Portland, OR
Ranger | 965 pts
This is beautiful wilderness, remote and rugged. Big Indian Gorge is a very strenuous trail for a day hike, but very doable as a backpacking trip. The incline is steady and gradual. The first part of the trail is rocky and exposed but after a few miles the trail dips into a shady patch, some forest groves, and grows denser with sage brush. There are many campsites--we camped at Cottonwood Camp. The area is managed by the BLM, so its a good idea to check in to see how the conditions are.