Devils Tower: Should I visit Devils Tower with Kids
Devils Tower – Visit Devils Tower with Kids
Devils Tower is literally the definition of the middle of nowhere. Similar to the 4 Corners (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico). If you want to see it, you won’t just be in the neighborhood. Make a plan for a day trip while in the Black Hills to visit Devils Tower.
Let’s set the record straight real quick. In 1906 when Teddy Roosevelt named Devil’s Tower a National Monument, he kinda forgot the apostrophe. Grammarly had a business case for about 100 years before it hit the scene. The proof readers let it through and now it’s Devils Tower.
Should I visit Devils Tower with kids?
I’m going to go on a limb and say, yes. Visit now so they don’t feel compelled to visit as adults. I’d love to say we 100% loved Devils Tower, but we didn’t. It became an add on to our amazing day in Spearfish Canyon. Which is highly recommended by Our Campfire Unplugged! Seriously, check it out!
Okay, so you’re kinda sorta about an hour away, the weather is good, you have daylight, and you really want a National Monument stamp for your National Park Passport book, then drop by!
Why would I go to Devils Tower after that remarkable recommendation?
Great question! Devils Tower has spectacular views and some amazing. History. Many Native American tribes find special healing powers at Devils Tower. Even today, the Native people visit DT to pray for healing and blessings. Visitors will often see many fabric offerings tied around tree branches. Please don’t disturb these offerings!
Climbers voluntarily do not climb during the month of June. Not all, but most respect the do not climb period.
DT amazed locals for years. In the 1890’s William Rogers and Willard Ripley constructed a wooden ladder to climb the tower. All 1,000 feet. Crazy! People came from miles to watch the ascent. The ladder was used until the late 1920’s by almost 300 people to climb the tower.
In 1941 George Hopkins parachuted onto the top of Devils Tower. He decided to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Hey the devils involved, so what could go wrong? He was trapped on top of the tower for a couple days before getting rescued. So, I guess there’s that!
What should I do in Devils Tower?
There are 6 hikes at the monument.
Hike 1 – Devils Tower Trail
Devils Tower Trail a 1.7 mile trail around the base of DT on a paved trail. There are few gentle hills and “speed bumps” going down a few hills. We couldn’t figure that out.
Our best guess was these were to slow out of control electric scooters which are widely seen at Disney World and Universal Studios and pretty much every state fair in the country. You know the ones.
I digress. As expected the trail is popular because it leaves from the parking lot, is an easy stroll, provides close vantage points of Devils Tower, and is for all intents “the beaten path”. We took this trail because Hike 2 was not agreed upon by our crew.
Devils Tower Trail has a couple of neat features:
- Vantage of a huge boulder field. Visitors can hike on these boulders, if they are so inclined. No one at the NPS told me this, so I’m basing it on what I saw when we hiked it.
- Distanced vantage point with those pay for binoculars to get a closer view. DT is so massive you really need a bit of distance to fully appreciate it. Luckily, visitors get a healthy dose of the tower for MILES leading to the monument. No joke, you can see this thing like 20 miles out. Thank you high planes!
- Rock climbers. If you are lucky, you can see teams ascending this amazing red rock feature. We visited in June and we saw a couple climbers. Note, June is typically voluntary no-climb zone for the month in honor of the Native Americans paying respects to their ancestors.
Hike 2 – Red Bed Trail
This 2.8 mile trail is rated as moderate by All Trails. Our crew did not have the energy to take this hike on at the last minute. Looking at the pictures, I’m sure it’s nice and well maintained, but just wasn’t for us. A friend of ours visited recently and enjoyed the Red Bed Trail.
The 4 other hikes appear to be various combinations of the Tower Trail and Red Bed Trail along with a connector.
Y’all may find, this monument to be super cool and a place your family really loves. In fact, I really hope you do. It’s spectacular.
What else should I do while at Devils Tower?
Park Ranger Programs
Park Rangers set up shop for seasonal programs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Rangers are an amazing source of knowledge about their park. We find they are amazing abassadors for the park or monument they are serving. I love the joy in their voices as they educate visitors about all the characteristics that make a park special.
Unfortunately, we were unable to attend a Ranger led program. If it lines up for your visit check it out.
Junior Ranger
I love the idea of the Junior Ranger program. Engaging kids in a fun way in a place that could be boring for a kid is such a wonderful idea. My kids were “aged” out in the “too cool for school” way by the time we started visiting parks. But, if your kids are younger, I hope they find enjoyment in becoming Junior Rangers and doing their part to protect the parks!
Where can I watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind at Devils Tower?
Visitors can watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the KOA Devils Tower. No joke! You probably have to be a guest at the KOA Devils Tower, but every night the KOA plays the movie.
I doubt this will be a surprise to many Our Campground Unplugged readers, but we’re not a SciFi family. Seriously. We’re not. So, we had no idea this movie was filmed at Devils Tower until friends asked if we were visiting. Some even proclaimed this their crown jewel National Park / National Monument to visit because of the movie. Clearly, they love SciFi. We attempted to watch the movie and well we made it about 20 minutes before we called off the dogs.
Driving to Devils Tower
Our route was from the east (Spearfish, SD). Driving across Interstate 80 we took to Sundance, WY and some two lane roads north to DT. The drive was easy. Seeing DT rise into the sky from 20 miles out was impressive. This formation is HUGE.
Once outside of Sundance, not the one that host the film festival, there are not many stops on the way to DT. In fact, none until you arrive at the entrance to the monument. Make sure you have plenty of gas and snacks.
On the way back toward Sundance views of Devils Tower quickly fade into the rear view mirror. The drive back to Rafter J Bar Ranch in Hill City, South Dakota is easy. Long, but easy. The drive was roughly 100 miles and about 2 hours.
Should I visit Devils Tower with kids?
Should I visit Devils Tower with kids is really up to you. The view is really amazing on the drive up. The history is interesting. Hiking is easy. If this was closer to the central Black Hills, then it’s a no brainer…GO. So this really depends how much energy your family has, your love of SciFi, and if your trip can carve out 6 hours for a visit. If you’re tight on time, I’d skip this monument.
