Quick Facts
Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 40′ / 12 m
Length of Hike: 0.2 – 1.0 miles / 0.3 – 1.6 km round trip
The Record
I often debate whether to feature waterfalls that aren’t entirely natural. While I usually skip small, man-made cascades, I decided to make an exception for what I’ve called Independence Mine Falls. The waterfall in some form or another may have existed before the mine.
You’ll find this waterfall in Independence Mine Historical State Park, a hidden gem in the Talkeetna Mountains not far from Anchorage, Palmer, or Wasilla. The drive itself is scenic, following a narrow road into the mountains. The waterfall is located within a fascinating abandoned gold mine, likely created when water was diverted to power machinery. For me, the industrial ruins surrounding the falls only added to their intrigue. I visited in 2014 and enjoyed my time there enough to bring my family in 2021.
Directions
- From Palmer, drive north on Glenn Highway (AK-1).
- After 2 miles or so, turn left onto Fishhook-Willow Rd/N Palmer Fishhook Rd. Follow this road for 17 miles. There are some sharp turns on this road, so drive carefully. The road changes names multiple times. At one point, it’s called Hatcher Pass Road since you’ll go through the pass.
- You’ll enter the park boundary, and the parking area is obvious. The falls are near the mine remnants. How far you’ll walk/hike to the falls depends on where you’ve parked. In both visits, it was never wildly populated.
Waterfall Record 
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