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Big Bend - Grapevine Hills

Type: Trail

Length: 2.20 Miles

Elevation Gain: N/A

Cost: $20.00

Rating:

(4.00)7

Difficulty: 2stars

(2.29)

Solitude:

(3.71)

ADA Accessible: No

Bikes Allowed: No

Dogs Allowed: No

Interpretive Guide: N/A

County: Brewster

More Information: More Info

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Map

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Photos

There are a lot of huge boulders and rock formations on the other side of the ridge, too. (Photo by Blaze)

This sign said Balanced Rock was 1/4 mile away, but I never found it... :( (Photo by Blaze)

You can hike up and over this rocky ridge. The vistas are spectacular! (Photo by Blaze)

This is the view from the rocky ridge. You can see the trail in the valley below. (Photo by Blaze)

This display map at the trailhead shows the route the trail takes. (Photo by Blaze)

Log Entries

balanced rock was awesome
By jimmy peace on 5/20/2015
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Distance: 2.20 Miles Duration: N/A

Beautiful Rock Formations
By Blaze on 3/6/2008
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Distance: 2.20 Miles Duration: 1 hour

Note: You must have a vehicle with high clearance, preferably four-wheel drive, in order to get to this trail.

The trail is short, but nice. There are beautiful rock formations on both sides of the trail. The trail leads back into a canyon, then points the way up and over the rocky hill to Balanced Rock. Sadly, I never found Balanced Rock...

On the backslide of this hill, the trail is not well-marked and seems to just dissolve. I'm not sure why since all of the previous part of the trail is well-marked by cairns.

This is a short, but sweet hike. If you can get to the trail, I recommend it.

Wonderful dayhike with very interesting geology
By riverrat on 12/29/2007
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Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Very nice, easy hike with a bit of scrambling just before famous balanced rock. Watch for deposits of quartz streaking through the rocks. Explore all around the balcanced rock for some interesting erosion. Not much shade so bring plenty of water in the summer. We hked it in late December and the weather was perfect. Of course that is always subject to change!

By adipaulie on 4/29/2006
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Distance: 2.20 Miles Duration: N/A

Beautiful scenery and photo opportunities!
By a0628h0427 on 2/22/2005
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Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: 1 minute

I hiked this with my sister on a cloudy February day. We skirted around to the east side of the balanced rock formation, and the clouds broke, giving me the opportunity to take a very beautiful photo with a dramatic cloudy sky.

Great for the rock formations
By azurechaos on 12/11/2004
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Distance: 2.20 Miles Duration: N/A
The standing rock formations of this trail are what it's all about, and at the end is the signature gigantic hanging rock.

One of my favorites
By Joefirefighter on 9/19/1995
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Distance: 2.20 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

This is one of my favorite hikes in my favorite national park. The standing granite stones were formed when magma was forced up into cracks in higher rock levels, cooled forming these stones and then the surrounding rock eroded away, leaving these standing stones.

Walking through this valley you can understand why the Commanche creation story said that when the Great Spirit finished making the earth he placed all of his left over stones in the Big Bend region.

The balanced rock is, of course, a major photo opportunity.

Despite all the warnings about needing four-wheeled drive or a high clearance vehicle to get here, I once accessed the trailhead in a miata. Just make sure you drive slowly, very slowly.