Devils Tower NM (non-climbing), Wyoming
3-Day Itinerary for Solo Traveler
“Stone Sentinel: Three Days Alone with Devils Tower”
The Tower appears before you're ready for it—rising gray and fluted above the pines like something that shouldn't be possible, and yet there it is. Spring here means wildflowers pushing through red dirt, wind that changes its mind hourly, and trails quiet enough that you'll often have the view to yourself.
At a Glance
Highlights
- Sunrise circuit on the Tower Trail with almost no one else around
- Red Beds Trail's rust-colored rock bands and river views
- Standing at the rim of the 40-foot Vore Buffalo Jump sinkhole
- A slow drive down the Belle Fourche Scenic Byway at golden hour
- Quiet hours at the Hulett Pioneer Museum tracing Plains history
- Wide-open, low-crowd spring shoulder season
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: First Light on the Tower
A gentle arrival day centered entirely on the Devils Tower Monument cluster, with about 2.5 miles of easy-to-moderate walking.
Arrive before the gates fill and the Tower Trail is yours alone—just packed dirt underfoot, the hiss of prairie wind, and columns of stone rising overhead like a forest turned to rock. This flat, well-marked loop is the gentlest introduction to the monument's scale, and ideal for settling into the trip without overexertion on day one.
Continue onto the fuller loop for a slower, more immersive pass—red dust kicking up underfoot, the Belle Fourche rushing somewhere below, and the Tower shifting angle with every turn. Solo hikers tend to linger here, and it's an easy place to fall into conversation with fellow early risers doing the same loop.
After a midday rest, take the Red Beds Trail at a slower pace—burnt-orange rock bands underfoot, ponderosa resin warming in the sun, and dappled light breaking through pine stands. Spring wildflowers are just beginning to dot the slopes, a nice contrast to the morning's starker light.
The day begins quietly, with the Tower Trail nearly empty at first light—just you, the wind, and a rock formation that seems to defy explanation. Moving at an easy pace, this is the moment to simply absorb scale before the day's crowds arrive.
After a midday break to rest legs and refuel, the pace shifts to the Red Beds Trail's slower, more textured landscape—red rock bands, pine shade, and the first wildflowers of the season pushing through the soil.
With no evening stops scheduled, settle into your lodging early—whether that's a tent at the monument campground with the Tower silhouetted against the stars, or a quiet motel room in Hulett. Spring evenings cool quickly, so an early night suits the next day's early start.
Day 2: Into the High Plains
A full day exploring the High Plains Historic Sites cluster, combining a cultural landmark with scenic driving—roughly 1 mile of walking total, low-to-moderate energy.
Arrive early to the open grassland and stand at the rim of a 40-foot sinkhole where Plains tribes once executed a remarkably sophisticated hunting strategy. The silence out here is profound—just wind, dry sage, and the weight of centuries beneath your feet. Solo travelers often find this the most contemplative stop of the trip.
Drive the byway slowly, windows cracked, as golden-brown grassland rolls past and the Tower reappears unexpectedly at each rise. This is a good midday palate-cleanser after the quiet intensity of the Buffalo Jump—low effort, high reward, and plenty of pullouts for solo photography breaks.
Spend a quiet hour among worn leather, aged wood, and genuine pioneer and indigenous artifacts—a good indoor counterpoint to two days of open-air plains. The pace here is unhurried, and the small-town setting makes it easy to chat with staff about local history.
The day opens on open grassland, with the Vore Buffalo Jump's quiet sinkhole offering a contemplative, wind-swept start—a sharp contrast to the Tower's vertical drama.
The pace eases into a scenic drive along the Belle Fourche Byway, tower sightings popping up unexpectedly between golden hills, before settling into the hushed, artifact-filled rooms of the Hulett Pioneer Museum.
With the day's driving and walking done by mid-afternoon, evening is open for rest—browse Hulett's small-town streets, journal by lodge light, or simply watch the sky shift colors over the plains before an early night.
Day 3: Last Light, Slow Departure
A lighter final day returning to the Devils Tower Monument cluster for unfinished angles and a slow farewell, with about 2 miles of easy walking.
Return for one last early loop while the light is low and golden, the tower catching color you won't see at midday. Solo travelers often find this final sunrise visit the most emotionally resonant stop of the whole trip—fewer people, softer light, and a sense of having earned familiarity with the place.
A final, shorter pass on the flat Tower Trail to look for details missed earlier in the trip—lichen patterns on the columns, a different wildflower bloom, a last clear view before departure. It's an easy, low-exertion way to close the loop on the destination.
The final sunrise at the Tower feels different now—familiar, almost personal, the light low and gold across red dirt you've walked twice before.
A short, easy final walk rounds out the trip before the long drive out, giving one last look at details the earlier, more awe-struck visits may have missed.
With travel likely filling the evening hours, there's little scheduled beyond the road—reflect on the trip's quiet, expansive rhythm as the Tower recedes in the mirror and the plains open up ahead.
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