Balanced Rock facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Balanced Rock
View of Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock Location in Utah
Location	Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Nearest city	Moab
Elevation	128 ft (39 m)
Governing body	National Park Service

Balanced Rock is a super cool natural wonder! It's one of the most famous sights in Arches National Park in Utah, United States. Imagine a giant rock that looks like it's perfectly balanced on a much smaller base. That's Balanced Rock!

You can easily spot this amazing rock from the park's main road. It's about 9.2 miles (14.8 km) from the park entrance. This makes it a popular stop for visitors.

The entire rock formation stands tall at 128 feet (39 meters). The huge "balancing" part of the rock is 55 feet (16.75 meters) high. It's the biggest balancing rock in the park, weighing about 3,577 tons. That's like 3,577 small cars stacked up!

How Balanced Rock Formed

Balanced Rock is made of two different kinds of rock. The top, heavy part is a strong rock called the Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone. It sits on a base made of a softer rock called the Dewey Bridge Member.

Over millions of years, wind and water slowly wore away the softer rock at the bottom. This process is called erosion. Because the bottom erodes faster than the top, the base became much narrower. This is how the rock got its unique balanced look.

The Future of Balanced Rock

Because the base keeps eroding, Balanced Rock will eventually collapse. This is a natural process that happens to many rock formations. In fact, Balanced Rock once had a smaller "sibling" rock nearby. It was called "Chip Off the Old Block." That smaller rock fell apart during the winter of 1975–76 due to the same natural forces.

Visiting Balanced Rock

It's easy to get a closer look at Balanced Rock! There's a short, paved walking path that forms a loop. It's about 1/4 mile (400 meters) long. This trail starts from the main road and takes you right to the base of the amazing rock formation. It's a great way to see just how big and impressive it is up close.

More Cool Rocks

• Balanced Rock (Garden of the Gods)
• Balancing rock

Find Out More

• Learn more about Balanced Rock at Arches National Park
• See another Balanced Rock in New York