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Erratic Hours,” but there’s also a Subway in town if your visit doesn’t happen to coincide with whatever hours those may be. The town is mainly noted for being the place where Harry Longabaugh was jailed for horse theft in 1887, resulting in his decision to start calling himself the Sundance Kid. There’s a statue of him outside the courthouse on Cleveland Street, and a small museum in the courthouse basement. Sundance makes a great starting point for tomorrow’s loop drive.


An alternative base is Spearfi sh, S.D., just half an hour to the east, with many more accommodations and dining options. And Devils Tower itself has a campground if you’d prefer to stay on site.


boulders, vistas across the river plain below, or the striking sight of the vast rock wall through the pines—and everywhere, the poi- gnant and colorful little offer- ings on the tree branches. The prayer bundles are great subjects for photography, but respect their importance to the local cul- tures and do not touch. On the southwest side, the remains of a wooden ladder can be seen high up on the rock; viewing tubes beside the trail make it easier to spot. Erected in 1893, the ladder was used by climbers until 1927. Eight miles of additional hik-


ing trails are available in Devils Tower National Monument. On this weekend itinerary, though, walking the Tower Trail is enough to let you experience this amazing formation. Continue your road trip


Statue of The Sundance Kid, a notorious outlaw from the town of Sundance, Wyo.


Day 2 Devils Tower Loop Drive


Starting from Sundance, head west on Highway 14, then north on Highway 24 to Devils Tower. The national monument is about half an hour from Sundance, an easy drive. You may want to pack a picnic lunch or snacks for this day trip, although there is food and fuel available in a few places along the route. Set out early for a chance to see the tower in the morning light that shows off the rock columns to their best advantage. The closer you get to Devils Tower, the more stunning it becomes.


The hexagonal columns of igneous rock that sweep to the summit of the 1,267-foot tower are a unique sight. It’s worth bringing bin- oculars. Spotting climbers on the heights, with falcons and other bird life soaring nearby, can almost come as a shock as you realize exactly how huge those columns are. The paved Tower Trail that encircles the base of the monolith is


1.3 miles long. Guided 1.5-hour walks led by park rangers are also available if you’d like a better understanding of the fl ora, fauna, geology and cultural signifi cance of the area. The views change around every bend of the easy walking trail: tumbled fi elds of fallen


24 EnCompass March/April 2012 www.AAA.com


north, then east, on Highway 24 through Hulett, Alva and Aladdin. (I can confi rm that Hulett is more than just a one- horse town, because there were two horses in the middle of the main road when I went through.) The scenery is varied and attrac- tive throughout this drive, but fi ll up on gas in Hulett—there are long stretches between towns with services. On reaching Highway 85, turn south and con- tinue to Spearfi sh, S.D. The trip from Devils Tower to Spearfi sh takes about an hour and a half. Spearfi sh is a good-sized town


with plenty of options for lunch. After a brief stop here, continue south out of town to the next scenic treat: Highway 14A, other- wise known as Spearfi sh Canyon. The lush canyon, with its spar-


kling river, plentiful wildlife and photogenic waterfalls, could eas- ily be a full additional day trip for those who want to explore further. For now, take a shorter out-and-back drive along the canyon as far as Savoy, then turn


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