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| Devil's Tower in northeastern Wyoming |
It's fair to say enough is never enough. Why go home when you can drive many more hours to see two of our nation's most stunning attractions?
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| We were headed to Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore |
We took off out of Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance across northern Wyoming, taking a far north road that looked interesting. After driving across a plain, we saw that we were approaching a mountain that we would have to drive over. Fortunately, it was still open for the season. We passed a couple of signs warning that there was cattle on the road. Then we came around a bend where we encountered an actual cattle drive. We had to creep past the cattle. But, it a true experience.
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| Coming down the snow-topped mountain for winter |
After reaching the top of the mountain, we drove down, eventually arriving at Devil's Tower.
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| Another new place for Mark |
This is a magnificent place.
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| A different angle |
It's a column of basalt extruded through softer soil which ultimately eroded away ...
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| Volcanic basalt forms natural columns as it cools |
... below the tower are piles of rocks that have fallen as the column continues to erode ...
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| The trail winds through the rocks |
Perhaps you remember it from Close Encounters of the Third Kind ...
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| We saw this without the ship and landing strip; Photo: Sony Pictures |
In real life, it's (almost) as cool ...
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| Looks almost like the movie |
... and, even though it wasn't crowded ...
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| A fellow visitor: American Red Squirrel |
... there was evidence that we were not the only ones to think so, on land ...
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| A climber |
... and in the air ...
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| Military planes... hmmmm, what happened in that movie? |
We didn't have much time to explore because we got there late in the day and we still had to drive on to Mount Rushmore. But, we made the most of our time.
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| Saying farewell as it disappears from view |
On we drove through the night (and more deer on the road than I have ever seen) to Mount Rushmore.
Trip date: September 26-October 1, 2013
If you are planning on staying more than one day near Devil's Tower, it would be worth your time to consider Devil's Tower KOA. I have stayed one night in the "Park Model" cabin with my friends. We went there by the bus tours. It was large and comfortable. During our stay there we used to visit the Devil’s Tower National Monument. The monument itself is spectacular, and the hiking trails around the base offer some awesome views.
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