Indian Rock

Type: R-6 ground cabin
Status: Staffed
Elevation: 7,353′
Visited: October 20, 2023

I lucked into gorgeous weather while staying at the Sunshine Guard Station. One day I drove up to the Indian Rock Lookout, which is closed for the season. The drive up there on Road 45 was wildly scenic because the larches had turned:

Larches

Larches

Larches in fall

I later learned that the road up here used to be quite rough and rocky, but it was improved after the 2022 wildfire.

There is a trailhead and campground on the road just before the lookout:

Indian Rock Trailhead

Head O' Boulder Campground

Head O' Boulder Campground

Indian Rock Trailhead

Head O' Boulder Campground

The Crockets Knob Fire had burned through here in 2022 (it’s a misspelling of a nearby former lookout site, Crockett Knob):

Indian Rock

I drove to the end of the road and then hiked the 0.1 miles up to the lookout. It is staffed during fire season, but was all buttoned up for winter:

Indian Rock

Indian Rock

Indian Rock

Indian Rock Lookout

Indian Rock Lookout

View from Indian Rock

The views were stunning on this lovely day. Looking north:

View from Indian Rock

Looking down on the valley of Big Creek to the northeast, with Desolation Butte in the distance:

View from Indian Rock

View from Indian Rock

View from Indian Rock

View from Indian Rock

Looking east at Donaldson Rock (right of center) and the Elkhorns beyond:

View from Indian Rock

Donaldson Rock used to be called Squaw Rock, but its name was changed some ten years ago to get rid of a word that’s offensive to the native people and to honor miner George W. Donaldson.

Zoomed-in on the Elkhorns:

View from Indian Rock

Looking southeast at Vinegar Hill and Sunrise Butte:

Indian Rock

Looking south at Dixie Butte:

Indian Rock

Looking south with Strawberry Mountain in the distance at far left:

Indian Rock

Looking southwest:

Indian Rock

Looking west:

View from Indian Rock

Looking northwest:

View from Indian Rock

View from Indian Rock

Larches in the distance:

Indian Rock

More information

Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos
Geocache

History

A D-6 cupola lookout was built on Indian Rock in 1929:

Indian_Rock_1947

In 1957 it was replaced with the current R-6 ground cabin:

The aforementioned Crockets Knob Fire got a little too close for comfort in September 2022. Crews wrapped the cabin to keep it from burning:

IndianRockWrapped_09-05-22b

IndianRockWrapped