Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, Devils Tower is an iconic rocky sentinel
that was formed some 50-60 million years ago and has fascinated people for generations.
The tower was instantly recognizable in the 1977 film
Close Encounters of the Third Kind,
where it bridged human and alien life forms. Comprised of phonolite porphyry, which is
a volcanic rock created by magma and similar to granite without the quartz, the massive
columnar feature looks like an otherworldly cat scratching post. Scientists refer to it as a
laccolith, or igneous intrusion, meaning that magma welled up into a pocket of sediment-
ary rock, where it cooled and hardened. Over millions of years, the sedimentary rock was
eroded away by natural forces, leaving the phenomenal tower.
The country's first national monument, Devils Tower is both a sacred site to many Nat-
ive Americans and a climbing mecca for rock hounds from around the globe. The two
groups have managed a hard-won, if somewhat delicate, respect for each other through
a voluntary climbing closure in June every year, the month traditionally known for the
greatest number of Native American ceremonies. Climbers are strongly encouraged to re-
frain from climbing or hiking around the tower during the closure.
Still, Devils Tower is a recreational hot spot with several climbing routes for beginners
and experts alike, plus some eight miles of hiking trails that circle the tower and wind
through the nearby forests and meadows. Although it's not exactly conveniently located, 33
miles north of I-90, Devils Tower is the type of destination—like Mount Rushmore—that
visitors are happy to go out of their way to see. Especially for those with an interest in hik-
ing or climbing, it's easy to make a day of Devils Tower.
History
According to the National Park Service, more than 20 Native American tribes have histor-
ically attached cultural and spiritual significance to Devils Tower. Many of the tribes have
sacred stories related to the tower, which often determined their name for the feature. The
Arapaho, for example, called the tower Bear's Tipi. Similarly, the Cheyenne referred to it
as Bear's Lodge, Bear's House, and Bear Peak. The Crow are known to refer to it as Bear's
Lair, and the Lakota, who often had winter camps at the tower, called it a variety of names
that include Bear Lodge, Grizzly Bear's Lodge, Ghost Mountain, and funnily enough, Penis
Mountain. The Kiowa called the feature Tree Rock or Aloft on a Rock, and their origin
story for the rock is among the best known. The story goes that the tribe was camped along
the river, and seven sisters and their brother were playing when the brother turned into a
