Independence Rock State Historic Site

Wow, what a fascinating place! Such a cool slice of our American Pioneering history. The place is gated up pretty well, assuming to avoid defacing this piece of history. We did see people climbing on it while there, but it looks like efforts have been taken to detour people from doing so. Please respect this piece of history and only observe its awesomeness. Not a lot to see or do here other than view a cool piece of pioneering history. Worth a stop :)

A must-see for anyone interested in American history and natural landmarks. The rock is famously known as the “Register of the Desert” because of the thousands of names carved into its surface by pioneers traveling the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails in the mid-1800s. Walking around the rock and seeing these inscriptions was a humbling reminder of the hardships and hopes of those early travelers. The site is well-maintained, with clear paths and informative markers that provide context about the rock’s significance and the history of the area. Climbing to the top offers a rewarding view and a closer look at some of the carvings, though it can be a bit challenging, so good shoes are recommended. The surrounding landscape is beautiful, with wide-open plains and distant mountains. It’s a peaceful and reflective place, perfect for history buffs, nature lovers, and anyone looking to connect with the past.

We enjoyed our visit to independence rock. There was a trail that wrapped around the rock. We didn’t walk around the entire rock. The path narrowed towards the back where it had not been traveled as often. Several people were climbing on the rock. We didn’t have our climbing shoes with us as we did not realize that you could actually climb on the rock. The path was easy to walk on, with minimal changes in elevation. We had a 2, 8 and 10 year old with us who had no difficultly walking the trail.

This is a fun stop to take a break during a long drive. If you want to hike to the top of the "Rock" you are able to, it is fairly steep though. From what I could tell there is no trail on the rock, just around it. When i hiked up, it took a couple of minutes, and then you get a great 360 view of the beautiful high desert. Worth the stop.

It's pretty far out in the wilderness of Wyoming, but what a fun activity for July 4th! We both took the trail around the rock and climbed up and down it. The climb is not hard, and the view is great.