2 DaysYoung Families4 Stops

Devils Tower NM (non-climbing), Wyoming

2-Day Itinerary for Young Families

“Stone Giant & Wide Sky: Two Gentle Days at Devils Tower”

Overview Day 1 Day 2 Tips Skip to day-by-day ↓

The Tower announces itself long before you arrive, a stone shoulder rising out of the plains like something the earth forgot to finish. Spring here means wildflower-flecked grass, quick-moving clouds, and just enough shoulder-season quiet that a five-year-old can stop and stare at a prairie dog without anyone rushing past.

At a Glance

Climate & Weather

Spring days run mild (50–65°F) but swing fast—mornings can be crisp enough for a fleece, afternoons warm enough for a t-shirt, and a passing shower is always possible. Pack layers, a packable rain jacket, and closed-toe shoes for muddy trail sections.

Getting Around

A car is essential; distances between the Tower, Hulett, and Vore Buffalo Jump are highway-length, not walkable. Roads are paved and easy, though the byway has some gravel pullouts.

Budget

Budget roughly $60–90/day per family for food, snacks, and the modest monument entrance fee; there are no big-ticket activities in this itinerary.

Safety

Trails are well-maintained and low-risk for families, but keep kids close on Red Beds' uneven sections and maintain distance from any wildlife encountered. Spring weather changes quickly—watch the sky and head back if thunderheads build.

Connectivity

Cell service is spotty to nonexistent inside the monument and patchy along rural highways—download maps and any entertainment for the drive in advance.

Local Tips

Arrive at trailheads before 9am to beat both crowds and any midday warmth; spring mud means water-resistant shoes for little feet; the monument's visitor center has clean restrooms and rangers happy to hand young visitors a Junior Ranger booklet.

Highlights

Sunrise-quiet Tower Trail loop with the monolith looming close overhead
Stroller-friendly paths with minimal elevation and frequent bench stops
A 40-foot sinkhole where Plains tribes once ran buffalo off a cliff
Wide-open byway drives made for backseat window-gazing
Wildflowers and cool spring air instead of summer's heat and crowds
Kid-paced schedule with built-in nap window and early dinners

Day-by-Day Plan

Arrival & Easy Wonder

Day 1: First Sight of the Tower

A gentle first day built around one easy loop trail and a slow, scenic drive, totaling under a mile of walking.

Wear

Layers—a light jacket for cool morning air, sturdy closed-toe shoes for kids, and a rain shell packed just in case.

Budget

$50–70 for the day, including the monument entrance fee and casual meals

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Tower Trail · morning · 90 min · Devils Tower Monument

Arrive by 8am and the parking lot is nearly empty—just you, the wind, and a wall of stone columns rising straight out of the pines. This flat, well-packed loop is the easiest trail in the monument, ideal for small legs and strollers with sturdy wheels, and there's plenty to spot along the way: chipmunks darting through sagebrush, boulders fallen from the Tower's face, and the kind of silence that makes kids whisper without being told to. Rangers often station near the trailhead for early Junior Ranger sign-ups.

The north face viewpoint near the 0.3-mile marker catches soft morning light on the columns—best before 9am.

Flat path throughout, though not paved; stroller-friendly with sturdy wheels, benches are sparse so plan rest stops.

15 min drive — A short, easy drive down from the trailhead, tower still visible in the mirrors the whole way

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Belle Fourche Scenic Byway · midday · 90 min · High Plains Historic Sites

This isn't a hike—it's a slow, window-down drive with pullouts timed for little attention spans. Stop at the north overlook near mile marker 10 for the most dramatic view of the Tower shrinking in the rearview, then let kids stretch their legs at the Belle Fourche River crossing, where the water is shallow enough to watch but calm enough not to worry about. It's an easy way to cover ground without demanding more walking from tired feet.

The river crossing pullout works best in late morning light, when the water catches a silver shine.

Some pullouts require a short walk over uneven ground; the main overlooks are close to parking.

Optional detour: Red Beds Trail — After Tower Trail and before Belle Fourche Scenic Byway

Offers a second, slightly longer perspective on the Tower with striking red rock underfoot if the family has energy to spare. Skip if: The uneven terrain and longer distance make it a tougher add for young kids already walking the Tower Trail loop—best saved for a future trip without a toddler in tow.

If it rains: If rain moves in, Tower Trail remains hikeable in light drizzle since it's flat and well-packed; in heavier rain, shift the byway drive earlier and treat it as a scenic, mostly-in-the-car rainy-day activity.

The day opens early and quiet, with the Tower Trail's flat loop delivering maximum awe for minimal effort—perfect for small legs and even smaller attention spans. Arriving before the crowds means space to let kids wander a little, peer at chipmunks, and ask the inevitable stream of questions about how something so strange just appears out of flat ground.

After the trail, the pace shifts into something closer to a scenic road trip: the Belle Fourche Scenic Byway offers wide windows, easy pullouts, and a chance for everyone to stretch without another full hike. This is where nap time creeps in—plan to head back toward lodging by early afternoon so younger kids can rest during the 2–3pm window.

With no dining data mapped directly to this cluster, keep the evening simple: plan the day's meals around whichever gateway town lodging is booked in—Hulett or Sundance—rather than expecting options at the trailhead itself. An early, easy dinner and lights-out follows a full day of fresh air.

History on the Plains

Day 2: Wind, Grass, and Old Stories

A lighter second day focused on the region's human history, with under a mile of total walking and a strong midday rest window.

Wear

Layers again, with a wind-resistant jacket for the exposed plains at Vore Buffalo Jump, plus sun hats if skies clear.

Budget

$40–60 for the day, mostly food and a small site admission

40 min drive — A straightforward highway drive south, grasslands rolling by and the Tower shrinking behind you until it disappears entirely

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Vore Buffalo Jump · morning · 45 min · High Plains Historic Sites

Arrive early while the grassland is still cool and the wind hasn't picked up—this open, treeless site rewards a short visit rather than a long one with young kids, who tend to lose interest around the 20–30 minute mark. Peer into the 40-foot sinkhole together and talk through how Plains tribes once used the natural terrain to hunt buffalo; interpretive panels make the story easy to explain in kid terms. The uneven rim means holding hands is a must.

Morning light along the north rim shows the pit's depth and surrounding grassland most clearly.

Uneven, unpaved terrain around the rim; not stroller-friendly, so plan for kids to walk holding an adult's hand.

20 min drive — A quiet backroad drive into Hulett, the landscape shifting from open range to small-town storefronts

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Hulett Pioneer Museum · midday · 45 min · High Plains Historic Sites

A short, fully indoor stop that works well right before nap time—cool, quiet rooms filled with pioneer and indigenous artifacts give kids a gentle wind-down after the wind-blasted plains. Keep the visit brief and let them point out anything shiny or unusual in the display cases; the museum's flat, accessible layout with frequent benches makes it easy to pause whenever attention starts to drift.

The museum's historic exterior photographs well in late-morning light, before midday glare sets in.

Fully wheelchair accessible with flat paths and frequent benches—an easy, low-effort stop for tired little legs.

Optional detour: Belle Fourche Scenic Byway — After Hulett Pioneer Museum and before returning to lodging

A relaxed, mostly-in-the-car way to catch a final look at the Tower from a different angle before heading out. Skip if: If nap time is running late or the family covered this drive on Day 1, skip it to keep the afternoon light and unhurried.

If it rains: Hulett Pioneer Museum is fully indoors and makes an ideal rainy-day anchor—consider extending time there and shortening or skipping the exposed, wind-prone Vore Buffalo Jump if storms threaten.

The morning trades stone for story: a short, wind-swept visit to Vore Buffalo Jump gives even young kids a tangible sense of how people lived on these plains long before roads and rest stops existed. Keep it brief—the exposed grassland and lack of shade make this a look-and-go stop rather than a lingering one.

By midday, the pace softens further at the Hulett Pioneer Museum, a cool, indoor space perfect for winding down before nap time. With no on-site dining mapped for this area, plan lunch around wherever the family is staying in Hulett or Sundance rather than expecting food at either historic site—pack a few snacks for the drive as a buffer.

With the day's two stops complete well before early afternoon, the rest of the day opens up for rest, unstructured downtime, and an easy, early dinner back at the lodging town—closing out a trip paced entirely around small legs and shorter attention spans, not the clock.

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Good to Know

Restaurant details (hours, menus, availability) change frequently. Check current hours before visiting, especially in seasonal destinations.

Dietary compatibility tags are general guidance. If you have severe allergies, confirm directly with the restaurant.

Travel tips are general guidance, not professional safety advice. Check government advisories for latest information.

All prices are approximate and may vary seasonally.

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