Devils Tower National Monument Near Hulett Wyoming

Devils Tower rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River near Hulett, Wyoming. Once hidden, erosion has revealed Devils Tower. Devils Tower was named a National Monument in 1906. In the 1977 movie, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," Devils Tower National Monument serves as the alien landing site.

This 1,347 acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Deer, prairie dogs, and other wildlife are seen.

Also known as Bears Lodge, Devils Tower National Monument is a sacred site for many American Indians.

President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument on September 24, 1906.

The spectacular rock formation and the surrounding countryside, home to a myriad of plant and animal life, attract visitors from around the world. Climbers test their skills on vertical rock walls. Visitors delight in the beauty of the area and enjoy the activites offered at the monument. American Indians consider the area sacred, a place for prayer and renewal.

About "Close Encounters of the Third Kind: When Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) encounters a UFO, he's left with a sunburned face, a skeptical family and a shaken psyche. Soon, Roy begins seeking out others who've had similar "visions." Among those he finds are Jillian (Melinda Dillon), a woman who's lost her son to the aliens, and Claude (Francois Truffaut), a researcher preparing for Earth's first contact with extraterrestrials in this Oscar-winning classic from director Steven Spielberg. Much of the movie was filmed in Mobile, Alabama.

Round America Visit: We visited Devils Tower National Monument on July 18, 2003.

Location:Visitors traveling east on I-90 exit at Moorcroft, WY. Visitors traveling west on I-90 use any of three Sundance, WY exits. From Moorcroft or Sundance, take 14 north to 24, take 24 north to Devils Tower. A scenic alternative for visitors traveling west on I-90 - take exit 199, follow 111 north to 24, take 24 west through the town of Hulett to Devils Tower.