Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is a one-of-a-kind natural phenomenon with a unique story. Its stark towering presence, formation, and character are incredibly intriguing and mysterious. Both its natural and cultural history will help us to understand why Devils Tower is important.

Wikipedia/Public Domain Devils Tower in WY is a mass of rock nestled among the Black Hills near the town of Sundance. It rises 1,267 feet in the air above the Belle Fourche River, grasslands, and ponderosa pine forests. It was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 as our first national monument.

Wikipedia/lidarSagdejev The history of Devils Tower has baffled Native Americans and early explorers for many years. According to Native Americans, seven little girls were playing in the forest when giant bears started chasing them. The girls ran and jumped on a boulder and started praying. The rock began to grow up toward the sky, putting quite a bit of distance between the girls and the bears. It’s said that the cracks and columns on Devils Tower came from the bears’ claws as they tried to climb the tower.

Flickr/J. Stephen Conn Devils Tower is a popular destination for classic rock climbers. Some of the rock columns feature cracks up to 400 feet long.

Flickr/Mary Fairchild Why is Devils Tower important? Even today, many Native Americans still consider Devils Tower a sacred site.

Flickr/sbruns76 To respect the tribes’ cultural traditions and rituals still performed there, the monument is off limits to climbers during the month of June. These sun dances, vision quests, and prayer offerings are all significant parts of Devils Tower history.

Wikipedia/Doc Searls Geologists determined that Devils Tower in WY was actually formed as a result of a volcano. The cooling magma created the delineated columns.

Flickr/Philkon Phil Konstantin The tower is unique because of its size and the type of rock, phonolite. The columns that make up Devils Tower are some of the tallest and widest found in these types of formations.

Flickr/Matthew Paulson Devils Tower history even includes movies. In 1977, it was used as one of the filming locations for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Flickr/James Joel To truly appreciate Devils Tower in WY, you need to see it for yourself. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

What other interesting tidbits do you know about the history or legends of Devils Tower? Let us know in the comments!

Wikipedia/Public Domain

Devils Tower in WY is a mass of rock nestled among the Black Hills near the town of Sundance. It rises 1,267 feet in the air above the Belle Fourche River, grasslands, and ponderosa pine forests. It was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 as our first national monument.

Wikipedia/lidarSagdejev

The history of Devils Tower has baffled Native Americans and early explorers for many years. According to Native Americans, seven little girls were playing in the forest when giant bears started chasing them. The girls ran and jumped on a boulder and started praying. The rock began to grow up toward the sky, putting quite a bit of distance between the girls and the bears. It’s said that the cracks and columns on Devils Tower came from the bears’ claws as they tried to climb the tower.

Flickr/J. Stephen Conn

Devils Tower is a popular destination for classic rock climbers. Some of the rock columns feature cracks up to 400 feet long.

Flickr/Mary Fairchild

Why is Devils Tower important? Even today, many Native Americans still consider Devils Tower a sacred site.

Flickr/sbruns76

To respect the tribes’ cultural traditions and rituals still performed there, the monument is off limits to climbers during the month of June. These sun dances, vision quests, and prayer offerings are all significant parts of Devils Tower history.

Wikipedia/Doc Searls

Geologists determined that Devils Tower in WY was actually formed as a result of a volcano. The cooling magma created the delineated columns.

Flickr/Philkon Phil Konstantin

The tower is unique because of its size and the type of rock, phonolite. The columns that make up Devils Tower are some of the tallest and widest found in these types of formations.

Flickr/Matthew Paulson

Devils Tower history even includes movies. In 1977, it was used as one of the filming locations for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Flickr/James Joel

To truly appreciate Devils Tower in WY, you need to see it for yourself. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

If you’re interested in learning more about some of Wyoming’s natural attractions, check out these amazing spots in Wyoming.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Devils Tower, WY 82714, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Devils Tower in Wyoming May 30, 2022 Rachel Raimondi What are the oldest attractions in Wyoming?  Wyoming was born in 1868, meaning that there is quite a bit of history to it. Besides Devils Tower in WY,  just some of the oldest attractions include Yellowstone National Park, America’s very first national park, which was established in 1872. Among its over two million acres, you’ll find unique wildlife like bald eagles and elk, lakes and waterfalls, and then of course, there’s the awe-inspiring geysers and hot springs. In Goshen County, you can visit Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a significant part of the westward expansion in the mid-19th century. Throughout history, it has served as a trading post, military outpost, and even a stopping point on the famed Oregon Trail. Which state parks should I visit in Wyoming?  There are 12 state parks within Wyoming (and two national parks as well). If you’re near Cody, check out Buffalo Bill State Park. Here, you can take in the Absaroka Mountains, a sub-range of the majestic Rocky Mountains as well as camp, fish, or hike five miles of trails. In Lander, there’s the 600-acre Sinks Canyon State Park. You can fish, hike, climb, and drive along the 70-mile scenic Loop Road. But probably the most popular reason to visit is see how the Popo Agie River disappears underground by the mouth of the canyon. What is the weather like in Wyoming in the summer? Like most other states, Wyoming experiences warm summer days. Just how warm will depend on where you are within the state. The plains and lower elevation areas average about 75-90 degrees in July, but the highlands have more comfortable temps, hanging around the range of 70-75 degrees. Nights drop to the 50s and 60s. In the early part of the summer, expect thunderstorms and even tornados. If you’re looking for something to do in the warm weather, check out these awesome summer destinations in Wyoming.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Devils Tower in Wyoming

May 30, 2022

Rachel Raimondi

What are the oldest attractions in Wyoming?  Wyoming was born in 1868, meaning that there is quite a bit of history to it. Besides Devils Tower in WY,  just some of the oldest attractions include Yellowstone National Park, America’s very first national park, which was established in 1872. Among its over two million acres, you’ll find unique wildlife like bald eagles and elk, lakes and waterfalls, and then of course, there’s the awe-inspiring geysers and hot springs. In Goshen County, you can visit Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a significant part of the westward expansion in the mid-19th century. Throughout history, it has served as a trading post, military outpost, and even a stopping point on the famed Oregon Trail. Which state parks should I visit in Wyoming?  There are 12 state parks within Wyoming (and two national parks as well). If you’re near Cody, check out Buffalo Bill State Park. Here, you can take in the Absaroka Mountains, a sub-range of the majestic Rocky Mountains as well as camp, fish, or hike five miles of trails. In Lander, there’s the 600-acre Sinks Canyon State Park. You can fish, hike, climb, and drive along the 70-mile scenic Loop Road. But probably the most popular reason to visit is see how the Popo Agie River disappears underground by the mouth of the canyon. What is the weather like in Wyoming in the summer? Like most other states, Wyoming experiences warm summer days. Just how warm will depend on where you are within the state. The plains and lower elevation areas average about 75-90 degrees in July, but the highlands have more comfortable temps, hanging around the range of 70-75 degrees. Nights drop to the 50s and 60s. In the early part of the summer, expect thunderstorms and even tornados. If you’re looking for something to do in the warm weather, check out these awesome summer destinations in Wyoming.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

 Wyoming was born in 1868, meaning that there is quite a bit of history to it. Besides Devils Tower in WY,  just some of the oldest attractions include Yellowstone National Park, America’s very first national park, which was established in 1872. Among its over two million acres, you’ll find unique wildlife like bald eagles and elk, lakes and waterfalls, and then of course, there’s the awe-inspiring geysers and hot springs. In Goshen County, you can visit Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a significant part of the westward expansion in the mid-19th century. Throughout history, it has served as a trading post, military outpost, and even a stopping point on the famed Oregon Trail.

Which state parks should I visit in Wyoming?

 There are 12 state parks within Wyoming (and two national parks as well). If you’re near Cody, check out Buffalo Bill State Park. Here, you can take in the Absaroka Mountains, a sub-range of the majestic Rocky Mountains as well as camp, fish, or hike five miles of trails. In Lander, there’s the 600-acre Sinks Canyon State Park. You can fish, hike, climb, and drive along the 70-mile scenic Loop Road. But probably the most popular reason to visit is see how the Popo Agie River disappears underground by the mouth of the canyon.

What is the weather like in Wyoming in the summer?

Like most other states, Wyoming experiences warm summer days. Just how warm will depend on where you are within the state. The plains and lower elevation areas average about 75-90 degrees in July, but the highlands have more comfortable temps, hanging around the range of 70-75 degrees. Nights drop to the 50s and 60s. In the early part of the summer, expect thunderstorms and even tornados. If you’re looking for something to do in the warm weather, check out these awesome summer destinations in Wyoming.