Arches National Park in Grand County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Balanced Rock
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 7, 2019
1. Balanced Rock Marker
The caprock of the hard Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone is perched upon a pedestal of mudstone. This softer Dewey Bridge Member of the Carmel Formation weathers more quickly than the resistant rock above. Eventually, the faster-eroding Dewey Bridge will cause the collapse of the Balanced Rock.
Throughout the park you can see other balanced rocks, spires, and pinnacles that form as different rock layers erode at different rates.
Entrada Sandstone
Total Height: 128 feet (39 meters)
Boulder Height: 55 feet (17 meters)
Boulder Weight: 3,500 tons (over 3 million kilograms)
Chip-Off-the-Old-Block was a steady companion to Balanced Rock until it toppled during the winter of 1975-76.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 38° 42.089′ N, 109° 33.926′ W. Marker is in Arches National Park, Utah, in Grand County. It is on Arches Entrance Road, on the right when traveling
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Canyon Country. It is also in the American Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gone but Not Forgotten (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Double Arch (approx. 1.7 miles away); How Arches Are Formed (approx. 1.9 miles away); Ancient Sand Dunes (approx. 2.7 miles away); Home Sweet Desert (approx. 3.4 miles away); Stories on Stone (approx. 3½ miles away); Casualties of Change (approx. 4.1 miles away); An Enduring Icon (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arches National Park.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Wolfe Ranch (was approx. 3.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Arches National Park - NPS. (Submitted on January 30, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
Photographed by Michael Kindig, March 31, 2008
2. Balanced Rock Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 7, 2019
3. Balanced Rock and Marker
Photographed by Michael Kindig, March 31, 2008
4. Balanced Rock
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 13, 2020
5. Balanced Rock
Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,568 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 8, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on January 27, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3. submitted on April 7, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on January 27, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 5. submitted on November 13, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
