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Balanced Rock- 4 miles


Trail Type: Moderate Hike
Trailhead: Gem Lake
Location: Northern Park
Trailhead Elevation: 7,840'
Destination Elevation: 8,744'
​Total Elevation Gain: 1,371'
​
Total Roundtrip Miles: 7.8

Balanced Rock, Rocky Mountain National Park
Balanced Rock
Trail Description
Begin by following the popular 1.8 mile trail to Gem Lake. Skirt the west shoreline of the small lake to the left and look for trail signs indicating the direction to Balanced Rock and Cow Creek. The trail begins to drop in elevation for much of the 1.2 miles to the trail junction for Balance Rock, then meanders through lodge pole pine for another mile before reaching the ominous rock balancing on its pedestal. This coarse-grained granite was rounded by millions of years of non-glacial erosion.
How to Get There
From downtown Estes Park, travel north on MacGregor Ave for 1.5 miles to the Gem Lake Trailhead sign. ​​
Trail Profile
Balance Rocky Trail Profile
See an Index of Trail Profiles here
​Weather Information
NWS Weather Link
Trail Map
Balanced Rock Trail, RMNP, Map
Balanced Rock Trail Photo Gallery

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  • Home
  • Hike Rocky Magazine
    • Hike Rocky magazine
    • RMNP Updates
    • Trail Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Science & Ecology
    • History & Current Issues
    • Stories & Adventure
    • Culture and Arts in the Park
    • The Continental Divide Story, 1977 by Kip Rusk
  • Trail Guide to RMNP
    • Trails by Location
    • Trails by Distance
    • Trails by Destination
    • Index of Trails
  • Wildflowers of RMNP
    • April/May Flowers
    • June/July Flowers
    • August/September Flowers
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Supporting Partners
    • Media Kit
    • 2025 Hike Rocky Print Edition
    • 2024 Hike Rocky Print Magazine