South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012 - (Page 255)
Wyoming’s Devils Tower
wo geologic features protrude out of the rolling prairie that surrounds the Black Hills region. Both of the sites are considered sacred places to the Lakota and other tribes that have a connection to the Black Hills and surrounding area. One Lakota legend connects the two sites, Devils Tower in Wyoming and Bear Butte in South Dakota. It tells of two Sioux boys who wandered far from their village. Mato the bear, a huge creature with claws the size of teepee poles, spotted them and wanted to eat them for breakfast. He was almost upon them when the boys prayed to Wakan Tanka the Creator to help them. They rose up on a huge rock, while Mato tried to get up from every side, leaving huge scratch marks as he did. Finally, he sauntered off, disappointed and discouraged. The bear came to rest northeast of the Black
Interchange Exit Number U.S. Hwy. Marker 44 State Hwy. Marker 21 Forest Service Road 18 County Road ? Visitor Information Mileage Between Stars 10 Paved Highway Multi-lane Divided Hwy. Gravel Roads Black Hills National Forest Keyhole State Park Devils Tower Road Trip - 121 mi
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Hills at what is now Bear Butte. Wanblee, the eagle, helped the boys off the rock and back to their village. At the Devils Tower visitor center, a painting depicting the Cheyenne legend hangs over the fireplace. According to this legend and others, the tower’s grooves are the claw marks of a great bear. Today, both landmarks are national treasures, and both retain their spiritual significance to the region’s Native American tribes. Visitors can easily visit both during a day’s journey in the Northern Hills. The drive through the Belle Fourche River valley is particularly beautiful, whatever the season. As one approaches the town of Hulett, glimpses of Devils Tower come tantalizingly into view. Larger and larger it looms, until the dramatic pillar, rising 1,267 feet above the surrounding terrain,
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From Alzada, MT
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Devils Tower National Monument is well worth visiting, both for its own sake and for the beautiful drive through eastern Wyoming.
fills the horizon. The two-square-mile park surrounding the tower was proclaimed the nation’s first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The monument is open year-round. Walking around the base is a great winter hike, hikers are encouraged to use caution. Summer hikes are also enjoyable and the season brings numerous rock climbers to challenge themselves on its sheer granite-like sides. The stone pillar is about
1,000 feet in diameter at the bottom and 275 feet at the top, making it the premier rock climbing challenge in the Black Hills. Be sure to stop at the visitor center and museum. During the summer, rangers present talks on the natural and cultural history of the area, as well as climbing demonstrations. The one-hour Tower Trail around the base is self-guiding and offers close-up views of the forest and wildlife, not to mention spectacular views of the (Continues on Page 257)
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Mirror Lake
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012
Contents
Getting Here, Getting Around
Interstate Information Centers
State Facts
Native American Information
Places of Interest
Calendar of Events
Public Campgrounds and Recreation Areas
Southeast Region: A slice of South Dakota charm
Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region: Stories from the frontier
Great Lakes Region: Land of the mighty Missouri
Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Region: Enchanting mountain getaway
Black Hills map
Index
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012
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