The Devil’s Tower: US’ Mysterious Sightseeing Spot
Located in the Black Hillsin Crook County of Wyoming, the Devils Tower is definitely among the most interesting sightseeing spots in USA. It is a giant volcanic rock, with a height of 1,267 feet above the ground and 5,112 feet above sea level. So what makes it so unique?
The shape of the tower, which raises straight to the sky, is filled with thin pieces of rock, that allow visitors to climb on it. Although, the date of the formation is still uncertain, geologists have discovered how it was created. Apparently, the giant tower is in fact, what’s left of a large mass of rock, that came out to the surface through several beds of overlying sedimentary rocks. As time passed by, natural events such as; rain, wind and storms, gradually modified the shape of the tower by eroding the volcanic rock.
The properties of the volcanic rock makes the tower to change its shape easily. Those, who get there at the right place and the right time, can notice large pieces of rocks and even giant columns falling off the main volcanic rock. The stones found at the base of the structure proof, that the initial shape of the tower was much larger than it is today.
However, it’s not geology that draws so many people to this outstanding natural masterpiece, but its history.
As evidence suggests, the name of the Devils Tower was first given by the Colonel Richard Irving Dodge. He discovered the rock formation, during one of his expeditions in 1875. In fact, the Colonel named the structure “the Bad God’s Tower,” but it was changed in time to the Devils Tower. There are other names related to it as well, including: “Grizzly Bear Lodge,” “Grey Horn Buttle” and “He Hota Paha,” Also, the large number of legends are related to the place.
One of the most popular legends about the Devils Tower comes from the Kiowa tribe. According to it, there once were 7 sisters, who wondered outside the village they lived, into the forests. As they walked around in wilderness and they got lost. Later, they were attacked by a giant bear. While the girls prayed for survival, the earth started rising beyond them creating the Devils Tower, and the 7 girls were turned into stars, that now are known as the Big Dipper formation.
The mystery surrounding the Devils Tower is definitely among the main reasons, why it’s become so popular among tourists. Nevertheless, the shape and the surroundings turn this place into an unforgettable natural sightseeing objective.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Devils Tower National Monument — Visitor Center near the Tower Trail, Wyoming, USA
- Coordinates
- 44.59022, -104.72053
- Access
- The visitor-centre pin is beside the Tower Trail parking area; it marks trail access, not the summit. NPS describes a paved 1.3-mile loop around the Tower, with a steep start and some uphill/downhill sections; the approach makes the full out-and-back about 1.8 miles. The route is not ADA-accessible beyond its first intersection. Respect Native American prayer cloths and follow any temporary climbing or boulder-field restrictions.
- Admission
- The current NPS standard pass is US$25 per private vehicle (all occupants), US$20 per motorcycle, or US$15 per person entering on foot or bicycle. Children under 16 are free. Passes are valid seven days; the park is cashless. Commercial vehicles have separate rates.
- Time needed
- NPS gives 45–60 minutes to walk the 1.3-mile (2 km) paved Tower Trail loop. Its hiking page measures 1.8 miles (2.9 km) round trip when the approach from the parking lot is included. Add time for viewpoints, the visitor centre or other trails; this is not a standard whole-visit duration.
- Best season
- NPS identifies spring and fall as suggested times for the Tower Trail. May–September is the busiest period. Summer can be very hot; winter brings snow and ice, and the trail is not maintained then. Check current road and trail conditions.
- Opening hours
- The monument’s outdoor roads and trails are listed as open 24 hours daily, subject to closures and weather. The Visitor Center is 09:00–17:00 through October 31, 2026, then 10:00–16:00 daily November 1, 2026–March 14, 2027; holiday exceptions apply. These are visitor-centre hours, not trail hours.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-22
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-22
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Great mysterious places!