UPDATE: Devils Tower announced in a March 14 Facebook post that the limited hours will only be in place until March 30. After that, hours will return to around the clock. -Ed.
Devils Tower National Monument will slash hours of operation from 24/7 to daytime only, the park announced Tuesday.
Starting Thursday, the popular destination in northeast Wyoming will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., instead of around-the-clock. The park did not cite explanations behind the change, but social media users were quick to point to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s recent mass firings of federal workers, which has resulted in untold job losses in Wyoming.
“We apologize for any inconvenience,” the park’s Facebook post said. Monument Superintendent Doug Crossen forwarded staff-cut-related questions from WyoFile to the National Park Service’s press team in Washington, D.C., which has been handling media inquiries since Trump took office. The office didn’t respond by publication time.
The Belle Fourche Campground at Devils Tower is currently closed for the winter. It is scheduled to open May 16 and there are currently no anticipated changes to its operating schedule, Crossen told WyoFile.
The reduction appears to be an example of the harmful impacts DOGE critics warned will follow the mass firing of workers at federal land-management agencies like the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. In Wyoming, where nearly 50% of the land is public, they say, layoffs threaten everything from outdoor recreation opportunities to wildlife programs and the fabric of local communities.
“Wyoming’s outdoor industry is built on strong partnerships with federal agencies that provide essential infrastructure, permitting, and land management,” the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance said in a February press release. “A diminished federal workforce compromises public safety and access, restricts amenities, and harms Wyoming’s iconic landscapes.”
Wyoming icon
Devils Tower, which is known as Bear Lodge in Indigenous communities, rises 867 feet from the grassland and ponderosa forests and has a large summit of about 1.5 acres. It’s the world’s largest example of columnar jointing — a geologic phenomenon that creates hexagonal columns. The size and incongruity of the igneous tower make it a landmark that has long struck wonder in humans, and it’s so popular an emblem for Wyoming that it’s been featured on the state license plate.
The park sits about 10 miles south of the small town of Hulett, and is accessible by a single road, Highway 24. It attracts climbers, as well as hikers, campers and sight-seers.
Numbers wise, it’s not nearly as popular as Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, but visitations have been on the rise. The park recorded 540,890 visitations in 2024, a 27% increase over 2020.
Public lands advocates have warned that visitors to Wyoming’s forests and parks could see negative impacts from the federal cuts. The Trump administration is planning to terminate National Park Service leases and shutter 34 offices across the country that function as visitor centers, law enforcement offices, museums and hubs for critical park services, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
This story has been updated with information on the summer campground operations. -Ed.
Closing at 5:00 pm? That’s way before sunset, especially in the summer. So, it sounds like a staff shortage, not a security problem. Two federal judges have recently ordered a reversal in the mass non-performance-related firings of federal workers. I hope the judgment holds and trickles down to Wyoming workers.
When the government shutdowns happened years ago, both the BLM and Forest Service held meetings to discuss ways to make the closure more painful for their “stakeholders “ in an effort to bring public pressure to end the shutdown. This is more of the same public display of childish behavior in an attempt to sway public opinion.
The fact is, the park has been open at night for over 50 years…with no night staffing. It is a shame the author parroted the story instead of looking g deeper.
all this is bs! why you need federal workers there ? how many feds need to collect entrance fee? good choice less vandals in park!
Devils Tower has been open after 5pm UNSTAFFED for years, this is the Park Service making a whining statement.
Devils Tower is ok but we only visit during Bike Week…and then it’s not that crowded. Besides who would go there at night? And not just anyone can climb it…good decision.
Who would go to the rock in the middle of the night? A common since decision. I love Wyoming but the Government don’t exist to employ the Wyoming people. You people that hate Trump are deranged and need a reality check
Move to Canada or Europe, there you will be happy with socialism and paying 70% taxes.
The park has not been staffed at night. This is a cry for help from government workers.
Actually, I gone to the Tower in the middle of the night…to pray. It’s a singular experience—the Great Alone, no crowd, no lights, no problem.
I’m sorry to hear they’re restricting access.
Republicans have wanted to crush government instead of making it more efficient and they are getting their wish. Land management agencies were already barely keeping all the necessary operations going prior to DOGE and then got the legs cut out from under them by slashing probationary staff requiring many to make decisions about how to operate based on the remaining employees. Different activities are going to make different decisions especially if their ability to cover the gaps in their labor cannot be contracted out or have any ability to pay for repairs due to stoppage of the employee credit cards.
I am certain Senator Driskill will attempt to evaluate whether this closure was necessary based on a discussion with the Superintendent.
So…if you’re climbing the Tower, do you have to be down by 5:00p.m.? Or will summer hours be extended? And camping presents a whole different set of concerns… another example of unintended consequences not considered—if this decision was made by the current régime.
Ask the Park Supervisor how many people/ if any, were terminated at Devils Tower Park. Leaving ” social media” as the source of explanation is like relying on the weather.
The more pertinent question, to which we already know the answer, is to ask them about their level of night staffing (which has historically been-none) and how the cuts have affected that.
President Musk probably didn’t get enough cash from the sell of his Tesla to Trump to keep the Monument open 24/7/365. It’s called “Making “America” Great Again!” Again! Don’t expect egg prices to come down nor the needless Ukraine War to end anytime soon either. Musk and Trump are busy drawing up their plans for the Golf Course they are going to build in Gaza with their Tax Cuts to the Billionaires (themselves)! Sinator Driskill better buy a shxtload more Toilet Paper for his Cash Cow, Devils Tower KOA (Kommies of America), at the entrance to Devils Tower NM! You’ve been YellowStoned!
What a senseless set of comments. Plenty of places on social media to rage on about your political views.
slime bag trumpers, naturallym what moron would ever vote for a life long mafiosa creep
Saw this one coming. All those who voted for the idiot president shouldn’t be surprised at the nonsense that is happening. I feel for those who lost their jobs.
Up the fees, take care of the issue. Pay to play.
Wyoming is all Trump. Anyone that has voted for him must take the consequences. You voted for him, well now live with it without bitching.
No, no…not all of us!
Sad, but true. Unfortunately, those of us who didn’t vote for the cult leader are going to have to endure through the stupidity.
I have never been to it. Been all around it on all sides working. But never felt need to go into site. Lot of sites more scenic.
NPS has a long history of crying wolf every chance they get to politic for more funding…No thought to the impact on folks driving hundreds of miles to see this park, then turned away because they get there at 5:01, with three hours of sunlight left no less….Any basic park manager could shift park staffing hours to allow at least 7 to 7 staffing….Come on NPS, you can do better than this!;
The park has historically not been staffed at night.
Presidents Musk and Trump have no interest in NPS nor the environment. NPS returns $9 for every $1 spent.
Is it an example of harmful impacts?? How so?? Who exactly has been “harmed” by this. You don’t even pretend to make a case for it.
Journalism is dead. Just more biased slop.
Without the comment section, Wyofile would be just another echo chamber of the left.
Many Americans are simply not realizing the USA is financially DOA.
I plan to start attending the Musk/Trump protests going on with a sign that says…
“Show me what a Bankruptcy looks like”
“37 Trillion in debt is what a Bankruptcy looks like”
Trump increased the debt by $8 trillion in just four years. Now he wants to extend tax cuts for the wealthy-$4.5 trillion worth of tax cuts.
Yes, Gordon, Trump and Republicans are just as responsible for America’s Bankruptcy as Democrats.
Does that make it easier for you to accept that the USA is Bankrupt? 37 Trillion is as insurmountable as 19 Trillion was the first time Trump was POTUS.
They do nothing, NEITHER side. But the people that believe this “bi-partisan” dog and pony show continue to believe the DC puppets.
Budget cuts are tough. Personally, I buy my Rx or I go skiing. That’s life, but there is PLENTY of beauty to see in the US without going to National Parks. Get out and find the free stuff!!
The campground opens May 12, guessing it will go back to 24 hours then.