Devils Tower National Monument is a National Monument in Wyoming. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Devils Tower
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Devils Tower. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Mountain Peaks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Devils Tower the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:33 AM | 8:19 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:45 PM | 241° | 9h 12m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:28 PM | 253° | 10h 28m |
| March | 7:12 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:05 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:44 PM | 285° | 13h 28m |
| May | 5:32 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:20 PM | 298° | 14h 48m |
| June | 5:14 AM | 5:59 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:46 PM | 305° | 15h 32m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 6:12 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:42 PM | 302° | 15h 14m |
| August | 6:02 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:06 PM | 291° | 14h 04m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:11 PM | 275° | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:15 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:16 PM | 259° | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:40 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:33 PM | 245° | 9h 36m |
| December | 7:30 AM | 8:18 AM | 3:32 PM | 4:20 PM | 237° | 8h 50m |
Computed for the park's reference point (44.5906, -104.7156); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Devils Tower, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:53 AM – 5:33 AM | 0.7 | 13° |
| April | 2:50 AM – 4:20 AM | 1.5 | 16° |
| May | 12:57 AM – 3:17 AM | 2.3 | 17° |
| June | 11:15 PM – 2:45 AM | 3.5 | 17° |
| July | 11:00 PM – 1:20 AM | 2.3 | 17° |
| August | 9:59 PM – 11:19 PM | 1.3 | 16° |
| September | 8:51 PM – 9:21 PM | 0.5 | 13° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Obtain forecast information before beginning your adventure at Devils Tower National Monument and observe changing weather conditions. Thunderstorms can develop quickly bringing lightning, hail, rain, slippery rock surfaces, and hypothermia. Summer days can bring very hot temperatures. Carry enough water, and realize the rock of the Tower can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter weather can bring blowing snow and road closures. Check local forecasts and road conditions before visiting.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (68%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
The park entrance is located 33 miles northeast of Moorcroft, 27 miles northwest of Sundance, and 52 miles southwest of Belle Fourche, SD. If approaching from the east or west, take US Hwy 14 to WY 24 (follow the signs from I-90). If approaching from the north, take WY 112 to WY 24 (from Montana) or SD 34 / WY 24 (from South Dakota).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
