Independence Rock
A national treasure and Wyoming historic site, Independence Rock was an important location for pioneers making the journey west on the Oregon Trail, as well as other historic trails.
There are some places that hide in plain sight. Independence Rock, located 50 miles southwest of Casper, is one of those places.
Located on Wyoming Highway 220, Independence Rock is a national treasure and state historic site that has been dubbed the “register of the desert.” This was a landmark for pioneers as they traveled to the West on the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail and California Trail, with more than 5,000 early settlers carving their names here. Prior to the pioneers passing this way, many tribal nations visited the rock, leaving their legacy for future generations through carvings.
Today, it’s an easily accessible site for modern-day travelers to stop and walk through an important part of our nation’s history. There is a trail that goes around the rock, while visitors can also hike on the rock looking for names along the way. At its tallest, Independence Rock is 136 feet high and offers a unique and stunning perspective of the surrounding terrain. And while pioneer travelers left their mark here, today’s visitors are asked to recreate responsibly and help preserve the signatures and names - carvings and markings are not allowed on any part of the rock.
If you’re curious about how it received the moniker of Independence Rock, that name was from a group of fur trappers who camped at the rock on July 4, 1830. Since then, it became the goal of many travelers to make it to the rock by the Fourth of July, which practically guaranteed they’d make it across the rugged Rocky Mountains prior to the first snowfall.
