Beautiful, Daring Devil's Tower National Monument

Any visitor to Mount Rushmore should consider a trip to nearby Devil's Tower National Monument, a 1,287-foot volcanic monolith rising high above the Belle Fourche River. As the country's first National Monument, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the 1,347 acres in this park provide opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, nature observation and camping.

Devil's Tower National Monument Visitor Center

The first activity at Devil's Tower should be a stop to the Visitor Center, where park guests can inquire about trail and climbing conditions, watch 30-minute climbing demonstrations and see a schedule of ranger-led walks and park programs. There are also interpretive exhibits about the park's geological, natural and cultural history.

Devil's Tower National Monument Walking Tours

One of the most popular recreational activities at Devil's Tower is hiking. With 7 miles of trails, hiking through the monument affords views of the area's diverse habitats as well as glimpses of wildlife, scenic outlooks and the Devil's Tower itself. Tower Trail, the most popular trail, is a paved 1.3-mile walk that circles the tower and has benches along the way. The Joyner Ridge Trail, a 1.5-mile loop, provides the best photographic opportunities, especially at sunset. The park's longest trail is Red Beds Trail, a 3-mile hike through pine groves and the river valley, and past the red iron-stained bluffs dating back to the Triassic Period, 225 million years ago. There are also opportunities for ranger-led walks. Interpretive talks meet at the Visitor Center and cover a variety of topics along 15- to 20-minute walks. The Tower Walk is a one-hour guided tour that explores Devil's Tower.

Devil's Tower National Monument Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is another premier activity at Devil's Tower, as the tower is one of the best crack climbing spots in North America. Parallel cracks divide the tower into vertical columns, the longest of which is 400 feet long. Technical difficulties range from 5.7 to 5.13. Climbers are required to register the day before a climb, and again immediately after they finish climbing. Visitors who do not wish to climb themselves often enjoy watching others scale the monolith from below, and can attend climbing demonstrations at the kiosk in the Visitor Center parking lot to learn about climbing techniques and equipment.

Devil's Tower National Monument Camping

Camping is another recreational activity at Devil's Tower. The Belle Fourche Campground, nestled in an oxbow river bend, has 30 sites for tents and RVs up to 35 feet. There are no electrical hookups or showers, but drinking water, public restrooms and picnic areas are provided.

Devil's Tower National Monument Bird & Wildlife Watching

Wildlife and birdwatching also abounds at Devil's Tower. There are several distinctly different habitats around the tower, including deciduous woodlands, prairie grasslands and pine forests. Common wildlife includes rabbits, prairie dogs, chipmunks, porcupines, raccoons and deer. Visitors spot an occasional beaver, coyote, red fox, flying squirrel, and maybe even a mountain lion. Common birds are the Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk and Redheaded Woodpecker, to name just a few. The American White Pelican, Sandhill Crane and Yellow-bellied Cuckoo are more rare occurrences.

Devil's Tower is located off of Highway 24 in Wyoming, about 135 miles from Mount Rushmore. With all the recreational opportunities at Devils Tower, the trip is worth it, not to mention the beautiful scenery and interesting geologic and cultural history of the tower.