As a culturally significant site for American Indian people, some perceive climbing on the Tower as disrespectful. It appears to many American Indians that climbers and hikers do not respect their culture by the very act of climbing on or near the Tower.

Climbing Devils Tower (known to many indigenous tribes as Bear Lodge) is a deeply sensitive issue, with many Native American communities—including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa—viewing it as disrespectful and a desecration of a sacred site. To these tribes, the Tower is a place of prayer and ceremony, and having people "recreationally" climbing on their "grandfathers" (the rocks) is seen as a violation of their spiritual space. In 2026, the National Park Service continues to implement a Voluntary Climbing Ban during the month of June, out of respect for the traditional cultural ceremonies held at the site. While it is not "illegal" to climb outside of June, an increasing number of travelers are choosing to honor the tribes' requests by observing the Tower from the ground instead. Hiring a Native guide or visiting the local interpretive center to learn about the site's spiritual significance is the high-value peer recommendation for those who want to visit with a spirit of "respectful recreation" rather than just "conquering the rock."