Hike-in Required
No
Open Year-round
Yes
ADA accessible
No
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 is a popular stop for visitors of Colorado Springs’ Garden of the Gods Park. Balanced Rock is easy to get to as it is right by Garden Drive near the south entrance to the park. The red sandstone rock is huge, rising 35 above its small base; it weights approximately 1.4 million pounds. Like all the other beautiful rock formations at Garden of the Gods; Balanced Rock was exposed at the time when the Rocky Mountains were formed. Erosion over millions of years created the Balanced Rock seen today.

Many tourists take photos of Balanced Rock with a friend or family member “holding up” the rock. Another rock formation known as Steamboat Rock is very near Balanced Rock. The road (Garden Drive) actually splits around Steamboat Rock. These formations are an extremely popular stop for visitors to Garden of the Gods. Be aware that the roadside parking by Balanced Rock is quite limited.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

None

Pros

Scenic rock formation that is easy to access.

Cons

Can be crowded.

Pets allowed

Allowed with Restrictions

Features

Family friendly
Geologically significant

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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