10 Unforgettable Experiences Around Devils Tower National Monument
Wyoming’s Devils Tower rises dramatically from the prairie like a giant stone skyscraper, capturing imaginations and inspiring awe in every visitor who sees it.
Whether you’re an adventure seeker or nature lover, this incredible monument offers activities that will stick with you long after you leave.
Get ready to explore everything this magical place has waiting around every corner.
1. Summit Viewpoint Trail
If you’re ready to challenge yourself a bit, lace up those hiking boots and tackle this steep but rewarding adventure.
Winding upward through ponderosa pines and rocky terrain, the path tests your endurance while treating you to glimpses of the tower peeking through trees.
Once you reach the top, prepare to have your breath taken away (again, but this time by the view!).
Every step becomes worth it when you see the monument standing proud against endless Wyoming sky.
2. Tower Trail Loop Walk
Want to get up close and personal with the monument without breaking a sweat?
A gentle paved path circles the entire base, letting you admire the tower’s incredible hexagonal columns from every angle imaginable.
Kids and grandparents alike can handle this easy stroll, which takes about an hour at a relaxed pace.
You’ll spot climbers scaling the walls, learn about the geology, and snap photos that’ll make your friends jealous.
3. Guided Rock Climbing
Adrenaline junkies, listen up!
Scaling the tower’s vertical cracks with an experienced guide transforms you into a real-life superhero (cape not included).
Professional instructors teach proper techniques while keeping you safely harnessed, making the impossible feel achievable.
Hanging hundreds of feet above the ground, you’ll understand why climbers travel from around the world to conquer this bucket-list challenge.
Even beginners can try easier routes under expert supervision.
4. Night Sky Stargazing
When darkness falls, magic happens overhead.
Far from city lights, the monument becomes a front-row seat to the universe’s greatest light show, with thousands of stars twinkling like scattered diamonds.
Bring a blanket and lie back while the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a breathtaking arc.
Rangers often host astronomy programs where you can peek through telescopes at planets, nebulae, and distant galaxies that’ll blow your mind.
5. Prairie Dog Town Viewing
Who knew rodents could be so entertaining?
A bustling colony of black-tailed prairie dogs lives right at the monument, and watching them is better than any cartoon on TV.
Popping in and out of burrows, standing guard on their hind legs, and chattering warnings to each other, they create a hilarious show that delights visitors of all ages.
Bring binoculars to catch their adorable antics without disturbing their daily routines and neighborhood drama.
6. Native Cultural Programs
Long before tourists arrived with cameras, more than 20 Native American tribes considered this place sacred, calling it Bear Lodge.
Rangers and Native speakers share powerful legends, traditional stories, and spiritual connections that give the monument deeper meaning beyond just cool rocks.
You’ll gain respect and understanding while learning how indigenous peoples view this geological wonder.
Programs happen regularly throughout summer months, offering perspectives textbooks never taught you.
7. Sunrise Photography Spot
Photographers, set your alarms early because golden hour here is absolutely spectacular!
As the sun peeks over the horizon, it paints the tower in shades of pink, orange, and gold that seem almost unreal.
Designated viewing areas provide perfect angles to capture this daily masterpiece.
Whether you’re shooting with a fancy camera or just your phone, you’ll snag Instagram-worthy shots that’ll rack up likes faster than you can say cheese.
8. Belle Fourche River Picnic
After working up an appetite exploring, head to the shaded picnic areas along the gentle Belle Fourche River for a relaxing meal with a view.
Cottonwood trees provide cool shade while the water babbles peacefully nearby, creating nature’s perfect dining room.
Pack sandwiches and snacks, or grab something from the nearby town.
Kids can wade in the shallow water while you soak in the scenery and recharge before your next adventure begins.
9. Wildlife Watching Zones
Grab your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled because the area surrounding the monument teems with critters big and small.
White-tailed deer graze peacefully in meadows, while red-tailed hawks soar overhead hunting for breakfast.
Patient observers might spot porcupines waddling through underbrush, chipmunks darting between rocks, or even a turkey vulture riding thermal currents.
Early morning and late evening offer the best chances to see animals going about their wild business undisturbed.
10. Scenic Drive Lookouts
Sometimes the journey matters just as much as the destination, and the roads leading to the monument prove this beautifully.
Multiple pullouts and viewpoints let you stop, stretch your legs, and admire how the tower rises unexpectedly from flat prairie like nature’s exclamation point.
Each angle offers something different, so don’t rush past them.
Rolling hills, scattered ranches, and big Wyoming sky create postcard-perfect scenes at every turn along the way.
