How do climbers get down from Devils Tower?

Most climbers rappel to descend from the Tower. With a rope well anchored, a climber can literally walk down the face of the rock, slowing the descent by braking on the rope with a friction device. There are several standard rappel routes on the Tower.



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Has there ever been anyone killed? Yes, there have been six climbing fatalities since 1937. Three of these fatalities occurred while descending (rappelling) the Tower.

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Lichens cover parts of the tower, and sage, moss, and grass grow on its top.

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The 1995 Devils Tower National Monument Climbing Management Plan established a voluntary closure for all climbing routes on the Tower out of respect for the cultural activities of Native Americans. The voluntary climbing closure has been implemented each June since 1996.

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It appears to many American Indians that climbers do not respect their culture by the very act of climbing on the tower. Climbing during traditional ceremonies and prayer times is a sensitive issue as well.

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So he knew that all the time he had been on top of this big rock he had been standing on a big bear's lodge. From this time on his nation called this big high rock Mato Tipila and they went there often to worship. The buffalo skull is still on top of this big high rock and can be seen on the highest point.

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Top of the Tower has a surface of approximately six thousand square meters, and is not as flat as it seems from the ground. Climbers report, that not only birds, but some mammals live there! Among the animals, which were seen there, they name chipmunks, wood rats and even snakes.

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You can drive your car through the gate and up to the Visitor's Center where you'll park and walk a short distance up to (and around, if you want) the Tower. If you are worried about low clearance or being off road, don't worry. Tour buses drive up there.

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According to the traditional beliefs of Native American peoples, the Kiowa and Lakota, a group of girls went out to play and were spotted by several giant bears, who began to chase them. In an effort to escape the bears, the girls climbed atop a rock, fell to their knees, and prayed to the Great Spirit to save them.

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