Little Devils Tower Trail

Little Devils Tower Trail is a 3-mile out-and-back from the signed trailhead on Needles Highway, following Trail #4 to the named summit spur and returning the same way. The route is listed at 1.5 miles each way, with two to four hours allowed and a strenuous rating. The first stretch is a fairly gentle walk among granite formations; the climb gets steeper, and the last part is a hands-on scramble through narrow rock chimneys to a broad granite fin. Do this one if you’re comfortable climbing over uneven rock. If you’d rather not scramble, turn around at the lower outcrop before the tight passages.

About 0.2 mile in, a side trail leads toward Poet’s Table; stay right on the Little Devils Tower route. The first 0.7 mile crosses granite formations with only a modest rise. After that, the path climbs through mixed ponderosa pine, birch, and aspen toward the ridge. Near the top, a junction connects with routes toward Cathedral Spires and Black Elk Peak; stay left for Little Devils Tower. The park warns that trail connections and markings can be easy to miss, so pay attention on the way back as well as on the way up.

The summit spur crosses uneven granite and narrows into cracks between the rocks. The route account describes a sharp right after the first scramble; look for the continuation rather than forcing a way up a nearby face. The last rocks are the hardest part, and visitors report turning back there when the scramble feels too exposed or awkward. The summit is a bare rock fin, not a built platform. There’s no shame in stopping at the lower outcrop: it gives you a taste of the granite and a view without committing to the narrowest section.

The small parking area is on Needles Highway (SD-87), about a mile east of Sylvan Lake. Parking is limited, and there’s a vault toilet at the trailhead; no restrooms or water are provided along the route. A Custer State Park entrance license is required. The 3-mile figure starts here: beginning at Sylvan Lake adds about a mile round trip, while Cathedral Spires and Black Elk Peak approaches are different hikes. Pets are allowed under control; wilderness rules require a leash or strict voice control, and the final scramble may not suit every dog. The summit is exposed, so summer storms, hail, and strong wind are good reasons to turn around early.