Devils Tower In Wyoming Looks Like Something From Another Planet
Visitors to Wyoming tend to spend their time in the Western half of the state, exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton, visiting Cody for the Wild West shows, or searching through Fremont County ghost towns for signs of the past. If you head to the East for your adventure, you’ll encounter one of the most fascinating places in the planet – the Devils Tower monument in the Black Hills of Wyoming.
The remarkable sight of Devils Tower, a monolith jutting more than 1,200 feet above the Belle Fourche River, is a signature sight in Wyoming that looks like its from another planet.
Devils Tower, or Bears Lodge, is one of the most culturally significant sites for the Native Americans in the region, and the tale of how this monolith came to be is an oft-repeated legend.
They were in danger, so the Great Spirit or Creator intervened to save their lives. The enormous rock rose up underneath of them, while the bear fruitlessly clawed at the sides.
The scientific explanation for the formation of Devils Tower is debated, but most people agree that the tower is the core of a volcano that eroded way over millions of years.
A visit to Devils Tower is sure to be an experience that leaves an impression of you, whether you believe in the legends or you just appreciate unique geology.
Anyone who spends time at the Devils Tower monument walks away with a feeling of something larger at play - whether that be a legendary spirit or an otherworldly force - and this is truly one of the most special places in the Cowboy State.
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com