Day 19

Gillette to Spearfish

Monday, August 31, 2026

Today's ride takes you past Devil's Tower, declared America's first National Monument by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. This stump-shaped volcanic formation was formed from hot magma 40 million years ago and measures 867 feet from base to summit. The sediment around it has eroded away, leaving the tower you see today. It is near the Bear Lodge Mountains in the Black Hills and is a sacred place among several Native American tribes. Legend has it that several young Native American girls who were being chased by bears, climbed up on a rock to escape and were saved by the Great Spirit who raised the rock high into the sky. The angry bears could not reach the top but left deep claw marks in the sides of the tower trying. Indeed, the tower is formed by columns of rock that resemble claw marks. The columns and cracks make it an attractive site for rock climbers, and one last fun fact, it was featured in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977. Be sure to stop for a photo as you pass by. You'll continue through the hills as you make your way to Sundance. This town may ring a bell, as it is where "The Sundance Kid" got his name after being released from jail here. Notice his statue near the courthouse on the town square and the Crook County Museum where his trial took place. As you leave Sundance, it's only a few more miles until you cross the border into South Dakota, state number six. Tonight's home is in the small town of Spearfish, so named for the crystal clear waters of Spearfish Creek, where Native Americans would hunt fish with spears. After checking in at the Best Western, take a stroll to Main Street and enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

Elevation Profile