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Wyoming (WY)
Devils Tower
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Devils Tower National Monument
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Devils Tower National Monument

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Devils Tower National Monument
5
About
This 870-foot stone monument, thought to have been created from the remains of a volcano, is the center of many Indian religious ceremonies.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
3,743 reviews
Excellent
2,948
Very good
683
Average
103
Poor
4
Terrible
5
Nicole B
Porto Alegre, RS1,012 contributions
Crowded Walk
Jun 2021
Devil's Tower itself is spectacular. Right now, the Tower Trail is under construction so you can only go one way and then return instead of the loop. Entrance is $25 per car, so lots of people just take pics from the roadside. However, it really is better close up. Use the Park Pass if you have it. The entrance is painful, with one ranger checking everyone in, running, credit cards, making change, etc. They need another lane for people who already have a pass.
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nicole F
Austin, TX127 contributions
An otherworldly experience in EARLY summer mornings
Jun 2021 • Family
We stayed in Custer, as we were seeing other sights in and around Rapid City in June 2021, including the Badlands.

BTW, I do not recommend the strategy of a central base and then driving out each day.

Having recently visited with serious heat and sun, I recommend the strategy of staying as close as you can to each monument.

This area of the country has daylight at 5:30 a.m. in June!!!

Staying close by means beating the heat by arriving early, as well as having a place to use the restroom.

In any event, we left our hotel in Custer around 5:30 a.m. and got to the park just before 8. No line and a pleasant park ranger.

Upon entering, had to stop at the massive prairie dog fields. Astonishing.

There were spaces by the visitor center at 8. Our kids picked up junior ranger books and we used real toilets and sinks.

We immediately began hiking the Tower Trail, as we knew it was getting hotter and time was if the essence.

This is a wonderful hike for everyone from toddlers to elderly to the very out of shape.

There is significant shade through most of it.

I loved the crazy boulders and the otherworldly feel of it.

Personally, I would have tried the next loop, but the kids weren't having it.

We stopped into the visitors center, which I will review separately...basically a gift shop....and left to eat.

With GPS not working at all, we couldn't figure out the restaurant we meant to eat at, and ate at a post/gift store on the left side as we exited.

By this point, very hot, and a long line if cars waiting to get in, so we were glad we had gotten up at 4:45 in Custer.

Written June 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ward D
Satellite Beach, FL2,580 contributions
Great place to visit. A must see for anyone in the area.
Oct 2020
So I will admit that I was skeptical about going to this site but I am glad that I did. Do not expect any “Close Encounters of the Third kind” experience. There is a fee to enter as it is the first National Monument of the United States dedicated in 1906. I believe it is $25/car. They allow climbimg on the face but you must register. Once you pass the entrance booth, there are pullouts driving around the hill to the parking area. One if for the Prairie dog village on one side and another is to explain concrete structures in the river. It is a 3 mile drive up to the 2 paths that you can take. The parking is limited and the area is under construction so it may be difficult to find a parking space on a busy day. I recommend the Tower trail that is a 1.5 mile round trip as it goes around the monument. The climb is a bit steep and strenuous in parts but worth the effort for the view of the monument and the vista of the valley. If you are lucky, you may be able to see people climbing up or down the monument. The walk took us about 45 minutes but was well worth it. I recommend this site for anyone in the area.
Written October 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Colleen C
Troy, NY2,113 contributions
Leave in Awe!
Apr 2022
Devil's Tower has been on the TV a lot lately From National Geographic, and History Channels Ancient Aliens. These shows talk about the Science and the Myths/Legends behind this Very Spiritual Location.

Even if you believe that the Great Bear made the markings on the side of this formation from chasing the 7 Sisters or if you believe the Science of Volcano magna pushing through the surface and hardening into hexagon shapes that have fallen down over the years due to wind and erosion, we will all agree this spot is Beautiful.

There is an entrance fee for coming here unless you have the national park pass ~ you can hike multiple trails, climb/scale the tower (permission NEEDED) picnic etc..
Written April 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karen J
Colorado Springs, CO326 contributions
Cool to see, but it was hot!
Jun 2021
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.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Conner T
Altoona, IA83 contributions
Worth the drive
Jun 2022
The monument is quite a ways from civilization, but still attracts large crowds. Parking is very limited and I'd suggest getting there early - we arrived about 9am and had to wait a few minutes for a spot, and by the time we left around 11, there was a huge line of cars and not enough people leaving to open up spots. The hike around the tower was great - parts are in shade, others are not - and we're really glad we came. On another note, the month of June is requested as a voluntary pause on climbing by tribes who view the monument as sacred, but there were multiple climbers on the day we were there. Very bad taste by those folks and you just had to shake your head.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kevan j
Norman, OK1,170 contributions
Holy Cow!
Jul 2022
This is an awesome place! We pulled in here about 4:00 in the afternoon because we had read that this place gets really crowded earlier in the day during the Summer. I would definitely recommend doing this as by the time we got there, there was plenty of parking and the trails were no longer crowded. We hiked the Tower trail in relative solitude. Wow! Spectacular! Daannng! That's all I can say. You can't take your eyes off the monolith...it is just that amazing. We did take a minute to go to the visitor's center. Nice exhibits. Useless staff...forced us to mask up.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JenPNC
Charlotte, NC155 contributions
One of a kind sight
Jul 2021
You can see rock formations all over the world. But rarely are they stand-alone in the way Devils Tower is. From far away, it rises up out of the plains of Wyoming like a gigantic stone tidal wave. I was most amazed by the very squared off lines in the formation. The process (in July) of getting into the park seemed a bit tedious- only one gate created a very long line of cars and a long wait. . So get there early if you can. Pets are allowed on leashes in the main area but not on the trails, so be aware of that if you hope to hike with Fido. The Sr Golden Pass gets you in at no charge, otherwise it was around $20 per car.
Written September 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
hdempsey
Washington DC1,290 contributions
Something for everyone
Jul 2022
This is a really cool site, and it has something for everyone of all fitness levels. If you want to just drive and see it without even really getting out of your car, that would be possible. With our small kids we did the tower trail of about a mile, and if we didn't have them with us we would have tackled one of the loops that was a little further out. it was cool to see some climbers who really make you appreciate just how big it is. Seeing it close up or from a distance, both were great. If you have kids with you ask for a junior ranger booklet, my kids love them and the badge they got when they completed it.

Do be aware it can get warm here. On the tower trail there were many benches and even a few shaded spots, but make sure you have water with you in summer.
Written August 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cajun_YankeeGal
55 contributions
Absolutely Breathtaking
Jun 2020 • Family
It was on my husband's "bucket list" so we drove from Lead, SD over to Devils Tower. The visitor center is currently under construction, so if you want to go all the way to the base of the tower...a good hike is in order. It isn't the length of the hike so much as the topography. The first third of the hike is mostly uphill, then levels out to be more manageable. We went between 1 and 5pm, I would definitely recommend going early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature is up. The altitude factors in as well, just FYI for anyone with breathing difficulties. All that being said, it is absolutely worth it, every step! The base of the tower has access to "real" bathrooms and a fresh water sticker for refilling bottles etc. The prairie dog town is quite a delight also. We spent all day around the tower starting with a picnic lunch. Great memories were made!
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Devils Tower National Monument - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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