Balanced Rock Trail
Balanced Rock Trail
4.5
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4.5
733 reviews
Excellent
479
Very good
212
Average
41
Poor
0
Terrible
1
MSAinSLC
Highland, UT72 contributions
Nov 2020
One of my favorite spots in the park. Easy access right up to the base and the surrounding structure. Or you can view it from the parking lot area if you are not very mobile. Watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade before venturing into the park and this location. It will enhance your appreciation of the site :-).
My youngest child exclaimed that it was a big thumb and showed us how it looked to her by sticking up her thumb the first time she saw it at about 5 years old...
My youngest child exclaimed that it was a big thumb and showed us how it looked to her by sticking up her thumb the first time she saw it at about 5 years old...
Written 24 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Founder of the HBS Wine & Cuisine Societ
El Paso, TX3,137 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
You cannot miss the « Balanced Rock » one of the most iconic stop in the park. It stands 128 feet (39 m) tall. You can see it from many different parts of the park. The rock is one of the popular stopping points for people driving the park road. You can stop to enjoy the easy 0.3-mile hike around the rock’s base for a close perspectives.
The beginning of the trail is paved and easy for people using wheelchairs. There is a large viewpoint at the end of the paved trail with a spectacular view of The Windows Section and La Sal Mountains in the distance. The trail continues over rocky slopes around the back of Balanced Rock. Rangers build small rock piles (cairns) to mark the trail. Follow these, and please don't build your own.
The parking lot is small, and is often crowded during the day. If there is no parking available, simply come back at another time. Sunrise and sunset are less busy times, and at sunset, Balanced Rock becomes saturated in a deep red-orange making it a great place to end your day at Arches National Park.
The beginning of the trail is paved and easy for people using wheelchairs. There is a large viewpoint at the end of the paved trail with a spectacular view of The Windows Section and La Sal Mountains in the distance. The trail continues over rocky slopes around the back of Balanced Rock. Rangers build small rock piles (cairns) to mark the trail. Follow these, and please don't build your own.
The parking lot is small, and is often crowded during the day. If there is no parking available, simply come back at another time. Sunrise and sunset are less busy times, and at sunset, Balanced Rock becomes saturated in a deep red-orange making it a great place to end your day at Arches National Park.
Written 29 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joebob747
Neenah, WI385 contributions
Sept 2021
20 min walk, maybe, to go all the way around it. Good luck finding parking. But if you get to stop, it's really cool how the rock changes shape as you walk around. Nice, reasonable level trail.
Written 17 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tennessee50plus
Springfield, TN8,011 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
We arrived at arches National Park just before sunrise to avoid the traffic that shows up by 9 o'clock. The park is usually closed by 10:00 a.m. because of excessive traffic. We happened to be at balanced rock at sunrise which was a great experience since the Sun rises behind it. It has a nice parking lot and even if you don't walk the trail you can easily see the formation from the parking lot.
Written 8 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN5,770 contributions
Aug 2020
I headed here as my first stop when arriving at Arches in the evening to experience sunset and it was very cool. The colors on the rock formation are amazing at this time of the day. Easily accessible off the main scenic road through the park and easy to walk the short trail around the formation. Also a great place to come for stargazing at night.
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BruinDan
Fullerton, CA3,186 contributions
Oct 2020
Balanced Rock, a huge sandstone block that appears to balance precariously on a thin rock column, is one of the most popular attractions within Arches National Park. It is located next to the park’s main road, a little over 9 miles/14.5 km from the park entrance. It has the distinction of being one of only a few of the park’s best-known features to be clearly visible from the road.
Both the parking lot and trailhead for Balanced Rock are located along the main road, on the east side of the junction with the Willow Springs Trail. NOTE that the parking lot is relatively small and can fill up quickly. From the trailhead it is an easy 0.3 mile/0.48 km round trip walk along a well-groomed trail with an elevation gain of less than 50 ft/15 m.
Balanced Rock is a natural wonder and curiosity, and it’s worth taking a few minutes to pull over, stretch your legs and get a closer look. NOTE that the best time to photograph Balanced Rock is during the afternoon.
Both the parking lot and trailhead for Balanced Rock are located along the main road, on the east side of the junction with the Willow Springs Trail. NOTE that the parking lot is relatively small and can fill up quickly. From the trailhead it is an easy 0.3 mile/0.48 km round trip walk along a well-groomed trail with an elevation gain of less than 50 ft/15 m.
Balanced Rock is a natural wonder and curiosity, and it’s worth taking a few minutes to pull over, stretch your legs and get a closer look. NOTE that the best time to photograph Balanced Rock is during the afternoon.
Written 16 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traderjoey
Chicago, IL784 contributions
Nov 2020
Easy hike for all, basically a flat short loop. Nice picture op. Parking was an issue, but circled back a 2nd time. In general, if you aren't in the park by about 10 AM, you might be sitting in line to get in.
Written 5 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve C
Sun City Center, FL97 contributions
Aug 2022
We walked around the rock on the short trail that goes around it. This was fantastic as the balanced rock looked different from every angle and light on it. It is very interested how it has not fallen YET. Must do
Written 26 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FYL003
Chicago, IL1,051 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
Quite amazing that the rock looks different at different angle when walking around the base. One side is flat like a wall and then it looks like a football from another of side of the trail. This is a popular spot because the ease of accessibility to the base. This is very close to the entrance, suggestion is to stop by on the way out of the park.
Written 21 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL21,965 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
One of the attractions in Arches NP is Balanced Rock. It is a really cool formation to see but it kind of gets lost with all the arches. Still it is in the center of the park with its own parking area. You will pass it going to most of the big arch attractions in the park. We stopped to see it and take a group picture here as a rain storm moved across the park, kind of cool experience.
Written 7 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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