Devils Tower: Trip Planner
TRAVEL
The nearest airports are Rapid City and Gillette. From Rapid City, it is about a 1.5-2 hour drive. Take I 90 west to Sundance; take route 14 west for 21 miles to route 24. Go north 6 miles to the Devils Tower Junction. From Gillette, take I 90 east to Moorcroft; take route 14 east for 26 miles to route 24. Proceed as above. Billings MT is about 4 hours away; Denver is the better part of a day’s drive. The entrance fee for the Monument is $10 per vehicle.
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are motels available in Hulett. There is a campground in the National Monument, on the Belle Fourche River beneath some beautiful cottonwoods. The sites are first come, first served, and are $12/site; they have running water, and nice bathrooms with electricity.
AMENITIES
Sundance and Moorcroft have food shopping options. The Monument's visitor center has a selection of guidebooks. Hot showers, ice and beer are available at various establishments just outside the Monument.
WEATHER & CLIMATE
The climbing season extends from May until about mid-October, with a voluntary climbing closure during the month of June. Springs can be moist, summers are hot, and autumn is often pleasant, but the nice thing about the Tower is that there is climbing on every aspect, so one can seek or avoid the sun. One note is that there are peregrine falcon closures on certain routes in the spring. Check out our Devil's Tower weather page.
EQUIPMENT FOR THE DAY
Personal Clothing: An assortment of layers is recommended. These should include a warm jacket, a wind/rain coat, long underwear top and bottoms, and a warm hat and gloves. Loose fitting climbing pants to allow for movement, t-shirt, shorts, and a sun hat along with sunscreen and lip balm should be packed as well. A lightweight parka is handy in the spring and fall.
Climbing: Jackson Hole Mountain Guides provides all technical climbing gear including harness, helmet, locking carabiner and belay device. Feel free to bring your own should you have them. Climbing shoes can rented from us, please let us know your shoe size. Additional items that are optional but recommended include a chalk bag and a roll of 11/2-2 inch tape.You will also need a day pack, and a small first aid kit. Please let the office know what you need.
Water/Food: We recommend a 2-3 liter water capacity for day; if it is summer an additional liter may be needed. Drink mix, such as Gatorade is a good addition and helps with electrolyte balance. Try to prehydrate in camp in the morning. Make sure to bring snack and lunch items to last the whole day, such as energy bars, sandwiches, fruit, nuts, and other snacks. One can get awfully hungry while climbing!
CAMPING EQUIPMENT
If you are camping with JHMG, you need to bring the following items: cup, bowl, spoon. sleeping bag & pad, and a headlamp. Anything else of reasonable size that you may like to bring, you can. . .that’s the benefit of car camping!
We will provide the group gear, which is to say the tents, stove & fuel, pots & pans, utensils, and food for dinner and breakfast.