DEVILS TOWER

I’ve seen so many pictures of Devils Tower over the years and always wanted to know where it was and how to get there.  Well, we finally found out.

We took the scenic route going out to Devils Tower.  Drove to Belle Fourche (Bell Foosh) which is a few miles north of Spearfish and headed out through the beautiful northeastern Wyoming hills.  It wasn’t long before we could see Devils Tower off in the far distance.  Then when we would turn a bend in the road we could see it again and again, each time just a little closer.  Its shape is so distinct, it can’t be mistaken for anything else.  The early explorers, trappers and Indians used this tower as a landmark and the Indians still consider it sacred.

Devils Tower was formed when hot magma pushed to the surface but started to cool before it actually reached the surface.  This caused the columns of hot lava to form hexagonal pillars as they cooled.  Over the many years since, water and wind have eroded the softer soil and rocks round the tower, leaving it the highest point in the surrounding area.

Wow! There it is.

Are we there yet?

Almost made it.

Yes!!  We finally got here.  This is the beginning of the trail which goes in a circle around the base of the tower.  That’s Maxie in the center bottom of the picture.

Climbers on the side of the tower.   I couldn’t quite make them out but Bob took this picture of them.  They are in the shade and a little hard to see.  Lower part of the picture and a little off center to the left.  Two spots on the side of the column.

Picture taken in front of the Visitor Center

South side of the tower as we were leaving

This is Prairie Dog Town.  Black tailed prairie dogs live in this large area around the base of Devils Tower.  Bob took a few pictures.

Fat little guy.

After we left Devils Tower, we drove down to Sundance, Wyoming and toward the freeway.  The town of Sundance claims that the Sundance Kid really did take the name from their town where he was in jail for a while.  There’s a statue of the Kid in town and we could have gone on into the town and had our picture taken with him.  Yes, well, it wasn’t quite exciting enough to draw us in.

We returned to Spearfish by freeway and were very glad to get back home and have dinner and cool off for the evening.

We had a really fun day going out the Devils Tower and just being there and taking it all in.  A truly awesome place.  Getting there and coming back were also every enjoyable and well worth the drive.  Wyoming brags about the first National Park (Yellowstone) and the first National Monument (Devils Tower) both being established in the state by Teddy Roosevelt way back when.