Last Updated on: 20th July 2025, 11:01 am
The ominously-titled Devils Tower, known for its unique vertical stone columns, was declared the first-ever US National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. But being located at the opposite end of Wyoming from Yellowstone, it’s not the most convenient place to reach. And once you do, what does visiting Devils Tower actually entail?
The Devils Tower National Monument features multiple hiking trails that allow visitors to appreciate the mysterious monolith from different angles. Surrounding the tower, meanwhile, is a mix of prairie and ponderosa pine forest.
There are two main trails that encircle Devils Tower: the Tower Trail and the Red Beds Trail, both of which we’ll be covering below. We’ll also briefly go over two additional trails known as the South Side Trail and Joyner Ridge Trail, though neither are essential.
All in all, for those coming from western South Dakota, think of visiting Devils Tower as a half-day trip.
For more information on park entry fees and where to stay in the town of Deadwood, be sure to check the end of the article.
Reaching Devils Tower
The fact that Devils Tower is so geographically isolated only adds to its mystique. It’s not near any major city, though most visitors will probably be driving here from the tourist hotspots of Spearfish or Deadwood, South Dakota.
No matter where you’re coming from, it’s quite a thrill to first lay eyes upon the monolith from a distance. Then, as you get closer to the National Monument, you’ll pass the Devils Tower Trading Post, a popular souvenir shop.
But it’s best to save it for later, as those visiting in peak summer season will want to get to the Visitor Center as early as possible. Despite its remote location, Devils Tower is a very popular destination and the main parking lot can fill up quickly.
In my case, we departed from Deadwood, South Dakota at around 7:00, making it to the Devils Tower parking lot at 8:45. Even then, the lot was half full. And by the time I finished the two loop hikes, there were countless cars circling the lot waiting for others to leave.
Learn more about entry fees to Devils Tower National Monument at the end of the article.
The Tower Trail
As mentioned above, there are two main loop trails which encircle the monolith, both of which will be covered here. But for those short on time, hiking the Tower Trail followed by a quick drive to the Circle of Sacred Smoke sculpture is the way to go.
The Tower Trail is about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long. It’s entirely paved, though not completely flat. It should be accessible for people of all fitness levels, while the trail also features numerous places to stop and rest your legs.
But first, near the area where the Tower Trail and Red Beds Trail intersect, you’ll encounter a terrace featuring geological information about Devils Tower.
When measured from the Visitor Center, Devils Tower stands at 867 feet (264 m) tall – significantly higher than the Washington Monument. And when measured from the base of its platform, it’s as tall as 1,280 feet (388 m).
Approaching Devils Tower from the west, you’ll encounter a large field of boulders that toppled from the monolith eons ago.
It’s also possible for experienced rock climbers to ascend Devils Tower, though special permits are needed. The summit is estimated to be around the size of a (American) football field. And, while not visible from below, it’s almost entirely covered in sagebrush and grass, with little exposed rock.
Note that even walking atop the boulders at the base is not allowed for those who haven’t registered as climbers.
But if you’re simply sticking to the Tower Trail, Red Beds Trail, or South Side Trail, then no registration is necessary.
While I didn’t realize it at the time, it’s Lakota tradition to walk around the monument clockwise. However, I ended up doing both trails counterclockwise.
Devils Tower was traditionally known as Bear Lodge by the Lakota People. Accordingly, the Lakota, along with numerous other tribes, told a story of a massive tower growing out of the ground to help people escape from bears.
The monolith we see today, however, is merely just a piece that fell off from the mythical one. And the long vertical lines in the side were said to have been scratched out by a massive bear.
Devils Tower remains a sacred place for roughly twenty different tribes, and you may occasionally encounter prayer flags or prayer bundles attached to the trees.
The Tower Trail has you walking quite close to the monolith for much of the walk. And given its size, you’ll frequently have to crank your neck to look up at it.
But with that said, the Tower Trail is ideal for those who wants to admire Devils Tower’s unique details.
One of the defining characteristics of Devils Tower are its vertical symmetrical columns. They are, in fact, the world’s longest and largest natural rock columns, with the largest being over 200 feet (61 m) long by 8 feet (2.5 m) wide.
The columns are 4-7-sided, though a majority are hexagonal. And they originally formed as cracks to release pressure built up by magma cooling and hardening. And as the cracks grew longer, they ultimately became the columns we see today.
While Devils Tower is easily one of the best examples of columnar jointing on the planet, other examples of the phenomenon can be found in places like Devils Postpile National Monument in California, Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland, and Alcantara Gorge in Sicily.
I also previously witnessed columnar jointing in Garni, Armenia and Suchitoto, El Salvador.
Some of the columns have toppled and can actually be seen while walking the trail. From close up, they appear absolutely massive.
Fortunately, nobody alive has witnessed one falling, so there’s little risk of walking so close to Devils Tower today.
Interestingly, the monolith is comprised of a unique type of igneous rock called phonolite. Within the United States, it’s pretty much just found here and in central Montana, though it’s otherwise most commonly found in East Africa.
The Red Beds Trail
Completing the Tower Trail, you’ll find the Red Beds trailhead just to the south, right next to the parking lot.
The trail is 2.8 miles (4.5 km), and the surface is a lot rockier than the Tower Trail. While still an easy hike for experienced hikers, lesser-active people might struggle a bit.
The trail still offers plenty of views of Devils Tower, albeit from further away this time. Additionally, you’ll be greeted with plenty of overlooks of the Belle Fourche River Valley, along with the Belle Fourche River.
The river has been gradually sculpting the region for millennia, and continues to do so in the present.
Believe it or not, though it appears as if it once emerged from the center of the earth, Devils Tower is what’s left after the softer rock around it eroded away over the course of millions of years.
To this day, geologists still aren’t entirely sure how Devils Tower formed, but the process likely began some 50 million years ago, around the time that the Black Hills were pushed upward.
Magma was first injected into sedimentary layers before the softer layers of rock around the hardened magma gradually eroded. But geologists still disagree over the formation’s original size and shape.
Some believe it was more or less a larger version of the shape we see today, while others say it started as a large mushroom-like formation.
Another theory is that the Devils Tower is a remnant of an ancient volcano, while a more recent theory states that a crater formed here when magma encountered groundwater, resulting in explosive steam.
Notably, it’s the erosion that formed Devils Tower that also erased important evidence needed to determine its true origins.
The Red Beds Trail brought me back around to the south side of the monolith, from which I could get a clear view of a peculiar feature known as the ‘Window.’ As mentioned above, many of Devils Tower’s columns have collapsed at some point.
But here, a large section of columns collapsed from the same area, forming a 300-ft-high rectangular alcove. It almost looks manmade, but it is indeed completely natural.
While at Devils Tower’s south side, I also decided to take a short detour to walk along yet another trial called the South Side Trail to get a sense of what it was like.
This trail officially starts at the Belle Fourche River Campground located down in the valley. It then takes hikers up the hill that serves as Devils Tower’s base, ultimately connecting with the Red Beds Trail.
While only 0.6 miles in total, the South Side Trail is surely the most tiring hike at the National Monument for those starting from the bottom.
While the South Side Trail does offer some excellent views, as we’ll cover shortly, its most impressive viewpoint is from around the trailhead itself. Luckily, you can easily drive there.
Back on the Red Beds Trail, I continued encircling the monument, and I soon found myself approaching the Red Beds.
The Red Beds are part of the Spearfish Formation which dates all the back to the Triassic period, a geologic period that lasted from around 252 to 201 million years ago.
The Red Beds are comprised of sandstone, shale and siltstone, and their reddish hue comes from all the iron oxide present in the stone.
As mentioned, I did the Red Beds Trail counterclockwise. And looping back around, I found the final portion of the hike to be the most tiring, as there were several hills to walk up and down.
For true hiking enthusiasts, the Red Beds Trail also connects to the Joyner Ridge Loop Trail if you want to do one long hike. But as we’ll cover shortly, you can also just drive to that trailhead.
The Joyner Ridge Trail
As mentioned earlier, I arrived back at the main parking lot to encounter pure chaos, with countless cars circling the lot. After a brief visit to the Visitor Center and its informative museum, I headed to the Joyner Ridge Trail.
To my surprise, the parking lot by the trailhead was totally empty!
As mentioned, the Joyner Ridge Trail even connects with the Red Beds Trail. So if you’re a really dedicated hiker and arrive to find the main lot full, you could park here and then do one massive loop hike.
On its own, the Joyner Ridge Trail is 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop. But in my case, I turned around after just several minutes, as it was clear from early on that the sun was not in an ideal position.
While I’m not entirely sure, the views from the Joyner Ridge Trail might be more impressive later in the afternoon.
The Circle of Sacred Smoke
When finished with hiking and the Visitor Center, be sure to drive to the Wind Circle Sculpture, located near the Belle Fourche River Campground. The location is marked as ‘The Wind Circle Sculpture’ on Google Maps.
The piece was created by Japanese artist Junkvu Muto in 2008. Interestingly, two other sculptures by the artist were placed at Vatican City and Bodh Gaya, India at the same time. As a whole, the project was dedicated to world peace.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the sculpture itself, this is surely one of the best locations from which to view Devils Tower from afar. As mentioned above, it’s also right around here that the South Side Trail officially begins.
Additional Info
Not only is Deadwood a destination in its own right, but it also makes for a great base for destinations like Devils Tower, Spearfish Canyon and Bear Butte State Park. As such, you’ll want to stay at least several nights.
I stayed at the Deadwood Gulch Resort which I have no complaints about. While not in the town center, it was an easy drive away, while you can also take a shuttle to town if you don’t feel like driving (or parking).
I had a peaceful and quiet stay, though my room was on the upper floor and not overlooking the parking lot. I’d imagine that guests staying on the ground floor facing the lot might have to deal with noise.
Other highly-rated, more central options include Four Points by Sheraton Deadwood, Celebrity Hotel, and Travelodge by Wyndham.
At the time of writing, Devils Tower National Monument costs $25 per vehicle (learn more here).
US National Parks and Monuments typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, Devils Tower will charge you for an individual pass which costs $15, while those on motorcycles will be charged $25.
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Western US alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.