Oregon · Hiking

Independence Rock

3.0 mi
round trip
790 ft
climb
2,807 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Independence Rock open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Detroit Ranger District. It doesn't name Independence Rock, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Detroit Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Independence Rock is a 3-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Willamette National Forest, within the Detroit Ranger District. The route rises from 2,463 feet to 2,807 feet, for a total climb of about 790 feet, and is rated moderate. The trail is managed by the Forest Service, and the Independence Rock Trailhead is its starting point. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Marion Forks Fish Hatchery weather station, about 0.1 mile away, show July and August highs near 82°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings frequent snow and highs in the low 40s. The trailhead is open from June 1 to October 31. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail. Marion Forks Campground sits just 0.3 mile away, and Independence Rock Summit is about half a mile off. For more time on foot, Bugaboo Ridge is roughly 1.6 miles away and Minto Mountain about 2.7 miles.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Independence Rock

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      40° / 27°

      19 wet · 6 snow

    2. Feb

      44° / 27°

      16 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      49° / 29°

      19 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      56° / 33°

      18 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      64° / 38°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 43°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 47°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 46°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 41°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 35°

      14 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 31°

      18 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 27°

      19 wet · 6 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Marion Forks Fish Hatchery, OR, 0.1 mi away at 2,475 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Pine RidgePhoto: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pine Ridge

~7 min drive

4.50-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 907 ft gain.

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)Photo: BHunsaker, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Turpentine Lake Trail (unofficial)

~7 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 380 ft gain and 4,734 ft max elevation.

Coffin LookoutPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Coffin Lookout

~8 min drive

2.60-mile out-and-back trail to Coffin Lookout in Oregon.

HIKE

TRAIL #60 - STRAIGHT CRK LOOP

~13 min drive

27.98-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,372 ft elevation gain/loss

Bachelor MountainPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Bachelor Mountain

~7 min drive

3.80-mile out-and-back trail to Bachelor Mountain in Oregon with 1,736 ft elevation gain.

Marion Lake OutletPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Outlet

~8 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail to Marion Lake Outlet in Oregon.

Minto PassPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Minto Pass

~10 min drive

9.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,008 ft gain

Marion Lake Trail 3436Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Marion Lake Trail 3436

~10 min drive

5.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,857 ft elevation gain and loss.

Old Hunts CovePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Old Hunts Cove

~11 min drive

2.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 712 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Bugaboo Ridge

~3 min drive

6.20-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,184 ft elevation gain.