Here it is: Balanced Rock.

Lumpy Ridge: Balanced Rock, CO

The initial idea was to climb one of the 54 Colorado Fouteeners, but with the snow from last weekend’s storm smothering mountaintops like whipped cream on a sundae, Anna and I decided something more mellow—i.e., lower—would be better.

Hence, we drove out to Lumpy Ridge east of Estes Park for a hike of just under eight miles up to Balanced Rock and back.

Despite never getting above 9,000 feet, there was plenty of upward hiking including sections that felt like a StairMaster machine. Two miles in we encountered 4-6″ of snow right before Gem Lake—snow that was melting quickly but would remain present for the rest of the distance to Balanced Rock.

After Gem Lake, it was evident that we were the first ones to be venturing out here ever since the weekend’s snow storm as there was a complete dearth of tracks. At least human ones. We did, however, encounter huge paw prints that were undoubtedly left by a bear. We followed these for about a mile after concluding that this bear knew the trail and where he was going.

“Let’s just hope the bear is long gone,” I said, after which Anna joked that only the slower of us had anything to fear.

After a few hours of hiking, we found it: Balanced Rock! I had never seen a picture of it before, but it was obvious that this was Balanced Rock by the way the rock seemed to be precariously balancing on a much smaller pedestal. (See photo above.) We ate lunch here.

Going back to the cars was a little quicker since there was net elevation drop and all we had to do was follow our tracks instead of trying to find or blaze a trail. We encountered other human beings for the first time all day with about a mile to go.

With the weather being absolutely perfect for a hike like this, we declared the trek a success and that we should try to get back into the mountains again soon. Perhaps next time it will be one of the easier fourteeners.

You can read Anna’s writeup of the day trip here.

The mountains got a nice dumping of snow earlier in the week and it was evident from up here.
The mountains got a nice dumping of snow earlier in the week and it was evident from up here.
Anna had been doing a lot of hiking lately and was happy to come for this 8-mile hike at Lumpy Ridge, CO.
Anna had been doing a lot of hiking lately and was happy to come for this 8-mile hike at Lumpy Ridge, CO.
Felix Wong goofing around...
Felix Wong goofing around...
There would be snow on the trail about a quarter-mile before Gem Lake and everywhere beyond.
There would be snow on the trail about a quarter-mile before Gem Lake and everywhere beyond.
Gem Lake.
Gem Lake.
The snow was only about 2-6" deep along most of the trail so we didn't need snowshoes.
The snow was only about 2-6" deep along most of the trail so we didn't need snowshoes.
Sign pointing the way to Balanced Rock.
Sign pointing the way to Balanced Rock.
Flowers... must be spring.
Flowers... must be spring.
Bear tracks!  We followed these for a over a mile, almost all the way to Balanced Rock.  Fortunately we did not see the bear.
Bear tracks! We followed these for a over a mile, almost all the way to Balanced Rock. Fortunately we did not see the bear.
Fluffy flower.
Fluffy flower.
Here it is: Balanced Rock.
Here it is: Balanced Rock.
Gem Lake again.
Gem Lake again.
Here is a map.  From the trailhead parking lot, we took the trail right, or about 3.9 miles to Balanced Rock with a fair amount of elevation gain.
Here is a map. From the trailhead parking lot, we took the trail right, or about 3.9 miles to Balanced Rock with a fair amount of elevation gain.