Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6258 - 6312 feet
Cellphone: 2-5 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: P16-Spring Canyon Picnic Area
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic geology
The Balanced Rock trail is located in the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The trail begins at the Spring Canyon South Picnic Area where it travels by the Trading Post enroute to Balanced Rock. Short spurs connect the Balanced Rock trail with the Cabin Canon, Siamese Twins and Strausenback trails. For those that would like to see Balanced Rock without all of the hiking you can drive right to it and park in the P15 lot.
The trail begins at the Spring Canyon South Picnic Area on the west side of Parking Lot 16.
From there the trail follows a wide path that parallels the road.
The Garden of the Gods Trading Post can be seen across the road after a short distance.
After passing the trading post the trail begins crossing a grassy meadow.
On the other side of the meadow the trail comes to a fork where the Balanced Rock trail continues to the left.
The trail becomes narrower as it begins a short climb.
After a short distance the trail spills out onto the road. Balanced Rock is to the left at this point.
At the Balance Rock Area the road passes between Balanced Rock and Steamboat Rock. The road travels all the way around Steamboat Rock from where some of the best pictures of Balanced Rock can be taken.
It is always nice to spend a little extra time around places that are exceptionally pretty. Try to do your lounging off to the side so that others can take their pictures without a bunch of strangers in them.
