Last updated on .
Independence Rock juts out of the ground in the middle of the Sweetwater Valley along Highway 220 in Wyoming, about an hour drive from both Casper and Rawlins.
Overview of Independence Rock
The rock was a landmark for pioneers heading west on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. Almost a half million passed by between 1843 and 1869. Their goal was to reach it by the 4th of July — not to celebrate Independence Day, but rather to avoid treacherous mountain snowfall before reaching their destinations. They knew that if they stayed on schedule, they would be sure to make it through the Rocky Mountains before winter set in. Legendary mountain man William Sublette (1798–1845) officially gave the landmark its name in 1830, after he celebrated Independence Day there while passing through with 81 men and 10 wagons.
Independence Rock features more than 5,000 names carved into it, with one of the earliest signatures by M. K. Hugh — now faded away — in 1824. Missionary Pierre-Jean De Smet (1801–1873), who celebrated the holiday after reaching the rock in 1841, called it the “Great Register of the Desert”.
The rock became a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961, and a Wyoming State Historic Site shortly after. You can access the site at a rest area on Highway 220, open 24 hours a day with no admission (as of January 2026).
Climbing the Rock
Independence Rock rises 130 feet (39.6 meters) high and measures 1,900 feet (579.1 meters) long by 850 feet (259 meters) wide. There’s a short path from the rest area that leads to the rock. The trail around the base is about a mile long (1.6 kilometers) and you can climb up to the top as well. Just be careful — it can be slippery. Once at the top, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the valley.
It’s exciting to search for the names carved into the rock, but they aren’t exactly easy to read. It seems that weather has taken its toll, along with modern-day vandals carving their names alongside the pioneers. Keep in mind there are no marked trails to the signatures.
