Welcome to
Devils Tower Sights!
Devils Tower National Monument is located in the
northeast corner of the state of Wyoming. From the
base of Devils Tower to the top, the rock monuments
stands 867 feet tall. To walk the perimeter of the
rock base, it would be a one-mile walk. There is a
trail, called the Tower trail, which takes you
around the rock boundary in one and a third miles.
The Tower is not itself is not hollow. In September
of 1906, Devils Tower was declared as the nation’s
first national monument by President Theodore
Roosevelt. There are over 1300 acres in the park
area. The land ranges from pine trees to open
grass. A variety of small animals inhabit the land.
Deer, rabbits, and prairie dogs can often be
viewed. Devils Tower is open on a 24/7 basis year
round. Leashed pets are allowed in picnic and
parking areas, but no pets are allowed on park
trails. The rock formation stands over 1,250 feet
above the Belle Fourche River. The nearest towns
are Hulett, Wyoming and Sundance, Wyoming. This
national monument sees several hundred thousand
visitors a year.
One of the busiest times of the year is during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally takes place in Sturgis, South Dakota eighty miles away every August. The Sturgis Rally will be August 4th through the 10th in 2008. Thousands of motorcyclists take the Black Hills ride to view Devils Tower. With one entrance in and out, a motorcycle traffic jam can result in the park.
Of the approximate 400,000 visitors each year, about 4,000 choose to make the climb up Devils Tower. Climbers must register before they ascent and check-in after their descent. Not just for safety reasons, climbers can get directions for routes, updated weather, and hazard information by registering. Climbers also become part of a history register that has been kept since 1937 by the National Park Service. Five climbing deaths have been recorded in that database. Climbers are not allowed, by park regulations, to spend the night on the Tower summit. It is common for two climbers on the easiest route to reach the top in under six hours. Climbers descend by rappelling. While this takes only about an hour, three of the five deaths have happened on the way down off Devils Tower. Todd Skinner, climbing alone without ropes, is on record for the fastest climb. He climbed the easiest Durrance Route in eighteen minutes. The first person to scale Devils Tower was a local Wyoming rancher. In July of 1893, he used a ladder made of wood pegs in rock cracks to reach the top. The first person to climb Devils Tower using modern climbing methods was Fritz Wiessner in 1937. He was part of a group from the American Alpine Club. In 1941, a parachutist touched down on the top of Devils Tower.
Several Indian tribes hold Devils Tower as sacred ground. These tribes include the Lakota Sioux, the Cheyenne, and the Kiowa. Many American tribal leaders have been troubled that sport climbing shows disrespect to their Indian culture. Indians view Devils Tower as hallowed ground. Because it sits on Federal property, some rock climbers feel that scaling the rock is a legitimate right. The Park Service reached a negotiated, but voluntary, agreement between the climbers and the Indian groups. During the month of June, when many of the Indian rituals take place, climbers are asked to voluntarily abstain from ascending Devils Tower. More than eighty percent have honored the June climbing ban.
One of the busiest times of the year is during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally takes place in Sturgis, South Dakota eighty miles away every August. The Sturgis Rally will be August 4th through the 10th in 2008. Thousands of motorcyclists take the Black Hills ride to view Devils Tower. With one entrance in and out, a motorcycle traffic jam can result in the park.
Of the approximate 400,000 visitors each year, about 4,000 choose to make the climb up Devils Tower. Climbers must register before they ascent and check-in after their descent. Not just for safety reasons, climbers can get directions for routes, updated weather, and hazard information by registering. Climbers also become part of a history register that has been kept since 1937 by the National Park Service. Five climbing deaths have been recorded in that database. Climbers are not allowed, by park regulations, to spend the night on the Tower summit. It is common for two climbers on the easiest route to reach the top in under six hours. Climbers descend by rappelling. While this takes only about an hour, three of the five deaths have happened on the way down off Devils Tower. Todd Skinner, climbing alone without ropes, is on record for the fastest climb. He climbed the easiest Durrance Route in eighteen minutes. The first person to scale Devils Tower was a local Wyoming rancher. In July of 1893, he used a ladder made of wood pegs in rock cracks to reach the top. The first person to climb Devils Tower using modern climbing methods was Fritz Wiessner in 1937. He was part of a group from the American Alpine Club. In 1941, a parachutist touched down on the top of Devils Tower.
Several Indian tribes hold Devils Tower as sacred ground. These tribes include the Lakota Sioux, the Cheyenne, and the Kiowa. Many American tribal leaders have been troubled that sport climbing shows disrespect to their Indian culture. Indians view Devils Tower as hallowed ground. Because it sits on Federal property, some rock climbers feel that scaling the rock is a legitimate right. The Park Service reached a negotiated, but voluntary, agreement between the climbers and the Indian groups. During the month of June, when many of the Indian rituals take place, climbers are asked to voluntarily abstain from ascending Devils Tower. More than eighty percent have honored the June climbing ban.
