We bought a National Park Pass last
October when we were in Vegas. For $80 you get unlimited access to US
National Parks, etc. If you plan on doing a lot of driving and
sightseeing in the US then it is well worth it. It pays for itself
really quick when the entry fee per car is $25.
This year's trip had a few bucket list items that we were aiming for. Today was the day to strike one off the list. We arose early, packed up, and headed north. Stopped for a couple of caches and soon had our target location in sight.
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Devils Tower
National Monument
Wyoming
"Devils Tower rises above the surrounding grassland and Ponderosa pine
forests like a rocky sentinel. Northern Plains tribes have worshipped
near this remarkable geologic formation for thousands of years. Fur
trappers, explorers, and settlers alike were awed by the tower's
majesty."
I just cannot say it any better. If you are old enough to have watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the 1970's then you will remember this monument made with mashed potatoes by Richard Dreyfuss.
We were definitely in awe. The approach as this huge geological formation rose out of the prairie in front of us was just short of amazing. We arrived shortly after the gates opened, parked, checked inside the visitor centre and then headed out for the walk around.
Devils Tower National Monument II
Devils Tower was and still is a sacred area for several Plains Tribes. As you walk around the base you will notice prayer offerings in the trees.
By the time we had had returned to the parking lot it was full and the visitor centre was packed. Glad we managed to see this before the crowds but time to go.
We rejoined I90 and continued on our way with more stops at interesting places, one of which was a fish hatchery and another relating to the Indian Wars of the late 1800's. Getting off the beaten path and checking out the side trips and you discover some interesting sites.
Now a couple of the visitor centers we went to said we should take Hwy 16 at Buffalo but we continued with the original plan and headed north to Sheridan WY and took Hwy 14 west. We will never regret that. The drive through the Bighorn National Forest is a must do.. Eye popping views, switchbacks, and geological wonders make it a great trip. Really, really wished for the motorbike for this section.
Dizzying Drops In Granite: Shell Falls
As we approached the end of the day we headed to Greybull where we set up in the KOA early, had dinner, relaxed, and refueled for the next day.
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