Independence Rock - A Landmark Deadline
Written By: Sarah Reish
Following the Oregon Trail, albeit in a modern vehicle with air conditioning, was captivating and thought provoking. Living in Wyoming we all know there are those areas with miles upon miles of prairie with little more than shrubs, occasional rock formations, and the ever present wind. The journey for the settlers, in my head, is incredibly boring and mind numbing.
A Day In The Life Of A Pioneer
For this article I referenced The Oregon Trail Center to really understand what a day on the trail would be like. The night guard would trumpet or shoot a gun at 4 am to get people up to begin their day. Before heading out those traveling needed to get up, get dressed, livestock needed rounded up, breakfast made, and camp cleaned up: tents, bedding, pots, pans, chairs, instruments, et cetera all packed back into the wagon. Then the wagons hitched, horses saddled, and shoes tied and ready to go by 7 am when the wagon master called “Wagons, ho!”. Then it was five hours of walking, with a lead team ahead of the train to ensure clear paths, a break for lunch, and then continuing until a suitable location with water and grass was found that evening for making camp - and it was repeated daily. Many of the women and children gathered fuel for the fires as they walked. The men drove or led the wagons, rode horseback, scouted, watch for danger, and hunted.
Making Good Time
I personally, cannot imagine taking that journey across America, basically on foot. But living here in Wyoming I can imagine the need for making good time, as winter weather is unpredictable. With this in mind a landmark deadline was marked on the map to ensure those migrating west had ample time to traverse the mountains before winter set in. Timing was everything.
Independence Rock History
It’s not a single purpose historic site because it was both a registry and landmark goal. Like Register Cliff, Independence Rock saw its own share of roughly 5,000 registries carved into its face, the oldest being in 1824 by M.K. Hugh. The location received its name when William Sublette and 80 pioneers celebrated Independence Day at that location. It then became a landmark date and goal. A legend for those traveling to reach this location by July 4th to ensure safe passage through the mountains before winter. While people arrived at various dates throughout the season, the legend held strong and it is still told today.
The Site
Located on State Route 220 at the Independence Rock Rest Area is this amazing historic site. The rock itself is impressive at 136 feet at its highest point and can be seen from miles away. There is a path that surrounds the entire formation and is over a mile in length. Known as windfaceting, the wind has carried sand and silt across the surface and polished the rock making it easier for pioneers to etch their names onto the surface. From the parking area to the rock, visitors have access to plaques that share the rich history and facts about the location.
Go For It
What makes this site a favorite of mine is the accessibly to explore. We hiked around the entire site, climbed over and across, up and down. There is so much to see and so many hidden alcoves to find. Much like a game of hide and seek we explore various areas, some shaded looking for places someone traveling on a wagon train might go to cool down - and then we search for names that might be carved in those areas. We won’t give anything away, but we think you should head out and see what messages and secret spots you can find in and around Independence Rock.
The Details
Location: Independence Rock State Historic Site WY-220 Alcova, Wyoming 82620
Hours: Open year round 24 hours - weather permitting
Facilities: Dumping station, camping, hiking, climbing historic site, modern restrooms.
Accessibility: Do to the cattle guard style gates, this location is somewhat difficult to navigate. Please use caution if you have limited mobility.
Who would enjoy this location: Any age group would enjoy this spot. We saw to school busses of kids, elderly, and middle aged. The site is informative, historic, and offers plenty of space to explore and have fun.
Things to note: Please use caution and climb at your own risk. Bring plenty of water and use sunscreen as there is limited shade.
Hit The Road
This has been on of my favorite locations because of all that it offers. Our team agrees this is another must see place and a local bucket list location for our fellow Wyomingites who have not yet been. Be sure to take some photos for social media and tag us @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld
