Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [150]
If you visit during the summer, stop at the tower early in the day, or take in a fireside ranger talk when crowds have thinned in the evening. Be advised that each year during the second week in August, a huge motorcycle rally takes place in nearby Sturgis, South Dakota. Attendance may significantly increase during that period.
Just the Facts
GETTING THERE & GATEWAYS
Because of Devils Tower's remote location, the best access is by private vehicle. The monument entrance is 33 miles northeast of Moorcroft, Wyoming, and 27 miles northwest of Sundance, Wyoming, on U.S. 14 (travel to the immediate area on I-90). Scheduled airlines serve Gillette, Wyoming (regional commuter service), and Rapid City, South Dakota, which has car-rental outlets. For information on the Rapid City airport and car-rental options, see chapter 3, "Badlands National Park."
INFORMATION
Contact Devils Tower National Monument, P.O. Box 10, Devils Tower, WY 82714-0010 (☎ 307/467-5283; www. nps.gov/deto). The Devils Tower Natural History Association, P.O. Box 37, Devils Tower, WY 87214-0037 (☎ 307/ 467-5283), operates a bookstore at the monument's visitor center and offers a variety of publications.
VISITOR CENTER
Open from early April through November, the visitor center is 3 miles from the monument's entrance. It has exhibits about the tower's history and geology.
FEES
There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle or $5 per person on foot, motorcycle, or bike. Camping costs $12 per night.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Do not feed, chase, or disturb prairie dogs; they bite and may carry diseases. Abandoned prairie dog holes are often homes to black widow spiders and
rattlesnakes. Disturbing any wildlife or gathering items such as rocks or flowers is prohibited. Also see "Climbing the Tower," below.
SEASONS & CLIMATE
The monument is open year-round. The climate and seasons at Devils Tower echo those in the Black Hills region. Summer days can be hot and dry, although thunderstorms are not uncommon; evenings and early mornings are usually damp and cool. Spring weather is often chilly and rainy, and fall weather is often pleasant but can be cool, and often cold at night. Winters are usually cold, but snow and sunlight can combine to create incredible pictures of the landmark.
If You Have Only 1 Day
You can experience much of what Devils Tower has to offer in less than a day. Rangers recommend that you allow 2 to 4 hours to walk a trail, stop at the visitor center, and view the prairie dogs.
Surrounded by ponderosa pines and bathed in blue sky, the towering rock obelisk is visible for miles, and it's easy to imagine the reaction of the first lonely American Indian scouts and French fur trappers who stumbled upon this stunning geologic anomaly.
Home to the feisty black-tailed prairie dog, the grounds of Devils Tower National Monument are perfect for picnicking and viewing wildlife. You can watch the sociable prairie dogs in their colony, or "town," just inside the park's east entrance station. The critters excavate elaborate networks of underground passageways, then guard their burrows with warning "barks" when predators such as hawks, eagles, bullsnakes, coyote, red fox, and mink come too close. Walk the leisurely Valley View Trail, or savor a picnic lunch among the wildflowers at the monument's picnic area
on the banks of the sleepy Belle Fourche River.
Climbing the Tower
Climbers must register with a ranger before starting and upon their return; otherwise, there are no permits or requirements for climbing the tower. Be prepared for sudden storms; carry rain gear and a flashlight. Rockfall is common, so helmets are advised. Ask a ranger for additional safety and climbing information. The visitor center has a list of those permitted to guide climbs up the tower. We recommend Frank Sanders' Above All Climbing Guides and Instruction (☎ 888/314-5267; www.devilstowerclimbing.com), which specializes in working with novice climbers