Joyner Ridge Trail - Devils Tower National Monument

The Joyner Ridge Trail is one of several trails within Devils Tower National Monument. It is a 1.5 mile loop that features changes in terrain from meadow to forest, to rock and back again. At the trailhead you may go either head up and to the left, or down and to the right – suggestion is to head up and to the left. Going this way you’ll take the path through some trees and aren’t climbing up at the end of the hike. You’ll descend on switchbacks and natural rock steps until you reach a meadow, where you may find deer grazing. This is also where the trail meets another popular park trail.  Keep following trail to the right, and you’ll be in a small shaded forest. Devils Tower will be directly above/behind/to the left of you at this point in the trail. The end of the trail is a wide-open meadow, and is a really great spot for enjoying a picnic and a view of Devils Tower in the distance. A great time to come is at sunset. If you follow the path a short distance up and to the left of the trailhead you’ll find a perfectly placed bench to sit on and enjoy the amazing colors the sunset brings as it lights the Tower. You can also watch from the parking lot! Note that this trail has significant elevation change that requires climbing down natural steps, or climbing up depending on which way you take the trail. There are also steep portions that can be dangerous if you venture too close to the edge, so stay vigilant with little ones. If you are baby wearing, hiking poles may ne helpful for balancing during elevation changes.