year. Either way, if you can indeed get close, I would love to go back. I love odd, natural landmarks like this and would love to explore it up close. Wish I knew more to tell you all but maybe one day I can expand upon this post! Devils Tower is quite the landmark. It stands out when compared to everything else around it. Geologists still debate on how it is formed. Native Americans have a few folklore on how it was formed too. If you are interested in either of those, check the Website/Wiki links below.

I visited Devils Tower as a kid in elementary school, and thought I would never visit it again, but it was just a small detour and I wanted to relive the memories. The prairie dog colony near the entrance off the side of the road is still there (although with different individuals obviously since they usually live 3-4 years), and the tower itself looks exactly the same! It was nostalgic to read the signs I had read before. The asphalt areas on the trail are strangely slippery, so watch out. I guess they've been worn smooth by the steps of so many visitors. The visitor's center was surprisingly small for the

My first thought driving in closer? The entire general shape of the rock formation reminds me of Spaceballs' black Darth Vader helmet, haha. The vertically straight striations give mind to any old beef pot roast or your classic string cheese: tendons/tendrils you could totally just peel down and away; pretty cool. There's only one road in, one parking lot, and one road out, so this place can get packed during peak months. We were there after Labor Day, so the crowds were manageable; except they were doing some kind of construction and had temporary lights flashing to time the crowds that were NOT working, thus we sat in line for about 20-30 minutes people cops came and fixed the darn things. It wasn't bad, considering. The gift shop is small, but I did get a cool tee shirt to add to my travels collection. **Some of the best viewing and pictures are from a roadside overlook a few miles out from the park entrance. The closer you get, you have to look up for pictures, and lose the depth perception that makes this. Formation unique!

USA's First National Monument [Devils Tower WY] Somehow we missed visiting the Devil's Tower the first time we went on a road trip 10 years ago in 2014 to Wyoming and the Midwest States. From afar the view was majestic and was a sight to behold. As we were approaching the landmark, it became evident to me how massive this rock truly was. Originally, I thought I wouldn't be able to make it, I only had flip-flops on but the path was paved and most of the Tower Trail was rolling flat. There was some slight incline at the beginning of the hike, not too bad, and the weather was very comfortable with bursts of slight breeze at some parts of the hike. We were able to get a good three-dimensional view of the huge rock from all sides. We also caught a glimpse of a few adventurous rock climbers... at least ten of them coming from different parts of the rock. Some cool facts and trivia: Devils Tower is a National Monument located in Wyoming and was featured in the climax of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A 1977 sci-fi film by Steven Spielberg Devils Tower is a sacred symbol to several Native American tribes. Devils Tower National Monument was the first United States national monument established in 1906. Review #3477

Another planned stop along the way of the 14 state 2024 Tour, albeit out of the way but well worth the drive this national park deserves your time and the Native American legend that resonates throughout the area inspires your imagination, my first thought is of the movie Close encounters of the third kind comes to mind but even if you haven't seen that movie the park is still very inspiring

4.5 stars A little out of the way if you're heading up to Mt Rushmore, but it's worth the drive. It's an interesting feature and to hear the Native American cultural significance behind it (you can even register to climb the boulders up there). Make sure you wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. There's even good views if you only make it part way up the trail too. Free admission with the America the Beautiful park pass. 2024 #55

I stayed in Guernsey, WY and had an extra day to explore other areas. I was debating on whether or not to visit Devil's Tower. It's a good 3+ hour drive from Guernsey. I'm so glad that I decided to visit! It was well worth my time. I would absolutely return here. My only regret is that I didn't have enough time to return here during evening hours. I would love to see wonderful views of the cosmos at nighttime. There is a park entrance fee so be prepared to pay. I believe the fee is about $15-$20. The friendly park ranger will provide you with a map and helpful information. The drive up to the base of mountain is nice. Pay attention to the views as you pay attention to the roadway along with other motorists and bicyclists. There is a decent sized parking lot at the base of the mountain. Public restrooms are nearby as well. They have various park benches to sit on solo or with family as you marvel at the beautiful views. They even have a selfie station! Take your time to walk around the base of the mountain. They offer a few alternative trails. Be sure you have a nice camera or plenty of power in your cell phone for many opportunities to take pictures. I LOVE the energy of this place! I can see why the Native Americans designated this place as sacred ground. I also enjoyed seeing some areas with prayer flags. There is one area close to the base of the mountain that is a designated prayer area. I like how there are signs that caution against disturbing any of the prayer flags. Also, make sure you bring water to stay hydrated on the trails. Take your time to read the various signs placed along the base of the trail. They offer a lot of interesting historical information. Before you leave for the day be sure to visit the Visitor's Center where there is a small museum inside that offers information on Devil's Tower along with historical and scientific information. Next to the museum is a small to medium sized gift shop. They sell plenty of books, postcards, coffee mugs, etc... This was also worth my time. I ended up walking away with a small bag of souvenirs to take home with me. Again, worth the time! If you have never visited, don't wait! Especially if you're visiting Deadwood, SD or another community. Deadwood is about 50 minutes drive time from Devil's Tower. I would LOVE to return here! Very impressed!

That was awesome. It is out in the boonies. But come on. Nice little loop hike around the tower, plenty of seats for breaks. Multiple different lookouts for pictures. Simply breathtaking. Plan on an hour or two.

Devils Tower was a great way to spend the first day of my vacation in the Black Hills area. The drive over from near Deadwood was very scenic and when I knew I was getting near I couldn't wait to see how Devils Tower would reveal itself on my first glimpse from the roadway. Getting to the National Monument, I arrived and was surprised to get a parking spot right outside the visitor's center a few minutes before it opened. I opted to first take the Red Beds Trail for a longer route to see the Tower and the outlying area. It was a beautiful and cloudy morning and the trail allowed me some spectacular views of the valley that surrounds the Tower, going up and down around through some different landscapes. I encountered very few people on this trail, which I preferred in this situation. After making my way around that trail, I headed back to the more accessible Tower Trail, paved and a better way to get some closer views of the Tower itself. There were people of all ages on the trail, and at the most scenic places to stop and read about the history or use the binoculars, there was a friendly vibe amongst revelers. The Tower is a marvel and a spectacular sight in person, and watching some climbers on the Tower itself helped give perspective to its size. Very happy I made a little extra drive over to see it.

Beautiful natural tower to climb, hike around, or stare at. There's a restriction on parking near the visitor center so expect to be waiting a while. As of August 2024 there's a street light installed to limit the number of people parking. It's controlled by a park ranger. There are two sets of restrooms at the visitor center. One is vault near the trailhead, the other is flushing near the parking lot.

Devils Tower is definitely worth a stop, but it's not an all-day thing unless you're planning on climbing it, which we saw many people doing. There's not a ton of parking at the base, so get here early because it was packed when we left around 10. I recommend taking the tower trail because it's a loop trail that offers a 360 view of the tower. Each side has something different as well as informative signs throughout the trail, which point out some cool formations. The tower trail can be difficult for some as it's not all flat. There are some hills, but it should be fairly easy for most. There's certainly an interesting story behind the tower, which I think everyone should come and see/hear for themselves.

Wyoming is so beautiful a true Wild Wild West, untapped natural beauty!! Devils Tower is so tall, so big & so gorgeous!!! I have a fun time with my boyfriend & his two female friends!!

One of our bucket lists to visit this location. It did not disappoint. America's first National Monument. It was cloudy at times but amazing to see. It has some trails to get closer to the Monument. Nearby camping area and store. Park has a gift shop, information, and bathrooms. The main bathroom was closed, but nearby were addtional bathrooms. This place was quiet and serene. Several prairie dog holes in the park. Stay on the trails. Everything we expected and more. I'm so glad we stopped.

My second visit was even better than my first. This time we walked around the base of the tower. What an experience! Loved it here but not much to do but see the tower and take a beautiful walk. A couple hours is plenty of time before you head off on your next adventure. Highly recommend.

We took an hour detour to check out Devil's Tower and was it worth it! It's an amazing sight. It was raining when we got there and around 45 degrees so not the best of days but it was still worth seeing this amazing structure. We hiked the Tower Trail which takes you around the base of the tower. So many great views. It looked so ominous with the dark clouds, rain, and fog hovering near the top. The most amazing fact to me was that no one has ever witnessed any rocks falling off the tower. With all the boulders settled on the ground beneath the tower, I found it amazing that falling rock does not happen often. While the tower is amazing, don't forget to look out from the tower to see the beautiful scenery and wildlife as you hike.

Of course, you know this, still, let me tell you- it is America's first established national monument. 2-3 hours northwest of Rushmore on the Wyoming side of the Black Hills, you'll find this minus less crowd. Teddy Roosevelt gave Devils Tower the designation in 1906 but it become famous later. Geologists today still are uncertain exactly how it was formed, though they have theories. we reached 3 pm and did the tower trail (60-70 minutes round loop around the tower- that's the closed you can see it). it was July 4th, 2022 and there was not any crowd. The park rangers recommend that you spend 2-4 hours at Devils Tower. We think you should budget for a half day in the park to give yourself enough time to enjoy it. Because of the lack of artificial light, Devils Tower is a great place for night sky watching. During the summer months, there are ranger-led programs on constellations. Open 24x7x365 (but the visitor center gets close in winter. Fee: $25/vehicle Fun Fact: once a daredevil landed with a parachute atop the tower and somehow lose the rope attached to it. it was a 6-day tireless rescue mission. (saw the info while doing tower trial) Tip: The area surrounding Devils Tower is definitely light on services. Make sure to fill up gas tanks when you see gas stations that are more common close to I-90.

The Devil's Tower is described as a sacred tower, enticing us to explore. An Inspiration and Attraction for Nature Lovers and Mountain Climbers. I'm no climber but definitely admire nature. So, if you're looking to do more than touch or like me simply appreciate the Butte from a distance, you can do that. There is much history surrounding Devils Tower. The name has roots with a Colonel and his party coming through the area and American Indians likely had their interpretation of the monument as it was. As it is though, it's a cool name and to me is fitting since there is nothing nearby like it, though there are other Buttes out there. If you're into adventure and on your road trip brings you around these parts I'd say come check out Devil's Tower. It is a national monument after all. It's gained popularity across the decades but still stands to be seen as it might not be the top of conversations of trips compared to say Yellowstone or Grand Canyon, but would make a great addition. To be honest being way out here with the sunset nearing got to me as I'm not big into foraying into the stretchy, windy, distant roads as the dark was setting in. So as most others would advise, get here on the earlier side since it's a bit out there, and you want to account for fees, the amount of other folks braving the trip and parking. Despite daylight dwindling, Devil's Tower called to us though as was a nice sight. So even catching a glimpse of this natural wonder would be good as we made the likely typical parlay from Mount Rushmore I'm sure many, many others do.

I would recommend starting early in the day. We got there around 10am left at 1pm and there was a line waiting to get in. You MUST drop any camper or trailer you are hauling at the bottom. The parking is limited at the top. No pets are allowed at most national parks so leave Fido at home. The trail was a little challenging we did tower trail it's a few steep spots. I'm out of shape but my hubs found it not challenging at all. Nice gift shop.

Our nation's first national monument! It's June and the families are out and about. It truly is very impressive. No parking at the visitors center when I went; lots of folks kept driving around though, in the hopes of snagging a spot. I drove to the Joyner Ridge trailhead to start hiking around the monument. Unfortunately, while on the trail there were sounds of thunder. Had to cut my trek short due to the threat of thunderstorms. Would have loved to have seen the monument in all the glorious angles around the trail.

3 stars for how nice the area is, 1 star for the people and full family's that think it's fine to trample across the Prairie Dog pasture.

My husband and I visited Devil's Tower for the first time and enjoyed it! We walked tower trail around it which was a little long but not too difficult.

Historically the first US national monument, Devil's Tower is a quick 90 minutes from Mt Rushmore, and seems like a very busy stop for motorcyclists and random travellers. That being said, entry into the monument can get pretty crowded, so instead I just observed the tower from the nearby trading post instead (there's a fenced area for photos nearby). It really is kinda in the middle of nowhere. You drive for hours in flat plains and then bam, a few hills and devil's tower is there. Once a landmark for the old Oregon Trail, Devil's Tower is just a really tall rock formation that resembles a tree stump, and like any landmark on a long journey, is one you'd see for a bit before moving on. I haven't tried the hike due to the crowds that were waiting to enter upon arrival, but you may have better luck. It was a weekday and the line still went out too far for my liking. I was content with seeing the tower just outside park grounds as the view just doesn't seem worth waiting two hours on a road trip with limited time. Hence the 4 and not 5 stars due to the really long line to enter on a weekday in September. Overall, near little spot with a good amount of history, but also a quick road stop on the long journey across the country.

We drove out here to visit it but it's honestly far out there so it's quite the drive just to go see a rock formation and I wouldn't do it again

We drove from Rapid City. It was an easy drive and the contrast in scenery from South Dakota to Wyoming changed quickly. There are plenty of pull overs to get long shots of the tower and as you get closer there will likely be some Buffalo posing for you outside the entrance but with the Tower in the background. Once at the tower, well it's impressive, not as tall or as mystical as Shiprock but still a force of nature. We walked the Tower Trail which afforded us lots of different views both of the rock and the climbers. The claws in the rock run deep. There are benches around the Trail and a marker for Half Way. It's an easy walk. Most people seem to bail after a short while. The visitor center, gift shop and car park were all pretty busy even when we got there at 9.00am.

We had a blast at Devil's Tower National Monument. We walked the Tower Loop Trail and took tons of pictures. It is stunning and changes with the movement of the sun. Just a gorgeous area.

Very cool formation that's a sight to see! I'm not sure you need to walk the whole circumference, but seeing the sheer mass of this at the base is pretty wild. A worth detour to see!

It's a bit of a drive from the Black Hills, but we figured---when else will we be so close to seeing this iconic monument? Off we went. If we were going to do anything differently, I might have gotten there earlier, because we arrived and it was Bonkers in the parking lot. SO BONKERS. Is there enough parking? mmmmmmm....not the day we were there. We circled the lots more than a few times before catching someone leaving the back 40. The restrooms are well maintained, and the gift shop is cute, but again, BONKERS. There is no food available at this monument. I loved the visitor's center displays that explain the formation of the monument and the history of it's place in Native American culture. And the love of bats at Devil's Tower. Bats are the best. We walked the trail that goes around the base of the tower, and that was very cool. It was very warm the day we went, and a good bit of the trail was not shaded, so make sure to take sunscreen! We are able to see many climbers which was very cool! Definitely stop and visit this place if you're in the area, you will never forget it.

PLEASE do yourself a favor and APPRECIATE this MAJESTIC monument. Our very 1st National monument in the U.S.! take a stroll down the Tower trail which is a paved trail and it's a 1.3 mile loop trail with beautiful views of the tower and it's surroundings. There's also an additional Red Beds Trail 2.8mi loop unpaved. BOTH are worth doing, there is no redundancy in the trail as both trails provide different views and a unique experience. Red Bed trail has dirt, rocks, some steep slopes & may be a bit strenuous for some but you will be glad to finish it. Very small visitor center but I bought a few items. Visitor center restrooms are much cleaner than the ones where the trails start FYI. There's only 1 booth so expect a line getting out. They also accept your interagency annual park pass!

Another fantastic National Monument in NE Wyoming. Though the weather wasn't the best , the clouds opened just enough to see this magnificent object. There are several paths around the facilities , for that perfect picture

Well now Folks traveled to Wyoming to see the Famed Devils Tower Monument in Person. Yes I must admit seeing the Movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind did make it a Bucket List for Us. Now it is what it is a very large and tall Rock, that can be seen for miles, along the Wyoming landscape. Once You arrive you will find one of the Best attractions, in fact the First National Park that was in the USA. Parking can be a challenge if you arrive later rather than early. Takes almost an Hour to walk around it if you don't stop and take photos along the way. The Staff is well versed and will Help you get to and from each point. Now take drinks with you because it is very easy to become tired from taking all the steps and walkways.

Daddy, Mommy and I went to Devil's Tower National Monument Park in Wyoming to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Mommy wasn't getting around good and it was a really warm day so she didn't feel like hiking to far but we still had a wonderful time. It was a gorgeous day and the weather was superb.

Driving up to the monument hidden in fog was disappointing, but as we walked around the Tower Trail it slowly emerged. It was before 10 o'clock so there were only a few people around. It was so nice walking around in the mist and freshness of the morning after the recent rain. With the spiritual bundles hanging from the trees, there was definitely a cool vibe. Every side of the tower looks different. By the time we came full circle, the fog had lifted and we could see the tower in all it's glory. By 10 though, the crowds had arrived. Really cool place to be. I can understand why it is a spiritual place. I would recommend hiking the Tower Trail counter clockwise, as there is an informational sign about a ladder you won't want to miss which points you to viewing binoculars. We went counter clockwise to the binoculars first and then we saw the sign and didn't want to retrace our steps. Limited parking. I would get there early.

This is an absolute must see if you're in the area. It's a fairly easy drive if you're coming from South Dakota. Easy enough for a day trip if you're staying near Mount Rushmore but also a perfect stop if you're heading into Montana. There isn't much in this area otherwise. We were heading to Montana and this was a perfect early morning stop. There is an easy trail that goes around the base of the monument. If you're feeling adventurous you can also climb the boulders to the base of the tower (rock scramble). If you plan to climb higher you need to register with the rangers and get a permit. This park became pretty crowded when we left around 12:30pm. Head there early to enjoy the cooler temps and less crowded paths. Definitely make sure to stop and check out the prairie dogs just past the entrance booth.

Awesome national monument. Worth a stop if passing through. If you get a chance to stay at the local campground, there is some wonderful scenery in the area. Cool trails.

Definitely worth the price of admission! There's a reason why Devil's Tower was our nation's first national monument--it's just that cool. Be prepared for a bit of a line to enter the park, there's only one booth to enter the facility and there are a lot of Chatty Cathy's that gum up the works. Once you get in, there is plentiful parking and several trails that you can explore. We skipped the paved trail as that was a lot more crowded and went with the Red Beds trail instead. Take your time and you'll be able to master this trail--we even managed to see a doe and her young fawn while exploring this trail!

Strictly for RV's: I am writing this review because we are out of towners and this is something we were not aware of .... There is a single file line to drive up to see Devils Tower with a single traffic light, once you get into the park. The ride up is about an hour, so if you don't have any time restrictions and don't mind waiting in line....For some reason the red light is over 5 minutes and the green to go stays green for approximately 21.51 seconds , so you are stuck in this line and if you are an RV there is no turning access for you to safely turn around to get out of this long line. Just wanted to warn everyone because we wish we had this heads up. P.S Three stars because the view was beautiful.

America's first National Monument. Drawn here because of the connection to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but it absolutely stunning. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly and the area is extremely wheelchair accessible. If you ever get the chance to come here, do it. It is amazing!

I loved, loved, loved this place. I went there on a cold off season morning and had the place all to myself. It was amazing, breathtaking and powerful. You can see the Tower from miles away and they even have a place on the road (about mile away) that you can pull over and take pictures. You have to pay to get in the park and get up close and personal with the tower. It is a bit of a drive up, but so worth it. Beware of deer. Keep in mind that the Tower is sacred and should be treated with respect. IE stay on the marked trail. Once you get to the top, there is a parking lot where you can park and a visitor center, which is closed during the off season. There is a trail that goes all the way around the tower. It is so calm and peaceful. along the trail are benches where you can sit and scenic lookout spots. One of the spots even had some binos. I believe it is about a mile and a half and It took me about 40 minutes to make the full loop around the Tower. The Tower does offer climbing, but you must check in. Don't know much about it outside of that because that is not my thing and that was a big "no" for me. That thing is menacing. I recommend going there with a full tank of gas because once you are off the main drag, there is no gas station with in about 25 miles (or at least one I saw.) Even though it is a simple attraction, with not much to it, I really enjoyed this place. It is the ninth wonder of the world, at least in my book. If I am ever back in the area, this is definitely a must stop for me.

Visited on a Wednesday at the end of July, and it was a long line up of vehicles at the entrance gate around 12:30pm. Took around 40 mins to enter. There were also a lot of people getting into fights as cars tried to skip the queue by cutting in on the right lane. I did both the Tower Trail and Red Beds Trail. The Tower trail is a short, easy hike and gets you up close to the Devils Tower, which means you'll only get photos looking up at the tower. There's also a lot of people doing the trail. The Red Beds Trail is a much longer trail that takes you further outside of the tower. Lot's of good shots as you get further from the tower, and some nice scenery along the way. Just keep in mind that the trail is unpaved and there's lots of tall grass and hills/dips to navigate through. There was also no one else doing the trail and it was really nice to get away from the crowds (literally saw no one the entire hike). If you're looking to get a really nice shot of the Devil's Tower, there's an unpaved road just off to the right of the main visitor area, You'll need to drive for a bit until you get to a somewhat unpaved parking area (the road is narrow and you won't be able to park on the side of it while cars are driving by). My photo shows the exact view you'll capture. Tip: Arrive early (before 11:30am) or later in the afternoon (after 4pm) to avoid the vehicle traffic at the main entrance and crowds. Also, fill up your gas tank along the way as there were no gas stations on US-14 or US-24 until you hit the town of Sundown.

6/12/2023 It was very impressive to see Devils Tower from miles away as we approached. It must have been an awesome sight to the early settlers. You could probably see it for several days as your wagon train came west. The 2-lane road in leads ti a too small parking lot at the base of the Tower which results in a 30-45 minute stop-and-crawl drive to get there. Once you're there, the Tower is impressive and almost makes up for the time spent getting there.

If you are ever in this area, you definitely need to check this out! Words cannot describe how it feels to look at this in real life. It really leaves you with a sense of awe and wonder. I was heading back to Montana from the Black Hills and decided to drive two hours out the way to visit the Monument. I am so thankful I did. It was one of the best things I ever seen.

This is a great stop on the way to Mount Rushmore for us, but this is not a must visit for us if we have to go out of our way. We waited 45 minutes just to enter the parking lot around 3pm in the middle of the week, as parkings spaces are very limited. You can see the monument quite well from miles away and I would've just seen it from the Devils Tower Gulch (restaurant) if I had known that the wait was so long to park my car. Also, there was a rattle snake at the entrance of the hike. Very scary....

The Devil's Tower is such an awesome landmark, truly worth the visit. On a road trip from the Left Coast to the Midwest and seeing many sites along the way, this ranks up there as one of the top spots visited. You have no concept as to how freaking big and beautiful this place is until you get here and look up. Truly an awesome site to behold and soak in. Be ready for the heat if you o in the summer and be prepared for your family, friends or pets. bring your national parks book too and get your stamp.

I was blown away with this place. I didn't know what to expect, but it was utterly breathtaking. We took the short 1.3 mile hike around DT at sunset. Watching the sunset on DT and seeing the various lighting as we walked around was great. There was one section where the wind was howling and it was quite and auditory experience. The next morning we went back and took the 2.8 mile hike around DT. We walked through ponderosa, grassland and red rock on our hike. Viewing the different lighting in the early morning sun was also another visual wonder. DT and the way it was formed to create vertical columns is wonderous.

This means something! When I was a child I had a vision. This vision has guided me without any thought. I often find myself sculpting an unrecognizable structure out of anything I can find, mashed potatoes, mud, whipped and shaving creams. My wife has threatened to leave me and take the kids. Once we arrived to the devil's tower, it was like a instant moment of clarity. So me and Richard Dreyfuss are planing an excursion to the top of this thing. Don't know why but it has to happen.

Devil's Tower is amazingly beautiful and I can see why it was the first designated National Monument. The views from the base are serene and awesome. We rated our visit here to be better than Mount Rushmore.

Worth the detour from the highway! Highly recommend watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind prior to visiting just for fun. There are times when you are looking at nature and get awed by the sheer unique nature of different phenomena. This is one of those places. It is easy to understand why it is sacred ground for Native Americans. There is something about it. Beautiful!!

Before leaving on our trip, we watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the Closet Encounters spoof. The first stop using our National Park Annual Pass (Interagency Pass). Depending on where you read about Devils Tower, it was unclear whether or not the Interagency Pass would be accepted for the entrance fee. Even the Rapid City Visitor's Bureau was unclear and saw the same things I saw about ... well, they sell the annual pass ... does that mean that they take the annual pass? I think it does. It does! We used one of the photo pulloffs, but it's so much better up close! We were happy to get there while the gift shop was open. We got some gorgeous photos of Devils Tower. We almost took the hike around the base of the Tower, but it was in the high 90's and we decided that the gift shop was lovely, we were melty, and ... we moseyed on. We'll come back again when there isn't a heat wave! I believe there were 2 Pokemon Go gyms.

So much more potential for something managed by the NPS. NO facilities around it (gas, restaurants, etc.) (this part isn't the fault of the NPS, but it does take away from the experience.) Essentially, 2 trails, both paved that take maybe 60-90 minutes. 3 hours is plenty to allocate for this stop. No way this is considered a must-do unless you're camping in the area or (somehow) planning to scale Devil's Tower, but I doubt you're reading my Yelp review deciding on whether to climb it or not.