Planning a trip to Devils Tower National Monument, WY
Information
Contact Devils Tower National Monument, P.O. Box 10, Devils Tower, WY 82714-0010 (tel. 307/467-5283; www.nps.gov/deto). The Devils Tower Natural History Association, P.O. Box 37, Devils Tower, WY 87214-0037 (tel. 307/467-5283 ext. 631; www.devilstowernha.org), 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 car or motorcycle, and $5 per person on foot 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.
When to Go
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.
Avoiding the Crowds
Traffic patterns at the monument are similar to those of national park areas throughout the West. Expect the highest visitation from June through August, with lower visitation in the shoulder months of April, May, September, and October; the lowest visitation is during winter. Parking is limited in summer.
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. 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.
Getting There
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-Campbell County Airport (tel. 307/686-1042; www.iflygillette.com), in Wyoming, with regional commuter flights via Delta, and United, and their partners; and Rapid City, South Dakota.
