July 20, 2011 - Roughlock Falls and Devils Tower

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Wednesday, July 20

began in Rapid City. Drove up Spearfish Canyon and hiked to Roughlock Falls. Lunch in Sundance WY. Hiked a few times around Devils Tower. Back to Rapid City 
Weather:
  Lows: Rapid City: 68; Spearfish: 68 
  Highs: Rapid City: 86; Spearfish: 96; Devils Tower: 81; Sundance: 92
Hikes/Walks: 7.8 miles
2.2 miles: Roughlock Falls, 100 foot elevation gain
0.1 miles: Bridal Veil Falls
5.5 miles: Devils Tower, 1100 foot elevation gain
Today was our hiking day, taking advantage of cool morning temperatures and then cooler daytime temperatures in Wyoming. We made an early start, drove to Spearfish, SD, then up Spearfish Canyon to hike to Roughlock Falls - a double tiered waterfall with a multi-channel lower falls and a taller upper falls.

We also briefly stopped at Bridal Veil Falls which was located alongside US-14A on the way back to Spearfish.

Then west into Wyoming. After a lunch stop in Sundance WY, we went to Devils Tower and hiked both the outer loop and inner loop around the tower, taking photos from various angles.

From the trail, we also had a nice view of the Belle Fourche River running by adjacent to the monument.

We shared the trail with what appeared to be a cross-country team. If you're going to run cross-country, the trail at Devils Tower would certainly be a great place to do it.

A very zoomed-in photograph can give an idea of the character of the formation.

I'm not a climber, so it's hard for me to think of climbing the tower. But there are a couple of climbers working up the tower. Can you see them?