Permits & Reservations

Reservations

• No advanced reservations are needed to enter Devils Tower National Monument
• The Belle Fourche River Campground inside the monument is first come, first served

Permits

A special park use is a short-term activity that occurs in a National Park Service area and:

• Provides a benefit to an individual, group, or organization, rather than the public at large
• Requires written authorization and some degree of management control from the National Park Service in order to protect park resources and the public interest
• Is not prohibited by law or regulation
• Is neither initiated, sponsored, nor conducted by the National Park Service

 

Special Use Permits

Special events such as weddings, ceremonies, gatherings, sporting events, scattering of ashes, and other similar activities require the approval of a permit and payment of fees before the activity can be conducted in the park.

• Application/Administration Fee: $100, non-refundable. You may pay by US check, cashier’s check, or money order; to pay online, email us or call [phone] x636. This must be submitted with your application or it will not be processed.
• Monitoring Fee: If the activity requires monitoring by park staff, an hourly fee will be charged. The fee will be determined based on staff availability and ranges from $25/hr - $60/hr.

Permits are not required for demonstrations, public assemblies, or distribution of printed material by 25 persons or fewer. All other First Amendment activities require the approval of a permit before the activity can be conducted in the park. Permit fees for First Amendment activities are waived.

Please submit applications for special use permits 14 days in advance.

 

Filming Permits

Commercial filming or photography requires a filming permit. Permits are not required for visitors using cameras for personal use, or for film or video news crews at breaking news events. Please submit commercial filming/ still photography applications 60 days in advance.

Remotely piloted aircraft (drones) are not permitted for commercial filming, and the park superintendent will not seek higher level approval for any commercial filming activities. For more on National Park Service (NPS) policy regarding drone usage, please see:

• Unmanned Aircraft in National Parks
• NPS Aviation Program
• Unmanned Aircraft - Interim Policy Memo

Additionally, the use of a helicopter for commercial filming will not be permitted. For more information, please refer to the park's No Fly Advisory.

Filming Fees

• Application/Administration Fee: $100, non-refundable. You may pay by US check, cashier’s check, or money order; to pay online, email us or call [phone] x636. This must be submitted with your application or it will not be processed.
• Location Fee: This is determined by the total number of cast and crew you will have on location. Below is a table that lists the location fees.

Number of Cast/Crew	Video/Motion Picture Location Fees	Still Photography Location Fees
1-10	$150 per day	$50 per day
11-30	$250 per day	$150 per day
31-49	$500 per day	$250 per day
50 or more	$750 per day	$500 per day

• Monitoring Fee: There is an hourly monitoring fee for the Park Ranger(s) that is/are required to be on location for every shoot that is permitted in the park. The fee will be determined based on staff availability and ranges from $25/hr - $60/hr.
• Liability Insurance: You will be required to provide a copy of your liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 and the certificate holder on the policy must read "United States of America / Devils Tower National Monument."
• Bond: A bond may be required. This will depend on the scope of the project. Each project is different so this fee is not a set price.

Application for Commercial Filming/Still Photography Permit

All special park use applications are processed and reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Completion and submission of an application and application fee does not guarantee permit approval. Conditions applying to all permits include:

• Access for other park visitors must not be impeded.
• Available parking is limited, often crowded and not guaranteed.
• Depending on location and time of day, requests may be denied during periods of heavy use or limited staffing (such as the week before Memorial Day, Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend, Labor Day weekend, or the first full week of August).
• Events must not impact park resources or impede a positive visitor experience for others.
• Use of decorations, music, and equipment must be specifically discussed with park staff and approved by permit.
• The permit holder is required to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and codes.

For further information about obtaining a Special Use Permit or determining if your activity needs a permit, please contact us.

 

Commercial Use Authorizations

If you are a business such as a road-based tour company, climbing guide service, or other commercial company doing business in the park, please visit our Do Business With Us page to learn more.