My ten-day journey out west was proving to be one of the most fascinating trips I had ever taken. I had seen the beauty of the Badlands, the patriotic carvings of Mount Rushmore and traveled miles on picturesque, scenic drives.
In the distance, a monolithic rock of colossal proportions arose from sacred ground. I knew that I would soon be approaching the Devil’s Tower, a hollowed location of the local Indians. Reaching high towards the heavens, I imagined this would have been an awesome site for early settlers.
The Lakota Indians and other tribes believe that there is a strong spiritual connection here. Evidence of this land’s significance to Native American tribes is proven by the prayer ribbons tied on the trees at the base of the Tower.
Rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, the Lakota named this gargantuan “tree stump” Matho Thipila and Ptehe Gi meaning “Bear Lodge and “Brown Buffalo”. The tribes congregate here for sun ceremonies and rites of passage.
The Kiowa Tribe legend tells of seven small girls who were playing far away from their home when they encountered a bear. The girls reached a rock standing about three feet high and prayed to the rock to save them. The rock began pushing itself up from the ground away from the bear. In an effort to reach the girls, the bear tried to climb up the rock. Leaving only scratch marks as the rock continued to rise higher and higher into the sky, where the girls now reside in the heavens as the Pleidades constellation.
Devil’s Tower is known as the United State’s first National Monument, dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. It is a popular place for experienced rock climbers who long for the challenge of climbing between the rock’s “scratch marks”. For those that do not climb, there is the Tower Trail that encircles the base of Devil’s Tower, which takes about one hour to complete. Just be aware of bears…
If you have visited Devil’s Tower, hiked the trail or climbed this fascinating monument, I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading my post about Devil’s Tower! Wishing wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Devil’s Tower
WY-110
Devil’s Tower, WY 82714
Telephone: 307 467 5283 x635
- Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $20; Motorcycle: $15 and Hiker/Biker: $10 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Devil’s Tower National Park is $40 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Devil’s Tower National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
- Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Devil’s Tower website for the operating hours of the Visitor Center.
- Amenities: Hiking, cross country skiing, climbing, scenic drives wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger-led programs.
- Scenic View: Take in the view of this ecological phenomenon from miles away.
- Length of Visit: Three days is recommended to see all of the attractions at Yellowstone.
- Tips for Your Visit: It is recommended that hikers bring 1 liter of water per 2 hours of hiking. Wear proper footwear and in the winter, ice cleats, snowshoes or similar are recommended. The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Do not feed the animals. Be respectful of this site as it is a sacred place for indigenous people. Do not disturb prayer bundles or other cultural artifacts.
Where to Stay:
Devil’s Tower Lodge
#37 West Road, WY-110
Devil’s Tower, WY 82714
Telephone: 307 467 5267
Where to Eat:
Devil’s Tower Gulch Restaurant
601 WY-24 Devil’s Tower
Devil’s Tower, WY 82714
Telephone: 307 467 5800
They had a special for a hot roast beef sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes. Some down home cooking, which was absolutely amazing.
What to Eat:
- Buffalo
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Chuck wagon-style meal cooked over a flame
- Elk
- Fry Bread – puffy taco base usually used for taco salads
- Old Fashioned Soda from Annie’s Soda Saloon and Cafe in Cody
- Pig Candy – sweet spiced bacon
- Prime Rib
- Rocky Mountain Oysters – calf testicles
- Soda Bread discovered by the American Indians which is a mix of soda and flour
- Wyomatoes – gourmet tomatoes with a sweet taste
- Wyoming Whiskey
What to Read:
- Cody (Then and Now), by Lynn Johnson Houze
- A River Runs Through It, by Norman Maclean
- Colter’s Run, by Stephen Gough
Photo Guide for Cody, WY:
- Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
- Castle Gardens near Riverton, WY
- Old Trail Town
- Yellowstone National Park