You may not think the east side of Wyoming has much going on but that means you haven’t seen Devils Tower National Monument. This stunning natural tower stretches over 850 feet in the air. Hike the Tower Trail for views of every side, or catch a gli…

For some reason, Wyoming billboards are advertised all over my home town of Chicago. These sweeping ads plastered to bus shelters and taking over the L train highlight stunning views of the picturesque American West. "Forever West" is Wyoming's tagline, and much like the glorious Pure Michigan ads we're also bombarded with in Chicago, it makes you want to hop on a plane and go, leaving the concrete and construction and noise of the city behind you.

However, if you plan a trip to Wyoming, you'll quickly learn that most of those scenic views are on the western half of the state, the area home to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. They do claim "Forever West" after all. But there is a unique feature on the eastern border that deserves a stop, especially if you're exploring nearby South Dakota. Devils Tower National Monument is a natural rock formation that I promise will leave you speechless. To get there, you'll likely find yourself driving hours and hours through the state to make it to this obscure corner of Wyoming.

Along the way, you'll become very familiar with Pronghorn, an animal that looks like the cross between a deer and an antelope. Our larger trip through Colorado and Utah at this time was my first encounter with Pronghorn, as they ran in front of our car near Goblin Valley State Park. Pronghorn have overtaken the grassland in Eastern Wyoming, basically claiming it as their own, wandering as far as the main streets that pass through nearby towns. As you drive along the highway, see if you can catch glimpses of white in the distance; you'll be spotting the patches of white fur on their bodies. Once you make your way through the seemingly endless grassland of Wyoming, passing other animals like bison and sheep, you'll finally start to see some more beautiful scenery as the grass turns into rolling hills. It's in these rolling hills that you'll find the remarkable Devils Tower.

A prayer site for Native Americans for thousands of years, Devils Tower is a literal monolith of rock stretching up to the sky, towering 867 feet from its base to its summit. In fact, you'll most likely see colorful prayer flags hanging from trees all around the base of the Tower. A spiritual site for nearby tribes, such as the Lakota, Crow, and Arapahoe, these flags should not be disturbed, and the Tower and surrounding land should be treated with respect. If you've ever seen the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, "monolith" is by far the best way to describe this formation also known as Bear's Lodge or Tree Rock to the native people. The towering column of igneous rock appears in different colors depending on the sun's position and strength and often has a fog layer near its base, adding to its ominous vibes. Speaking of science fiction movies, you may recognize the formation from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as it is prominently featured in the film. Despite it’s sci-fi history, scientists and geologists are pretty baffled by its creation, with their best guess being that it formed from molten material under the earth (despite not being a volcano…I know, its confusing). Either way, there's nothing like it in the vicinity or on the horizon, and there aren't even other mesas or buttes nearby matching its height. It stands solo, surrounded by the rolling hills encompassing it, which is what makes it so awe-inspiring. Driving in from the main road, you don't even see the Tower until you turn a corner, then BAM, there it is!

Hike Around Devils Tower

With multiple trail options that circumnavigate the Tower, it's easy to get great views no matter your hiking abilities. The most popular trail is the aptly named Tower Trail, a 1.3-mile loop with a few steep and rocky sections. The 2.8-mile Red Beds Trail is also an option for a more challenging trek with a 450 ft elevation gain.

We stuck with the Tower Trail and enjoyed every minute of seeing Devils Tower in all its glory. The clouds above shifted throughout our hike, causing bits of sunlight and sections of shade to hit the Tower differently on each side. Hiking also gives you a much better view of the vertical columns that make up the Tower. You'll notice countless grooves along the edge of the rock that range in being 3-sided to 6 or 8-sided. These columns only exist in igneous rock and are formed as liquid magma cools into the solid rock face (again, not a volcano? Seems questionable to me…).

Watch People Way Cooler Rock Climb Devils Tower

Devil's Tower's unique column shapes make it a perfect formation to rock climb, with roughly 4000 climbers making the long drive to the Tower each year. Rock climbers free climb the rock face each day, with a lead climber placing temporary anchors into the wall and a second climber belaying them with a safety rope. The columns allow for crack climbing to be the choice technique, which requires climbers to stretch their hands and feet to each edge and nudge their way up. Devil's Tower is revered as one of the best natural crack climbing locales in the country. The climb takes an average of 6 hours to complete, and once they reach the top, climbers have the unique opportunity to see the 1.5 acres that make up the top ridge of Devil's Tower. Not a bad reward! Plus, you get to rappel down!

As a novice indoor rock climber, this honestly looks like a dream to me. If you’re more advanced, make sure you register with the Park Service before you attempt a climb or if you plan to go any higher than the boulder field at the base of the Tower. According to the NPS website, technical difficulty ratings range from 5.7 to 5.13.

Try to spot the climbers in the two images of the rock face below…then you’ll start to realize how massive Devils Tower actually is.

Check Out the Views of the Belle Fourche River

All along the Tower Trail are alternate routes that veer off to overlooks of the river valley below. You'll be able to see the dark red sandstone that lines the Belle Fourche River and the colorful layers of land stretching off into the distance. If you notice burned trees in this area, don't be alarmed. These weren't caused by wildfires like those that have ravaged California and Colorado but instead are due to prescribed burns that are intentionally set and monitored by the Park Service. These burns clear away dead wood and allow the prairie and grass to continue growing and thriving, while lessening the chance for wildfires in the future.

Wave Hello to the Resident Prairie Dogs

Once you enter Wyoming and South Dakota, you'll realize the simple fact that when there's one prairie dog, there are hundreds of others. Prairie Dogs are a native animal to this area and are incredibly social. They live in large groups, known as "towns", where they dig complicated systems of interconnecting tunnels underneath the ground. Easily seen from the road leading into Devil’s Tower, you'll be able to get a closer look at these little guys. Just don't feed them and don't get too close...they tend to bite!

Although it's off the beaten path and not necessarily near anything else, Devil's Tower is one of the most stunning natural formations in the United States. As the first designated National Monument in the country (established in 1906), it has retained its long history both with nature and the Native tribes in the area. Hiking around, it is even more impressive when you realize the rock's sheer scale and all the people brave enough to climb it. You may even be rewarded with views of prairie dogs, bison, and steer. If you’re heading to South Dakota, make sure you fit Devils Tower National Monument into your itinerary.