Last Updated: May 25, 2026
From Larchwood, Iowa, we headed west to Devils Tower National Monument and the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. After Devils Tower, we stayed in Buffalo to explore the Bighorns and drive Crazy Woman Canyon.
Devils Tower National Monument
Address: WY-110, Devils Tower, WY 82714. Hours: Open year-round, 24 hours a day; the visitor center is typically open daily 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. with seasonal variations. Admission: $25 per vehicle (valid for seven days); the America the Beautiful annual pass is accepted. Phone: (307) 467-5283. Website: nps.gov/deto.
We stayed at a KOA right next to Devils Tower National Monument, with a great view of the tower from our campground. The park entrance was less than 100 yards away.
Devils Tower stands 867 feet from base to summit and rises more than 1,200 feet above the nearby Belle Fourche River. It is an igneous intrusion, meaning it formed underground from molten rock; over millions of years the softer sedimentary rock around it eroded away, leaving the tower exposed. The rock is phonolite porphyry, similar to granite but without quartz. The contemporary sculpture framing the tower in our photo is called “Circle of Sacred Smoke.”
During an 1875 expedition led by Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, an interpreter’s account rendered a Native name as “Bad God’s Tower,” which was shortened to “Devil’s Tower” — many believe this was a mistranslation. Numerous Northern Plains tribes know the formation as Bear Lodge (Matȟó Thípila in Lakota), and there have been ongoing efforts to restore that name. Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed it the country’s first national monument in 1906, and a clerical error later dropped the apostrophe, leaving us with “Devils Tower.”
There was a large prairie dog colony near the entrance, which kept Jake thoroughly entertained.
We came across numerous deer, including a doe with her fawn.
Just outside the park, we found a small herd of bison shedding their winter coats.
It was spring, so the yucca, sego lily, and prickly pear cactus were all in bloom.
Buffalo, Wyoming
After Devils Tower, we based ourselves in Buffalo. Its main street has more than a dozen historic buildings, including the landmark Occidental Hotel.
Craig Johnson, who lives nearby, is the author of the Longmire mystery novels, and Buffalo hosts Longmire Days each summer. The television adaptation ran for six seasons, ending in 2017; although it was set in this part of Wyoming, it was actually filmed in New Mexico. Buffalo’s municipal pool is the largest in Wyoming — for decades it was free and billed as the largest free outdoor pool in the world, though it began charging a small admission fee a few years ago.
Bighorn Mountains
West of Buffalo rise the Bighorn Mountains, which top out at over 13,000 feet and were still snow-covered in June. Mule deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, and moose all range through the area.
Wildflowers were blooming with the Bighorn Mountains as a backdrop. There were not many tourists, as most head farther west to the Tetons and Yellowstone.
Crazy Woman Canyon
The story of how the creek got its name varies, and it is best treated as frontier legend. In one version, a settler family was attacked by a raiding party; the husband and children were killed, and the wife survived but, traumatized by what she had witnessed, never recovered. A mountain man is said to have come upon the aftermath, buried her family, and built her a small cabin when she refused to leave. He later found her frozen body near the creek. Locals who knew her ordeal began calling the stream Crazy Woman Creek.
It was a beautiful drive along the creek on a single-lane dirt road through the canyon.
Deer Park RV
We were tucked in the trees on large, well-spaced sites with 50-amp service, 60-psi water pressure, good internet, and sewer. We enjoyed watching the wild turkeys wander the property.
Practical Tips for Visiting Devils Tower and Buffalo
Getting there. Devils Tower is in northeastern Wyoming, about an hour and a half from Rapid City, South Dakota. Buffalo lies roughly two hours southwest, at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains where Interstate 25 meets Interstate 90 — a natural stop between the Black Hills and Yellowstone.
Visiting the monument. Devils Tower charges a standard vehicle entrance fee that is valid for several days. The paved 1.3-mile Tower Trail loops the base and is the classic walk, with constantly changing views of the columns. Arrive early or late in the day for the best light and fewer crowds.
Respecting a sacred site. Devils Tower, or Bear Lodge, is sacred to many Northern Plains tribes. Each June, the National Park Service asks rock climbers to voluntarily refrain from climbing out of respect for Native American ceremonies. Visitors will also see colorful prayer cloths tied to trees along the trails — please look but do not touch.
Crazy Woman Canyon. The canyon is a narrow, single-lane dirt road best suited to high-clearance vehicles in dry weather. It is not appropriate for RVs or trailers. Check local conditions before you go, as the road can wash out.
Don’t rush past Buffalo. Buffalo’s historic main street, the Occidental Hotel, and the enormous municipal pool are all worth a stop, and the Bighorn Mountains rise right to the west with far fewer crowds than the Tetons or Yellowstone. It makes a relaxed, scenic base for a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Devils Tower?
Devils Tower rises 867 feet from its base to its flat summit, and more than 1,200 feet above the nearby Belle Fourche River. It is one of the most striking rock formations in North America.
Why is it called Devils Tower, and what is Bear Lodge?
The name “Devils Tower” came from an 1875 expedition, when an interpreter’s account rendered a Native name as “Bad God’s Tower.” Many Northern Plains tribes know the formation as Bear Lodge, and there have been ongoing efforts to restore that traditional name.
Was Devils Tower the first national monument?
Yes. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the very first national monument in the United States in 1906, under the newly passed Antiquities Act.
Can you climb Devils Tower?
Yes, Devils Tower is a popular rock-climbing destination. However, because the tower is sacred to many tribes, the National Park Service asks climbers to voluntarily avoid climbing during the month of June, when Native American ceremonies take place.
Wasn’t Devils Tower in a movie?
Yes. Devils Tower was famously featured as the landform in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which helped make the monument internationally recognizable.
What is there to do around Buffalo, Wyoming?
Buffalo offers a historic main street and the Occidental Hotel, the largest swimming pool in Wyoming, and easy access to the Bighorn Mountains and the scenic drive through Crazy Woman Canyon. It is a quieter alternative to Wyoming’s busier national parks.
