![]() The visitor’s center is well staffed, and I found the rangers to be very helpful. Once parked you can stay as long as you like. I was able to find parking in the small parking lot. Be advised that parking here if limited and tend to fill up very quickly. From the entrance Station its about a 3-mile drive up to the visitors center at the base of the tower. I used my National Park Senior Pass to waive the $25 per car entrance fee. As it was, I arrived just a few minutes after 9 a.m. The advice I received from a gentleman in Gillette was I would be well advised to arrive early as later in the day, the wait to get through the entrance station could be an hour or longer. As I approached the entrance station, I found a line of cars waiting to get in. Even though it was an easy drive it took me a little longer than 90-minutes to make the trip because once I left the Interstate I stopped several time for photos, especially after I got my first view of the tower some 15 to 20 miles away. I spent the night in Gillette, Wyoming which is about 65 miles to the west. I recommend this site for anyone in the area.ĭevils Tower was a bucket list destination for me. The walk took us about 45 minutes but was well worth it. If you are lucky, you may be able to see people climbing up or down the monument. The climb is a bit steep and strenuous in parts but worth the effort for the view of the monument and the vista of the valley. I recommend the Tower trail that is a 1.5 mile round trip as it goes around the monument. ![]() The parking is limited and the area is under construction so it may be difficult to find a parking space on a busy day. It is a 3 mile drive up to the 2 paths that you can take. One if for the Prairie dog village on one side and another is to explain concrete structures in the river. Once you pass the entrance booth, there are pullouts driving around the hill to the parking area. They allow climbimg on the face but you must register. There is a fee to enter as it is the first National Monument of the United States dedicated in 1906. Do not expect any “Close Encounters of the Third kind” experience. So I will admit that I was skeptical about going to this site but I am glad that I did. With GPS not working at all, we couldn't figure out the restaurant we meant to eat at, and ate at a post/gift store on the left side as we exited.īy this point, very hot, and a long line if cars waiting to get in, so we were glad we had gotten up at 4:45 in Custer. We stopped into the visitors center, which I will review separately.basically a gift shop.and left to eat. Personally, I would have tried the next loop, but the kids weren't having it. I loved the crazy boulders and the otherworldly feel of it. There is significant shade through most of it. This is a wonderful hike for everyone from toddlers to elderly to the very out of shape. We immediately began hiking the Tower Trail, as we knew it was getting hotter and time was if the essence. Our kids picked up junior ranger books and we used real toilets and sinks. There were spaces by the visitor center at 8. Upon entering, had to stop at the massive prairie dog fields. In any event, we left our hotel in Custer around 5:30 a.m. Staying close by means beating the heat by arriving early, as well as having a place to use the restroom. This area of the country has daylight at 5:30 a.m. Having recently visited with serious heat and sun, I recommend the strategy of staying as close as you can to each monument. We stayed in Custer, as we were seeing other sights in and around Rapid City in June 2021, including the Badlands.īTW, I do not recommend the strategy of a central base and then driving out each day.
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