Visit Balanced Rock
Details
Added by Amanda Solomon
Standing 48 feet tall and weighing 40 tons, the locally-famous Balanced Rock sits on a pedestal just 3 feet wide in the Salmon Falls Creek Canyon.
Balanced Rock is famous throughout the Magic Valley, and getting there is easy. A picnic table and turnoff on Castleford/Glenns Ferry Road allows you to park below the rock. From there it's a short scramble up the hill to get to the base -- that's the only way to get a feel for the boulder's enormity.
Just a half-mile east down the road is Balanced Rock Park, with a few well-maintained campgrounds and a trout-stocked creek.
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Reviews
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Beautiful Must-Visit if you're nearby
It was VERY windy when we decided to hike up the rock, but going up is kinda part of the experience. Had we decided to stay down and just photograph and gawk, we would have been robbed of another stunning perspective from the top. Careful, though, loose shake makes for a treacherous walk up, although short. Don't bring old dogs.
4.0
Fun Stop
This is a fun, quick stop with a short hike and opportunities to explore around Balanced Rock. I was disappointed with the amount of graffiti in the area, but the rock itself was spectacular and a good subject for photography. This isn’t a day destination, more just a quick stop and look.
3.0
Fun Quick Adventure
It’s a bit out of the way to anywhere in particular. We were heading up to Boise from Utah and decided to take a little detour to check it out. The rock itself is just off of the road (appropriately named “Balanced Rock Road”) and can be seen easily from there. There’s a pull off area and it’s a short little hike (hike may be an overstatement) up to the rock itself. Only up close do you really get a feel for the size of the boulder, it really is massive and very impressive. After the climb, to get right up to the base you need to scramble up some rock. We went in January so there was some snow and a bit of a drizzle which made the rock pretty slick. I would recommend some good shoes and a lot of caution to climb up right to the base. That may not be the best for kids in my opinion.
4.0
Quick Trip!
If you're looking for a fun little day trip, this is perfect! There's a nice gravel pull off right below the rock. It's a short incline, clean trail right to the rock. Makes for a fun picture!
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
Nearby Adventures
Photograph Balanced Rock at Night
Take a Dip at Miracle Hot Springs
Hike and Swim at Box Canyon Springs
Photograph the Perrine Bridge and Perrine Coulee Falls
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