Balanced Rock Trail
Balanced Rock Trail
4.6
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.6
736 reviews
Excellent
482
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 November 24, 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, WI384 contributions
Sep 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 October 17, 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.
TrailTrekker15
Tallahassee, FL5,585 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We hiked the Balanced Rock Trail as the sun rose over the La Sal Mountains to the east. The hike was low-intensity which was a good start to the day’s hiking. The scenery and views were amazing! The red rock formations were beautiful. A number of different desert plants were found along the trail as well. This was a great place to get introduced to Arches.
Written November 27, 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.
Founder of the HBS Wine & Cuisine Societ
El Paso, TX3,181 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 July 29, 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 August 26, 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.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,764 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 June 7, 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.
Tennessee50plus
Springfield, TN7,995 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 December 8, 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, MN8,619 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 September 13, 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.
budzy829
Henderson, NV680 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Celebrated my birthday with a milestone! I can't believe we didn't do this sooner.
After 7 trips to Utah; two visits to Bryce NP and five to Zion NP, we finally COMPLETED Utah's Mighty 5! 🙏
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Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks in 4 days was definitely not enough considering the 7 hrs one-way drive from home, BUT we made it work! 👍 Hiking only the ones we can and stopped at overlooks we wanted to see made our trip a success.
We'll come back another time to explore more.. or maybe move forward to other NPs! 😂
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“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain
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#nationalpark #arches #archesnationalpark #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #capitolreef #capitolreefnationalpark #deadhorsepoint #park #moab #utah #view #views #overlook #hiking #travel #roadtrip #outdoors #adventure #explore
After 7 trips to Utah; two visits to Bryce NP and five to Zion NP, we finally COMPLETED Utah's Mighty 5! 🙏
•
Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks in 4 days was definitely not enough considering the 7 hrs one-way drive from home, BUT we made it work! 👍 Hiking only the ones we can and stopped at overlooks we wanted to see made our trip a success.
We'll come back another time to explore more.. or maybe move forward to other NPs! 😂
•
“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain
•
#nationalpark #arches #archesnationalpark #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #capitolreef #capitolreefnationalpark #deadhorsepoint #park #moab #utah #view #views #overlook #hiking #travel #roadtrip #outdoors #adventure #explore
Written March 17, 2024
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, IL789 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 November 5, 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.
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