Is there a climbing closure at Devils Tower, and does it affect all routes?

Yes. A voluntary closure runs throughout the month of June to honor the cultural and spiritual importance of the Tower to many Indigenous tribes. The National Park Service and the climbing community strongly encourage compliance. The closure applies to climbing on the Tower itself, not to bouldering areas at the base.

How difficult are the routes, and is Devils Tower appropriate for beginner climbers?

The route list skews toward intermediate and advanced trad climbers. Durrance Approach is one of the more accessible multi-pitch lines on the Tower, but it still requires competent crack technique and the ability to place and evaluate gear on lead. Beginners who are new to trad climbing should hire a guide rather than attempting routes like Hollywood & Vine or Direct Southeast without prior crack experience.

Do I need a permit to climb at Devils Tower?

You need to pay the Devils Tower National Monument entrance fee, and climbers are required to register before and after climbing through the park's self-registration system at the trailhead. There is no separate climbing permit fee, but registration is mandatory and helps the park track activity on the Tower. Check the National Park Service website before your trip for any updates to the registration process.

Wyoming · Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing in Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils Tower rises 867 feet above the Belle Fourche River, and nearly every one of those feet is climbable.

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Devils Tower rises 867 feet above the Belle Fourche River, and nearly every one of those feet is climbable. The Tower's signature phonolite porphyry columns create crack systems that run from the ground to the summit plateau, making this one of the most distinctive crack-climbing destinations in the country. With 149 active listings in the area, the range is real: you can work moderate multi-pitch routes like Durrance Approach and Gooseberry Jam, push into sustained territory on the Belle Fourche Buttress or McCarthy West Face, or spend a day projecting harder lines like Dead Point and Path Through Enlightenment. The Southwest Shoulder and Durrance Approach areas see the most traffic and are the logical starting points for first-timers to the Tower. Bouldering options like Modern Dinosaur and Bunny Hole round out the offering for days when you want to stay low. Access is managed through Devils Tower National Monument, which means a park entrance fee applies and a voluntary climbing closure is in place each June out of respect for the site's cultural significance to numerous Indigenous nations. If you're coming to climb, plan around that closure, bring a rack stacked with hand-to-fist-size cams, and expect to share the wall on weekends from late summer through fall.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time of year to climb at Devils Tower?

Late April through May and September through October are the sweet spots. Summer temperatures can make the south-facing routes uncomfortably hot by midday, and the voluntary June closure limits options significantly. Fall tends to offer the most stable conditions and cooler rock temperatures, which matters on longer routes like Belle Fourche Buttress or Blue Stem Skyway.

What gear do I need for a typical route at Devils Tower?

The Tower is almost entirely a crack climbing destination, so a solid trad rack is non-negotiable. Most routes demand a full set of cams from finger-size up through fist and off-width sizes, with doubles in the hand-to-fist range being especially useful on routes like Gooseberry Jam and Burning Down the House. A 60-meter rope covers the majority of pitches, and helmets are strongly recommended given the columnar rock structure.