Hike-in Required
No
Open Year-round
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Balanced Rock in an iconic landmark within Arches National Park. Perched atop a hill, it can be easily spotted while driving through the park along the main road. A parking lot and short paved trail offer easy access to amazing views of this geological marvel and the distant mountains. There is a paved trail leading to the best views and a very short trail trail circling this very special destination. Unlike many of the other key landmarks of the park, its location allows it to be photographed throughout the day in great light. 

At sunrise, park in the lot and walk across the street and along the dirt road. Then climb the rock dome for a great composition of the distant mountains, glowing sky, and balanced rock. Use a standard zoom lens. In the afternoon, choose a wide angle or standard zoom lens and shoot from the pull-off along the road to the Windows section. At night, park in the lot and photograph from the paved trail leading to the arch. A wide or ultra-wide angle lens is a great choice, and don't forget the tripod.

 

 

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

National or state forest pass

Pros

Easy access. Photogenic.

Cons

Crowds. Limited parking.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Features

ADA accessible
Wildlife
Family friendly
Geologically significant
Big vistas

Location

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