Devil’s Tower, elevation 5,117 ft., rises 1,267 ft. above the Belle Fourche River. Col. Richard I. Dodge, who commanded a military escort for the USGS in 1875, is credited with naming this steep-sided mass of igneous rock, Devil’s Tower. One popular theory for the Tower’s origin suggests that it is the result of volcanic activity some 50 million years ago. A mass of molten rock traveled up to the top of the earth and formed an inverted cone structure. As it cooled, it fractured, creating the Tower’s prominent polygonal columns. The site was and is a sacred inspirational location for many Native Americans. According to the National Park Service, over twenty tribes have potential cultural affiliation with Devil’s Tower National Monument. They call it Bear Lodge, Bear’s Tipi, Ghost Mountain and a dozen other names that best suit their legends. Native Americans use the site for personal rituals, sweatlodge ceremonies, vision quests, and the Sun Dance. President Teddy Roosevelt proclaimed the Tower the nation’s first National Monument in 1906. The 8 miles of hiking trails are worth every step. The Red Beds Trail passes through a surprising variety of picturesque terrains. The Belle Fourche Campground has 40 sites without showers or RV hookups. Music downloaded from Garageband.com. Native American drumming and singing recorded live at the Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Treaty Rights – Bayfield, Wisconsin, July 2, 2009. Slideshow and photographs copyright 2009 by Creative Juice LLC.

Devil’s Tower National Monument

Belle Fourche Campground, Devil’s Tower National Mounument

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