Why it is worth the detour
Rising nearly nine hundred feet above the rolling mixed-grass prairie and Ponderosa pine forests of northeastern Wyoming, Devils Tower commands the horizon long before the road reaches its base. Formed roughly fifty million years ago when molten magma forced its way upward through sedimentary layers and cooled slowly beneath the surface, the monolith owes its existence to subsequent erosion by the meandering Belle Fourche River and millions of years of wind and water. This geological spectacle—officially designated as the nation's first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906—holds profound spiritual significance for numerous Northern Plains Native American tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, who know the tower by various names related to a great bear clawing the rock. Surrounding the base of this massive igneous intrusion, the Red Beds Trail traverses the dramatic, iron-rich siltstones and shales that create a vivid crimson ring through the landscape, exposing millions of years of geological history beneath hikers' boots.
Approaching the monument requires navigating the scenic byways of the Black Hills borderlands, where the flat ranchlands of eastern Wyoming transition abruptly into the densely wooded ridges of the Bear Lodge Mountains, an offshoot of the Black Hills uplift. From Interstate 90, motorists exit near Sundance and follow Wyoming State Highway 24 north, a ribbon of asphalt that unfurls through undulating cattle ranches before curving sharply into the forested valley of the Belle Fourche River. As the highway climbs toward the monument boundary, the colossal fluted columns of the tower suddenly dominate the windshield, shifting in scale and perspective with every curve of the asphalt. Visitors pass through the park entrance station situated along Wyoming Highway 110—the short spur road looping directly into the monument—where the immediate approach reveals the sheer verticality of the monolith looming directly overhead.
Stepping onto the Red Beds Trail from the picnic area or the visitor center parking lot plunges the traveler immediately into a sensory landscape defined by the stark contrast of earth and sky. The dirt and gravel path loops 2.8 miles around the base of the tower, descending slightly into open meadows before climbing back through sun-drenched stands of ponderosa pine, bur oak, and quaking aspen. Underfoot, the trail crunching softly against red dirt and shale gives way to the earthy aroma of pine resin and sun-warmed dust, occasionally punctuated by the sharp, metallic calls of western meadowlarks or the distant, rushing murmur of the Belle Fourche River far below. As the path winds continuously around the monument, the afternoon sun casts shifting geometric shadows across the gigantic stone columns, illuminating microscopic flecks of mica in the rock face and rendering the massive scale of the tower an intimate, tactile experience rather than a distant view.
Visiting this high-plains environment demands careful attention to seasonal weather shifts and gear preparation, as conditions around the monument can turn volatile with little warning. The optimal window for hiking the Red Beds Trail runs from late May through September, though July and August frequently bring intense afternoon thunderstorms accompanied by lightning strikes that make exposed rock faces hazardous. Hikers must pack adequate water, sturdy hiking boots to navigate the uneven terrain and exposed tree roots, and resilient layers to combat sudden temperature drops or stiff winds sweeping off the plains. Because Devils Tower is sacred to Native American tribes who hold religious ceremonies here—particularly during the summer solstice month of June—visitors are asked to respect voluntary closures on climbing routes and to practice rigorous Leave-No-Trace principles by packing out all trash and staying on the designated trail to prevent erosion of the fragile red soils.
Beyond the monument boundary, the surrounding Crook County countryside offers a wealth of slow-paced exploration that grounds the traveler in authentic ranching history and local character. A short drive south on Highway 24 leads to the quiet community of Hulett, where historic wooden storefronts house local bakeries, antique shops, and cafes serving homestyle meals to ranchers and road-trippers alike. Continuing eastward brings travelers to Keyhole State Reservoir, a sprawling oasis of blue water against the pines where boating, fishing, and quiet shoreline camping provide a stark, aquatic counterpart to the arid red earth of the tower. Exploring these neighboring public lands and small towns reveals a resilient frontier landscape largely untouched by commercial tourism, anchoring the geologic grandeur of Devils Tower within the enduring working geography of the American West.
Source note
Official National Park Service page for Devils Tower National Monument.
Editorial note
This page was prepared with automated editorial assistance from the source shown above. It does not claim a personal visit or line-by-line field report. Verify current closures, access, fees, weather, permits, and safety notices with the responsible authority before travel.