Bear Lodge

Joyner Ridge trailhead - mask tree and Bear Lodge.

Of the may tribes associated with the Tower, the Lakotas arguably have the strongest connections (or at least the most well-documented). All of the tribes from the area associate the monolith with Bear Medicine, except the Kiowa who call it Tree Rock and link it with their astronomical knowledge.

Bear Magic is the most powerful magic.

My visits to this national park mostly consisted of lovely but relatively short walks, pictures of the Lodge from various perspectives, and dodging rain.

View from the trail that loops around the rock on the outside (there is a shorter inside trail for tourists that I avoided.)

Towers above everything.

Met this family of four. They watched me until I passed but were unafraid.

At the end of my loop hike, just before it rained.