Balanced Rock
Arches National Park
Balanced Rock is one of the most iconic formations in Arches National Park that isn’t an arch. This rock is bigger than you might think!
Difficulty:
Length:
Time:
Easy
0.3 Miles
15-30 Minutes
Trail Type:
Pets:
Required Gear:
Small Loop
No
None
Rating:
Season:
Fees:
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
All Year
National Park Entrance Fee
Balanced Rock seems to defy gravity and physics. It stands 128 feet tall. The best pictures of this formation occur at sunset when the sun turns the slickrock a deep red.
Trailhead Info
Arches National Park is located roughly 5 miles north of Moab on Highway 128. The trailhead is located about halfway up the Arches National Park main road. To get here, follow the park road 9.2 miles to the Balanced Rock Parking lot. You can’t miss it! Since this area is so easily accessed and is pretty much roadside, this is one of the busier and crowded parts of the park.
Trail Info
The small loop hike around the arch is pretty straight forward. Feel free to go counter-clockwise or clockwise as you get a different perspective of the sandstone neck holding the rock up. There is a minimal amount of elevation gain but nothing bad. Kids can easily make this hike. You can also enjoy Balanced Rock by never leaving the comfort of your car if you’d like. It’s very visible from the road and trailhead parking lot.
Elevation Profile and Map
