Hike the Balanced Rock trail in Rocky Mountain National Park | Northern Park Hikes

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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

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