CLN on the Road: Devils Tower National Monument

Written by

The sign read “Discover the Black Hills National Forest” and that is exactly what Cowboy Lifestyle Network intends to do over the next few weeks.
In partnership with the Coors Banquet’s pledge to Protect Our West and the Wildland Firefighter Foundation we want to share with you a few road trips.

So this July follow along as Cowboy Lifestyle Network explores the Black Hills National Forest and surrounding state and national parks including the Badlands and Devils Tower National Monument.

Exploring Black Hills National Forest

Our first leg of the Protect Our West trip on July 1, 2014 took us west on Interstate 90 just across the border in Wyoming.

Wildland Firefighters are part of a whole team of forest service personnel working to keep grasslands and forests safe.

Due to the rainfall in the 125 miles of Black Hills the landscape is abundantly green.While Devils Tower is about 30 miles off I-90 the beauty of the geography often had me reflecting on the line in the Cowboy’s Prayer about heaven and salvation through Jesus Christ, ” …that when we make that last inevitable ride, to the country up there, where the grass grows lush, green, and stirrup high, and the water runs cool, clear, and deep, that you’ll tell us our entry fees are paid.”
Driving along highway 24 with cattle grazing it sure looked like heaven on earth.

Once on the Tower Trail around the base of the monument charred logs and trees are noticeable. A quick glance through the newspaper presented at the park entrance explains the controlled burn in 2013 to reduce the amount of fuel (dead trees and brushy undergrowth) and non-native plants in the forest grasslands.

On the eastern side is a view worth capturing on camera. For tourists seeking a bit of early cowboy history the Campstool Ranch est. 1882 is within view and Hulett, Wyoming is only nine miles further where Bob Coronato has his western art studio.

Cowboy Lifestyle Network grabbed apples, packed water and made peanut butter and strawberry rhubarb sandwiches.

Tweet us your must-have trail snacks!

Thank you to our rodeo friends Duane and Claudette Reichert for making us homemade jelly to include in the snack pack.

Gretchen Kirchmann

Gretchen Kirchmann is a veteran journalist covering a variety of events across the country each year. She founded Kirchmann Media Group in 2009 and works as a marketing consultant with a forte for the western lifestyle industry, festivals, fairs and rodeo world. Her work includes 15 national communication awards plus coverage of Nashville's CMT Awards and CMA Fanfest. A favorite assignment was attending the all cast reunion of the Dukes of Hazard in 2006 and 2007 at Dukesfest. In December you will find her covering the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Miss Rodeo America pageant live from Las Vegas. Her favorite color is orange, favorite song "Rocky Top" and she loves to dance especially clogging.