Balanced Rock
| Balanced Rock | |
|---|---|
 View of Balanced Rock | |
  Balanced Rock Location in Utah | |
| Location | Arches National Park, Utah, United States |
| Nearest city | Moab |
| Coordinates | 38°42′05″N 109°33′52″W / 38.7013°N 109.5645°W |
| Elevation | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Balanced Rock is one of the most popular features of Arches National Park, situated in Grand County, Utah, United States. Balanced Rock is located next to the park's main road, at about 9.2 miles (14.8 km) from the park entrance. It is one of only a few prominent features clearly visible from the road.[1] The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet (39 m), with the balancing rock rising 55 feet (16.75 m) above the base. This rock is the largest of its kind in the park, weighing approximately 3,577 tons.
Geology[edit]
Balanced Rock is composed of the hard Slick Rock Member of the Entrada Sandstone. It sits on a pedestal of the softer Dewey Bridge Member which erodes faster than then the rock above. This will cause the eventual collapse of balanced rock. Balanced Rock had a smaller sibling named "Chip-Off-the-Old-Block" that collapsed in the winter of 1975–76 as a result of the same forces.[1]
Access[edit]
The formation can be accessed by a 1/4 mile (400 meter) paved loop trail from the main road leading to the base of the formation.[2]
In popular culture[edit]
The Balanced Rock can be seen in the opening of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Balanced Rock – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
- ^ "Balanced Rock Loop Trail". AllTrails. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade". The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
External links[edit]
- Arches National Park Balanced Rock page
- Balanced Rock of the Hudson Valley – Large perched rock and possible Druid Dolmen located in North Salem, NY
Media related to Balanced Rock (Arches National Park) at Wikimedia Commons
38°42′02″N 109°33′51″W / 38.70056°N 109.56417°W
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