Devils Tower NM (non-climbing), Wyoming
3-Day Itinerary for Young Families
“Stone Giant & Open Sky: 3 Days at Devils Tower with Little Ones”
The Tower doesn't announce itself gently—it simply appears, a stone sentinel rising from golden grassland, and even the youngest travelers go quiet at the sight of it. This is a slow, stroller-friendly journey around one of America's strangest and most sacred landmarks, paced for small legs, nap schedules, and wide-eyed wonder.
At a Glance
Highlights
- First light on the Tower Trail before the tour buses arrive
- Counting prairie dogs and spotting mule deer along flat, wide paths
- A 40-foot sinkhole where ancient bison hunts once thundered across the plains
- Golden-hour pullouts on the Belle Fourche Byway with the Tower framed like a postcard
- Hands-on pioneer artifacts at a cozy, air-conditioned museum—perfect for nap-adjacent downtime
- Homemade pie breaks that make every kid (and parent) forget how far they've walked
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: First Light on the Stone Giant
A soft-landing day with one easy, flat walk around the Tower's base and plenty of rest—roughly 1 mile of walking total, low energy exertion.
This flat, well-packed loop is the easiest way to introduce little ones to the scale of the Tower without overwhelming small legs. Arrive by 8am and the trail is nearly empty—just prairie wind, the hiss of sagebrush, and columns of stone rising overhead like a forest turned to rock. Let kids spot chipmunks and count boulder shapes; benches are sparse, so bring a portable seat if you'll want a proper rest stop.
After nap-window downtime back at the hotel, ease into the afternoon with a low-key scenic drive rather than another hike. Roll down the windows and let the kids watch the Tower rise and recede from different pullouts—it's mesmerizing even from a car seat, and there's no walking required if little ones are drowsy.
The Tower Trail is the gentlest possible introduction to Devils Tower—flat, shaded in patches, and endlessly fascinating for small children who've never seen rock columns stacked like a giant's toy blocks. Arriving early means empty paths and cool air, giving everyone room to wander, point, and ask questions without jostling through crowds.
With naptime respected as sacred family law, the afternoon shifts into low gear: a scenic drive along the Belle Fourche Byway lets the Tower keep appearing and disappearing behind hills, no walking shoes required. It's pure windshield wonder—ideal for kids winding down after a big morning.
Settle into your lodging for the evening, whether that's a rustic campground beneath the Tower's silhouette or a small-town motel in Hulett. Keep dinner simple and early, letting the day's excitement settle before a good night's sleep under wide Wyoming skies.
Day 2: Red Rock and River Song
A moderately active day with a longer loop trail and light scenic stop—approximately 1.5 miles of walking, moderate energy with built-in rest breaks.
This trail's rust-red rock bands and pine-shaded stretches make it feel like a storybook path—perfect for young explorers hunting for 'red rocks' underfoot. Go early, both for cooler air and to avoid the trail's midday foot traffic; with kids, budget extra time for stops at the riverside and any rock-scrambling curiosity. It's not stroller-friendly in full, so babywearing or letting toddlers walk short stretches works best.
After nap-window rest, this quick, quiet stop offers a different kind of wonder—a vast sinkhole where Plains tribes once hunted bison centuries ago. Keep little hands away from the rim's edge, but even young kids sense the scale and mystery of the place; the wide-open grassland doubles as a great spot to let pent-up energy loose safely.
Red Beds Trail rewards early risers with cool shade, striped red rock underfoot, and the Tower peeking through pine boughs at every turn. It's a slightly more textured walk than yesterday's loop, so plan for extra pauses as kids investigate rocks, roots, and the rush of the Belle Fourche below.
After the midday nap window, the mood shifts from forest intimacy to open-sky drama at Vore Buffalo Jump. The wind picks up, the grassland stretches in every direction, and the sinkhole itself becomes a quiet, almost solemn stop—a gentle history lesson delivered through scale and silence rather than lecture.
Head back toward Hulett or Sundance for an early, easy dinner—by now the day's sun and walking will have little ones ready for wind-down time. Let the evening stay unstructured: a short walk, a story, and lights out under the plains sky.
Day 3: Pioneer Stories and Farewell Views
A low-key final day mixing indoor cultural exploration with one last scenic farewell to the Tower—under 1 mile of walking, gentle pace throughout.
A gentle, air-conditioned start to the day—frequent benches and flat, stroller-friendly floors make this an easy morning for tired little legs after two active days. Kids can peer at pioneer tools and indigenous artifacts up close, and the quiet indoor hum makes it a good transition into a lower-energy final day.
One last unhurried drive along the byway offers a proper goodbye to the Tower, with pullouts for photos and a chance to let it sink in one more time before heading home. Keep it brief and flexible—kids can stay buckled in for most of it, hopping out only at the easiest pullouts.
The museum's quiet, climate-controlled rooms offer a soft landing for a final morning, letting kids explore pioneer and indigenous history at their own pace without the sun or wind of the past two days. It's an easy, low-stakes way to close out the cultural side of the trip.
A last loop along the Belle Fourche Byway lets the Tower make its final impression—rising and fading against the horizon one more time before the drive home. There's no pressure to stop everywhere; even a few unhurried pullouts leave a lasting impression on young travelers.
With the drive home ahead, keep the evening simple: a light meal, a last glance back at the Tower in the rearview mirror, and the quiet satisfaction of a trip paced just right for small explorers.
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