Devils Tower Back Road

The Devils Tower Back Road isn’t one route but rather a network of BLM roads, ranch tracks, and primitive two-tracks that loop around the famous volcanic neck through a landscape of rolling prairie, scattered ponderosa pine, and red scoria ridges. Most drivers stick to the paved tourist approach, but this backcountry circuit reveals the monument from angles impossible to appreciate from the crowded visitor center. The most memorable section winds through the Belle Fourche River breaks south of the tower, where the road becomes little more than wheel ruts threading between sandstone outcrops and prairie dog towns.

Any stock SUV or pickup with decent ground clearance can handle this route in dry conditions, though recent rains can turn the clay-rich soil into an impassable gumbo. Spring through fall offers the best travel conditions, with wildflower displays peaking in June and July. Several sections cross private ranch land where gates must be left as found, and hunting season (September-November) brings increased traffic and potential conflicts with hunters. The route offers numerous opportunities for dispersed camping on public land with unobstructed views of the tower, especially spectacular at sunrise and sunset.