I suppose I have stopped to visit Devils Tower close to ten times now as I have travelled west, and I never tire of seeing it. Though theories about its formation are still uncertain (is it a laccolith, a volcanic plug, or the remnants of an explosive volcano?), what is certain is that it captures the imagination of anyone who sees it. Native Americans have a variety of stories related to the tower, all of them involving a large bear clawing the sides of a mountain trying unsuccessfully to retrieve children. Still today, the tower is sacred to many tribes who worship at its base and on ridges surrounding it. Climbers enjoy the many established routes on all sides of the tower, and hikers can traverse the entire base and several other trails on the grounds. A prairie dog city resides just inside the park boundary, which of course draws plenty of attention — especially from children and families. On my last trip in 2017, a niece, nephew, and I camped in a teepee just outside the park, which culminated a spectacular day for all three of us!
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