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Julie Last updated: January 29, 2026 United States 17 Comments Pinterest Facebook Flipboard This post may contain affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Devils Tower National Monument is one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. Sacred to Native Americans, popular road trip destination, and alien landing site a famous movie, Devils Tower evokes mystery and wonder from visitors of all ages. We spent a day at Devil’s Tower, visiting it on a day trip from Rapid City, South Dakota. In this post, learn how to visit Devils Tower National Monument, with things to do, how to plan your time, and tips to have the best experience. The Essentials TOP ACTIVITY | The Tower Trail, a 1.3-mile paved loop that circles the base for up-close views. UNIQUE VIEWS | The Red Beds Trail (2.8-mile loop) offers better perspectives of the tower with fewer crowds. HOW MUCH TIME | Half of a day COST | $25 per vehicle (valid for 7 days) or free with the America the Beautiful Pass COOL FACT | This was the first national monument in the USA, established in 1906 Table of Contents Toggle What Makes Devils Tower Special?How to Get to Devils TowerBest Things to Do at Devils TowerHike the Tower TrailRed Beds TrailSouth Side TrailValley View TrailJoyner Ridge TrailPrairie Dog TownCircle of Sacred Smoke SculptureClimb Devils TowerRanger ProgramsNight Sky ViewingWhat to Expect on Your VisitHow Much Time Do You Need in Devils Tower?Practical Information: Cost, Hours & FoodPlan Your Trip to Wyoming January 2026 Update: Confirmed hours and pricing, added new photos. What Makes Devils Tower Special? Devils Tower has long been sacred to Native Americans. Six tribes have a geographical or cultural tie to the tower, with the Lakota people having one of the strongest connections. They call the tower by names like Bear Lodge, Ghost Mountain, and Mythic-Owl Mountain. Every year, ceremonies are conducted at Devils Tower by local tribes. As you walk around Devils Tower, you will see colorful cloths tied to the trees. These are prayer offerings and sometimes the cloths are placed in remembrance of another person. Devils Tower was the first national monument in the USA, established on September 24, 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. He made Wyoming home not only to the first national monument, but also the first national park, Yellowstone National Park. There are several theories about the formation of Devils Tower. The most likely theory is this: 50 million years ago, molten lava was forced into underground layers of sedimentary rock. As the magma cooled, it formed hexagonal columns of igneous rock. Over millions of years, the sedimentary rock eroded away, gradually revealing Devils Tower. The hexagonal columns of Devils Tower Devils Tower rises 867 feet from its base and stands 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. It can be seen for miles on a clear day. Devils Tower was featured in the 1977 movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which turns the tower into an alien landing site. How to Get to Devils Tower Devils Tower is located in northeastern Wyoming. You can visit Devils Tower on a day trip from Rapid City or as part of a road trip across the USA. If you have plans to visit both Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, there are several driving routes to choose from that cross Wyoming and Devils Tower can easily be added to this road trip. Here are driving distances and times from nearby destinations: Rapid City, South Dakota: 107 miles, 1.75 hours Gillette, Wyoming: 66 miles, 1.25 hours Cody, Wyoming: 300 miles, 5 hours Yellowstone National Park: 350 miles, 6 hours Billings, Montana: 265 miles, 4.25 hours The closest airport is located in Gillette, Wyoming. Rapid City, South Dakota has a larger airport, making this is a great home base, not only for visiting Devils Tower, but for exploring this part of the country. From Rapid City, you can also visit Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and numerous historic towns. You can also visit Devils Tower on a road trip with Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. View of Devils Tower from Highway 24 Best Things to Do at Devils Tower On a visit to Devils Tower, you have the option to hike one of the trails that circle around its base, take a ranger tour, go rock climbing, or gaze up at the night skies. Here is a list of the things to do at Devils Tower. Hike the Tower Trail Distance: 1.3 mile loop | Difficulty: Easy | Length of Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour If you do one thing on a visit to Devils Tower, it should be a walk on the Tower Trail. The Tower Trail circles around the base of Devils Tower. From here, you get up-close views of the tower. You’ll have to crane your neck back quite a bit to look up at it, since you are standing so close, but you do get quite a few nice views of Devils Tower. From this walk, you get to truly appreciate the massive ...

Complete Guide to Devils Tower: How to Plan Your Visit