Close Encounters at Devils Tower in Wyoming

A geological wonder and the backdrop for Spielberg's 1977 science fiction classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Devils Tower is an unmistakable landmark in eastern Wyoming. Flat on top and vertically lined, Devils Tower is also referred to as "Bear Lodge" and is depicted in Native American artwork with a giant bear clawing its sides creating its distinct facade.

 

Close Encounters at Devil's Tower, Wyoming

A geological wonder and the backdrop for Spielberg's 1977 science fiction classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Devil's Tower is an unmistakable landmark in eastern Wyoming. Flat on top and vertically lined, Devil's Tower is also referred to as "Bear Lodge", and Native American artwork depicts a giant bear clawing the sides of it to create its distinct facade.

On our 2007 road trip to Mount Rushmore, my friend Andrea and I visited Devil's Tower to hike the trails surrounding it. Rising over 1,200 feet from the Belle Fourche River below, the formation is quite imposing and really cool to see up close. Believed to be an igneous intrusion or perhaps a volcanic plug, the main consensus is that it's clearly a meeting point for aliens. Or at least that was the impression we got from a nearby gift shop. 

Devil's Tower in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

A few of the souvenirs I picked up.

Road to Rushmore in 50 Images

Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the USA. It's the kind of place that you're compelled to visit just to see if it lives up to the hype and pop culture that surrounds it. From North by Northwest to Team America, you've probably seen this landmark more than you realize. For us, this became the inspiration for a road trip. 

While in university (back in 2007) my friend Andrea and I decided to see for ourselves and made the drive from Saskatchewan to explore the Black Hills around Rapid City, South Dakota - in addition to drives through Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and North Dakota. We ended up driving nearly 2000 miles through the northern plains of the USA and visited some truly incredible places. This is our road trip through the region summed up in 50 images.  

1. Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota.

2. Plaque of Rushmore workers.

3. Trail underneath Mount Rushmore.

4. Red, White and Blue.

5. Deadwood, South Dakota.

6. Welcome to South Dakota.
7. Sundance Kid statue in Sundance, Wyoming.


8. Stagecoach in Wall, South Dakota.

9. Black Hills National Forest.

10. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.

11. Black Hills National Forest.
12. A drink in Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed.


13. Bear Country USA, South Dakota.

14. Cruising through Montana.
15. Open ranges in Montana.


16. Muffler man in Rapid City, South Dakota.


17. Tunnel on the road to Rushmore.

18. Slab of the Berlin Wall in Rapid City, SD.

19. Badlands in Eastern Montana.

20. Wyoming Welcomes You.

21. Side of Devil's Tower in Wyoming.

22. Downtown Rapid City, South Dakota.

23. Grave of Wild Bill in Deadwood, SD.

24. Wild Bill and Calamity Jane grave sites in Deadwood, SD.

25. Mount Rushmore.

26. Museum at Mount Rushmore.

27. North Dakota sign.

28. Downtown Deadwood, South Dakota.

29. Devils' Tower, Wyoming.

30. Reptile Gardens in South Dakota.

31. Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, SD.
32. Reptile Gardens.


33. Hike around Devil's Tower, Wyoming.

34. Keystone, South Dakota.

35. Dinosaurs above Rapid City, SD.


36. Wall Drug in Wall, SD.
37. Giant jawbreaker from Wall Drug.
38. Entering Nebraska.


39. Chimney Rock on the Oregon Trail in Nebraska.

40. Statues in Keystone, South Dakota.

41. Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota.
42. Welcome to Colorado.


43. Sunset in Nebraska.
44. Cosmos Mystery Area in South Dakota.


45. Devil's Tower National Monument.
46. Cubs climbing a tree at Bear Country USA.


47. Mount Rushmore.

48. Crazy Horse statue in front of the monument.
49. Fog over Rushmore.


50. Downtown Deadwood, South Dakota.