Near Balanced Rock Trail
Stairway about the midpoint of the trail.
Near Balanced Rock Trail
Balanced Rock
Near Balanced Rock Trail
Bridge over the tannin-colored creek as you near the end of the trail.

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Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Balanced Rock Trail

3.0 (2 Ratings)
A 1-mile winding trail through the West Virginia forest that passes a large sandstone table rock.
1.1
mi
Distance
239
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsGeologically SignificantRiver/CreekSpring

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
1.12mi
Distance
239ft
Elevation Gain
130ft
Elevation Loss
20%
Max Grade
3,245ft
High Point
3,128ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
An orange-blazed trail that begins at the main road across from the Elakala Trail. As you head south through the old-growth forest and cross Shay Trace and Red Spruce Trail, continue south to the Balanced Rock. As you turn to make your way past the sandstone boulders and push through patches of dense with rhododendron, head north over a bridge and end your trip by Cabin 13. Balanced Rock was created by a phenomenon called differential weathering. The top rock has withstood the elements better than the bottom rock and a "table rock" remains.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Ryan Spr