Sleepy Hollow, Wall SD to Mountain View Campground, Sundance WY

September 25, 2025 – September 26, 2025

Today, we journey to Sundance, Wyoming, marking another new state for both of us. The landscape shifts once more to rolling hills and mountains, with expansive valleys sprinkled with trees and ranches. Pine forests blanket the hillsides, interspersed with deciduous trees whose leaves are turning vibrant yellows. Against the backdrop of the pines, the scenery is truly picturesque.

The towns and cities are more spread out, which means more dispersed camping options as well. While some seemed less appealing, Campendium had great reviews for Mountain Campground, located in the quaint village of Sundance, WY. It’s just a 30-minute drive south of the famous Devils Tower National Monument. Back in 1977, we watched “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the iconic Steven Spielberg film starring Richard Dreyfuss, and we knew this was a must-see for us.

Our journey today was a relatively short two-hour drive from Wall, SD, to Sundance, WY. After checking in, we got ready to visit the monument. The campground host was incredibly helpful, providing us with a map of the area and suggesting a scenic route to Devils Tower. She also recommended the best nearby spot to eat—Longhorn Saloon and Grill, a family-owned restaurant in downtown Sundance that features local beef on the menu. We made plans to stop there after our trip to Devils Tower.

As described by the host, the scenic drive was breathtaking with epic views in every direction. About 15 miles into the drive, the road climbed a hill and rounded a bend, where we first saw the iconic mountain. We can’t imagine how early settlers felt when they came across the mountain, but it soon became a way marker for wagon trains as they travelled west.

Upon arriving, we had our National Parks Passport stamped with the date and an image of the monument. A 1.6-mile paved trail loops around the mountain, and we began walking it, taking photos along the way. While walking the trail, we noticed bandanas and other fabrics tied to trees, which we learned are prayer bundles left by visitors. We knew rock climbers scaled the famous mountain and spotted a rappelling rope hanging from its side. As we rounded a bend, an EMS staff member stopped us, informed us of an accident, and asked us to turn back. Later, as we left the visitor center, we noticed an EMS vehicle and realized they were on the mountain trail providing assistance. We suspect it might have been a climber needing help since they were near the rappelling rope. We hope everything turned out okay for whoever required assistance.

After leaving the monument, we came across a Prairie Dog town and stopped to snap a few photos. They seemed pretty cute to us, though I imagine the locals might think differently. We also spotted a few bison resting near a herd of cows, with Devils Tower standing majestically in the background—a classic western scene straight out of a storybook.

After arriving back at the campground and taking quick showers, we went downtown to the Longhorn Saloon & Grill. We were seated immediately since it wasn’t too busy yet, though it got busier while we were there. Having checked the menu beforehand, we saw they had various steaks on the menu and since we knew they served local beef, that’s what Ron chose. He had a 14 oz Ribeye Steak with chipped fries and a salad. I opted for Honey Garlic Salmon with Sweet Potato Fries served with Honey Butter, along with a salad. We both agreed it was the best meal we’ve had in years. Everything was absolutely delicious – one of those meals that leaves you with a warm glow inside and out. I never imagined dipping sweet potato fries in honey butter, but it made my taste buds come alive!

We went to bed early as we had a four-hour drive to a small town near the Little Bighorn National Battlefield Monument. The 7th Ranch Campground in Garryowen, MT, has earned high praise as a top-notch spot, so we booked a stay there. Montana is a new state for both of us, and we’re thrilled to visit. We plan to stay at the campground for three nights, giving Ron a well-deserved break from driving. This will be the farthest west we go before heading back to the east.

We forgot to take a photo of Sloopy’s campsite at Mountain View!