Devils Tower National Monument

At a glance

Visual character

“A massive phonolite porphyry igneous intrusion rising 867 feet from the Black Hills of Wyoming — the United States' first national monument. Columnar basalt columns, forest base, and an overwhelming vertical presence.”

About

Devils Tower National Monument in northeastern Wyoming — the first unit designated under the Antiquities Act in 1906 — is one of the most visually iconic geological features in North America. The 867-foot phonolite porphyry tower rises dramatically from ponderosa pine forest and the Belle Fourche River valley, its vertical columns visible from 100 miles away. The tower's cultural significance to over 20 Indigenous nations adds historical and spiritual depth to any production. Globally recognized from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Devils Tower carries immediate visual authority on screen. Surrounding prairie and forest provide cinematic buffer zone around the central formation. NPS commercial filming permits required; contact the park at 307-467-5283. June is a voluntary climbing closure month for Indigenous ceremonial purposes — production scheduling should be planned accordingly. The tower's sheer scale makes it difficult to capture fully — aerial photography permits are possible with NPS coordination.

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