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How to Hike at the Incredible Devils Tower with Kids!

by Jenny September 8, 2020
1.8K
Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils Tower – An Outstanding Kid-Friendly Hike!

Devils Tower is a spectacular kid-friendly hike in Wyoming. This natural phenomenon is sure to impress anyone who gazes upon it. Out of nowhere this massive and unreal structure rises above the plains of northeastern Wyoming and is bound to leave you completely speechless.
 

Rising 1,267 feet above the Wyoming plains, geologist believe that this natural phenomenon occurred when molten rock pushed up into the sedimentary rock ~50 million years ago and then subsequently cooled. About 5 to 10 million years ago, erosion of the land surrounding this volcanic plug began to reveal this incredible tower.

Where is it Located?

Devils Tower is located approximately 2 hours & 30 minutes west of Mount Rushmore which makes it a perfect day trip when visiting western South Dakota and the Mount Rushmore Area.

Steven Spielberg fans will also likely recognize the unique Devils Tower from the 1977 movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which helped turn this tower into a popular tourist destination.

Today, Devils Tower is a perfect kid-friendly hike and family destination. The tower and it’s size is sure to leave you in awe and yet the trail that winds around it is easy enough for anyone to walk.

 

Devils Tower, Tower Trail, top kid-friendly hike
Heading to Tower Trail at Devils Tower

Tower Trail

Distance:  1.3 mile

Difficulty: Easy, paved walking path

Tower Trail begins across the parking area from the visitor center. 

There is a short, steep section that leads you to a junction that you can take either way around the base of the tower.

Devils Tower, Wyoming - Tower Trail Trailhead - Top Kid-Friendly Hike
The Junction atf Tower Trail

Tower Trail at Devils Tower is the perfect kid-friendly hike for families with children of any age! 

This easy 1.3 mile trail is nicely paved and mostly shaded. There is a slightly steeper section at the beginning of the trail but after that, the rest of the trail only has slight elevation changes. You can also find benches along the way to rest your legs or take quick snack breaks with kids if needed. And the scenery is spectacular everywhere you look! 

The view surrounding Devils Tower.

Tower Trail takes approximately 45 minutes to walk but I would allow for at least an hour so that you have plenty of time to stop and enjoy the views along the way.

 

Sitting on a rock on Tower Trail, Devils Tower, Wyoming
Devils Tower is Huge!

Walking on Tower Trail will give you a true appreciation for just how big and impressive Devils Tower really is!

This trail is also great for kids because they will love all of the huge rocks that line this trail! There’s a lot of fun pictures that you can do with these incredible rocks!

Holding up an enormous boulder on Tower Trail, Devils Tower, Wyoming - fun picture ideas
Holding up this massive rock with their mighty strength!

Fun Fact:

A clerical error was made that forgot the apostrophe when naming Devils Tower. This error was never corrected and to this day the tower is still called Devils Tower (instead of Devil’s Tower).

Devils Tower was named America’s First National Monument in 1906.

One of the many spectacular views as you walk the trail around Devils Tower.

It’s really hard to comprehend just how large Devils Tower is until you get right up next to it! Wow!!!

Tower Trail at Devils Tower, Wyoming - Fantastic Kid-Friendly Trail
How could you not be impressed with a sight like this!

Standing here, looking up at this tower, left us completely speechless.

Side note: We did not climb the rocks in the picture above with our three children. This is off the main trail and is at your own risk. To us it looked too dangerous to tackle with a 5, 7 and 9 year old, but as you can see there were lots of people climbing the rocks in this area.

Helpful Tips:

Do to the popularity of Tower Trail and the limited parking capacity we recommend that you hike this trail on a weekday or before 10am or after 3pm.

Also be sure to check Devils Tower National Monument’s website for the latest information, possible closures or any effects from Covid-19. 

Hiking around Devils Tower on Tower Trail is definitely worthy for any Bucket List!

This is a phenomenon that I don’t think exists anywhere else in the world and you won’t want to miss it!

This Tower is Incredible!!!

Kids Might Enjoy These Books Before Your Trip:

 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy. We only share products with you that we use and love for our family. Thank you for supporting 10 Traveling Feet. 

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Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip:

The Ultimate Guide for Creating a Successful Road Trip

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Essential Hiking Gear for Families (And Great Gift Ideas!)

Hiking with KidsTeach through TravelTravel with KidsWestern U.S.Wyoming
Jenny

Welcome to 10 Traveling Feet! My name is Jenny and we are a family of five that loves to explore & learn about our incredible world! Discover our favorite sites, top hikes, fantastic hidden gems and helpful travel tips for Your Next Adventure! Let's Find Your "Traveling Feet!"

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