Balanced Rock Road

Ran this trail yesterday with two buddies. The Forest Service has recently graded the trail all the way to the reservoir including smoothing over the deep ruts described at waypoint 10. No more fun off camber or suspension stretching ruts for the time being. At best the trail is now a 2 in difficulty. On the positive side, we did find a great side trail that took us up to a hero shot overlook! Link to position of overlook: https://maps.app.goo.gl/78YTE6nhsPscvpai7

Took this to the balanced rock formation. Narrow, between the trees most of the way. Sandy road, just be careful of the whoop-de-doos. Incredibly quiet and peaceful, not well traveled.

Fun trail we ran today. A lot of wildflowers still blooming. The washouts closer to the lake were OK for us, I could see where they may be issues for smaller vehicles. Encountered one bicyclist, and that was it. Very pretty, will look good when the aspen change.

Easy enough trail for the most part. As you get closer to Palmer lake, the trail becomes more rutted and washed out. I suspect our recent rains have made things worse. There is one heavily rutted spot just before Palmer lake that might cause you flex out and lift tires.

Fun and moderately easy drive. There are lot of ruts, puddles, and holes that make the trail quite enjoyable. We had a moose run along on the road, reminding us to always beware of wildlife when out on the trails in Colorado.

Love this trail because getting to Palmer Lake 2 is a great treat. Got to combine fishing and jeeping in the same day. Trail was in great shape and the one decent obstacle was no better or worse than last year. Some mud puddles so you might get dirty. The one downside of today was at the head of the trail coming of Rampart Range road was just crazy with little. We filled up the garbage bags we had with us but there is a lot more left. If you can try to clean up more, that would be great.

Great trail to ride for scenery. Super easy drive. Killer Pikes Peak views in a clear day. Out and back, even with several photo stops took around 2 hours vice the advertised 3. I wish there was away to get around Palmer Lake so it was a straight through trail instead. Lots of great camping spots!

Balanced Rock trail encounters at least 6" of snow on the trail after waypoint (WP) 8. Prior to arriving at WP 8 the trail is fine for four-wheel drive vehicles with all-terrain tires. We decided not to continue beyond WP 8 as there was a sudden increase in snow. Vehicles with mud/snow tires would likely be fine. I expect the trail to be fully accessible with all-terrain tires in about a week if the weather stays close to the same as it was today (sunny). The trail has several pockets of shallow standing water that did not present a significant challenge.

The most challenging point of this trail is near the end (See waypoints 10-12). The steep downhill and return uphill. Near the end, there are some off camber spots, it can also be muddy and a challenge to turn around if you go to the very end of the forest trail. Recommend turning around in the more open tree area. Additionally, going to the gate at the end of the forest trail is narrow and could cause pinstriping.

Took our new Bronco out today while it still had its temp tags. Nice little run. Almost no snow, just a couple of puddles. Best part of the ride was between waypoint 9 and 10. We got to try out the trail turn assist at the hairpin turn and it did great. Then got to way point 10 and that was a fun. 1st time we had her on 3 wheels. Good time!

Nice day to be out, minus the gusty winds! Road is mainly dry with some remnants of snow/ice. Nothing major. Can't ask for more this time of year! Camped overnight

Great day to finally hit the trails after a long winter! Some snow on north facing aspects but packed down well. Came across a broke down/wrecked 2wd sedan with a few miles to go on the way out. Luckily a group of active duty Army soldiers on a Jeep run towed out the vehicle. Took some time due to the snow; required several winch pulls of the lead vehicle. Quite a day!

Did this trail today. Has snow 99% of the trail. It’s not deep, just icy underneath so proceed with caution if you’re planning to do it.

Was able to get past the ruts however from the three-point turn waypoint 9 to past waypoint 10 was all ice. Would not recommend it without adequate recovery gear as that side of the trail never see sun so it may be a while to thaw out. Buddy said the suspension was completely articulated at the ruts and I would just slide to the worst tire placement for ice. Tacoma 3in lift.

Ran last night. Snow definitely made for some puckering around waypoint 9-10. Be prepared to slide and potentially get stuck. Fun run tho!! Can’t wait for more!

Always a fun trail! Road crew was there grading the road. Saw no one else out

Ran this trail in conjunction with several others in the area for a day of exploring and fun. It was a really nice day and expected to see a lot of other 4 wheeler's out and about, but it was actually pretty quiet. This trail another fun trail, but not too challenging except the bottom section which was narrow and had several very deep ruts. this was the only place I had to put my Gladiator into 4 low coming back up.

Balanced Rock Road (FS 322) is my favorite road on the Rampart Range. The road condition is degraded compared to the last time I drove it. There are more and deeper ruts, more exposed rocks (loose and shelf type), and there are more spots with exposed tree roots. Of course, all of this only adds to the adventure!

Great trail for scenery and is a lot easier for a UTV than a licensed street legal vehicle because the roads are pretty torn up from runoff of melting snow. It’s a good trail for beginners for sure!

Still lots of fun. Took a couple more challenging side roads up to cam areas. Funny that they would be harder than most of the trail but still a lot of fun. The deep ruts at way point 10 are pretty deep right now. I think the 1st one going down is 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep. Definitely got on 2 wheels there. Still made it down and more importantly back up in a 2013 Sahara with 35's and a 2.5 inch lift. I made it through last year without both of those too so I think it just looks hard to newbies like me. There was a stock TJ Sport that made it through just fine but a Toyota FJ had to get winched up. Only spot that I don't like is an area between waypoint 9 & 10. I always hit a lot of traffic there and the areas to pull off. I hit a group of probably 10 vehicles coming down the trail. No issues just I have bad luck in that spot. I always meet someone there. :( The lake is the pay off for this one. So quiet and calm. I wish I had more time to just chill there.

Great trail! Those "deep ruts" have gotten deeper since the photos above were taken. Made it fine in our rig but a stock Rubicon would require careful tire placement to avoid getting stuck in those. The Palmer reservoir at the end of the trail was about 1/3 covered in ice still which was cool. No pix of the road but directions were spot on and wayfinding is very easy. Completed in a '22 Gladiator 3.5"lift on 37" tires. Can easily be done on a less modified vehicle with careful tire placement in the ruts. No real challenges other than the ruts from erosion. A Subaru can make it most of the way but probably not the last mile.

Felt like doing some snow wheeling but probably shouldn't have chosen this trail being solo. Like most trails with steep hills and sharp turns, they're easy when they're dry but I was plowing through about 10" of fresh powder (almost two feet in some high drifts) which made life a little difficult on my way back out. My winch and traction boards saw some good use today and when I finally made it to a flat spot, I turned traction control off and had a pretty easy time getting back out (although my MPGs took a hit since I was high in the RPMs blowing up the hills haha). The trail was still a lot of fun as I'm always up for a challenge and using my gear.

Ran the trail today. Really neat trail, the ruts are no joke and gave me a run for my money. I went straight at WP 11 and there was an open gate. Parked just before the gate and it's a short hike to the reservoir.

Very nice trail and some good views. Nice small lake at the end of the trail. Easy for the most part there are 2 spots that were a little harder I was on 2 wheels at one point

Fun and mostly easygoing trail that meanders along with several decent camp spots and features an easily accessible lake a short walk from the end. The ruts marked by WP 10 are deeper and wider than the pictures suggest, likely from a wetter than average winter season. Nothing too challenging for an experienced driver but I did make use of the rock sliders on my lifted Tacoma with 33” wheels. A few fun obstacles that shoot off the main trail leading you to some nice campsites with assorted views but all are optional.

Trail was mostly snow packed with a few icy spots. First ones down since last snow and broke trail most of the way after the midpoint. The hairpin turn is a mess right now, very slick packed snow and it wants to pull you off the steep ledge. Stop short of the hairpin unless you are chained up, it is manageable with chains. Fun day on the trail but make sure you are traveling in a well prepared group and have the proper recovery gear and trail gear.

Fun trail, mostly snow covered but was a bluebird day so wasn’t too icy. Shooting is allowed off this trail so saw a few people target shooting which is an added plus if you’re into that! Lifted Tacoma on 33s did fine for the most part, had 4low on most of the way, didn’t go passed waypoint 8. Would recommend a buddy / recovery equipment

Fun short trail! Glad something was open so I could take out the truck I just recently bought and see what it could do. I'd say about 95% snow coverage. I did the entire trail all the way down to the lake although I probably wouldn't recommend it. Especially not alone. The last mile or so had some pretty sketchy sections with hard pack snow / ice in some off camber spots. Going down was fine, but going back up took some driver skill and wits and could have very quickly ended up bad. Cool trail and nice to get out! But would definitely recommend walking the last bit if you're determined to get to the lake.

Overall pretty easy and fun trail. Majority is pretty easy with a bit more technical near the bottom. Able to clear in 4 high but bounced around a bit and kicked up some dirt.

Fun trail but getting there sucked. We took the Interstate 25 to exit 167 directions. Mt Herman Road was cool to go up with the exception of trucks with trailers coming down at the same time. A couple places I found it difficult to give enough room in my wrangler to let them by. Not sure what trail etiquette for giving way is but I thought uphill traffic had the right of way. If its easy for me to move over I don't mind but none of the trailer guys made any attempt to give way. On the flat parts of Mt Herman the road has a ton of washboard which is not fun at all. An alternate route I found on the way out was to take Rampart Range Rd south past Mt Herman and this eventually turns to asphalt and dumps you out onto Highway 24 and was a lot quicker. Anyway as for Balanced Rock Rd I found that to be a lot of fun as a newbie. Nothing too challenging but some light fun. All the target shooting garbage off trail kind of spoils the scenery but TBH I will probably go back to shoot at some point myself so that will be an added bonus if you are into that. The trail was a lot of fun like I said and there are several areas with a bypass to choose the harder or easier route. We did this in a stock 2013 Moab Wrangler Unlimited with 33s with all the original parts. I would love to get some new shocks and a 2 inch lift but it is 100% not needed for a trail like this, in my newbie opinion. When I go back I will likely take Rt 25 to Highway 24 then over to St. Baldwin St (turns into Rampart).

Description is accurate, conditions are typical for this time of year. No excessive erosion. The one steeper part that requires some articulation has evidence of someone getting a little stuck, but still very passable. Ran w Stock JLU Sport.

Ran this Trail Sunday it was two wheel drive in and 2 wheel drive out there was nothing to this Trail it was just boring

Ran entire trail on stock 2 door jk with mud terrains and stock Xterra Pro 4x on all terrain tires. Trail is mostly easy except towards the end where there are large ruts which take a bit of articulation or lockers to get through without spinning tires, but not impossible if not. I could see this being a limiting point if it’s wet out but it was dry and easy for us. Nice area to explore by the reservoir at the end but it was very buggy when we went.

This was my first time running this trail, as well as any other trail in the area. I agree with the previous reviews that it's a great opportunity to get a feel for your vehicle off-road, especially the ruts at the very end. I have a built 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser (lifted, locked, armored) and my buddy drove his slightly built (lifted, locked) 1999 Land Cruiser - neither had any issues with the trail, though good tire placement and probably a good spotter will help stock vehicles avoid any potential damage through the rutted section. We also learned (from a very friendly hiker) that dogs are not allowed past the gates at the end of the trail, when entering the area around the reservoir (part of the Palmer Lake Watershed, I believe). There are no signs at this point notifying you of this rule, but apparently there are on the hiking trail that leads up the mountain on the east side of the reservoir.

Trail was open with only a few other vehicles on it. Wide enough for one vehicle but plenty of places to pull off to let oncoming traffic pass. (This is a out and back trail.) No snow or mud anywhere as of this weekend. We made it all the way to the end in a stock 2019 Wrangler Rubicon JL and a stock 2018 Land Cruiser (so at least one of these behemoths has left the mall parking lot.) The only tricky section was the ruts at the very end for the LC, but it managed without bottoming out and with side steps on. My friend did have 4-Low and ‘mogul’ mode activated to get though that section, but it was tons of fun. This is a great trail to get a feel for your vehicle. There were plenty of camping sites as well. Once you get near the end, park and then walk over to the lake.

I made it most of the way down the trail but turned around right after the deep ruts at waypoint 10. Every part of the trail I saw is open, dry, and in good condition. I agree with other comments here that the deep ruts at waypoint 10 are the most difficult obstacle.

Some snow on the tail but gets deeper the further you go. my friend and I turned around about halfway due to how deep it was and potential of sliding into trees.

Ran the trail with a group of 8. No one had been down the trail since the last snow. The snow was pretty deep in spots, but passable for our crew. We made it all the way to the end, but coming back up turned out to be a little bit of a struggle. Under the fresh snow was a solid layer of ice, so a couple of the climbs out were tough for rigs without two lockers. Chains would likely be helpful on this trail. Great snow run though for groups.

Drove 322/Balanced Rock Road as part of our club's support to the Pikes Peak Ranger District (USFS) and their annual Christmas tree cutting program. The road is open and snowy; there are some off-camber spots where the snow is icy/slick, but overall relatively easy. This is a great snow-run, but don't go alone....go with a buddy or two, and be prepared for the possibility of slipping off the road and getting stuck.

Great trail with a few mild obstacles and a great lake at the end of the trail.

The trail was blocked off and sign said closed due to overuse of unauthorized vehicles. It was still a nice drive up there.

Nice trail for initial 4x4 adventure.

Trail is completely clear of snow and dry. A beautiful drive, not too difficult. We went all the way to the end in a stock 2019 Ranger in 2wd. Went 4H back up the hill. Not too much traffic on this Sunday, and the lake is a beautiful spot for a picnic. Lots of nice looking campsites.

We've driven this trail a couple times, it's a pretty soft trail with loose gravel, nothing too challenging. The lake at the bottom is very cool. My picture below shows the hardest spot on the trail, a low, stock vehicle will scrape here but it's no challenge if you have a decent vehicle.

Nice little trail. Did it in 2011 Land Rover LR4. Didn't even have to put it in 4 low, or any special modes. The various mud puddles we nice to splash through. Trail does get a little narrow, and windy towards the bottom, but nothing that be can't driven. Ruts weren't bad at all. Went in and out, without any problems or hitting the gas hard. Pretty dry for the most part, after all, it is mid June. Cool little area at the bottom to camp at too

Dry already. Good condition.

We started off on Herman Rd and eventually made it to Balanced Rock Rd. There is a lot of dispersed camping on both of these roads if you are interested in finding some great spots. There are some really cool rock formations in this area after you drive a little further past balanced rock. We took Balanced Rock Rd all the way down to Palmer Lake #2 and got out and walked around a bit. This was a fun day exploring in the Jeep and the roads are pretty easy. Herman Rd was very busy but we didn't really see anyone on Balanced Rock Rd. The most difficult sections on this road were at the very end of the near the bottom close to the lake but they were nothing too crazy.

Before waypoint 10 I was wondering to myself why this trail deserved a 4 rating. Then I found out! Provided a fun place to stretch out the suspension on my 3" lifted TJ. I could have chosen an easier line but I was going for the poser photo, lol. Zero traffic was nice, had the whole road and the reservoir at the end to ourselves the entire time, except for one parked Subaru a couple of miles in from the start.

I could see where WP 10 is wat gives this trail a bit of a higher rating. Nice views throughout, the reservoir and a quick hike to it was a bonus.

In a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with only a 2" lift, but otherwise stock, the deep ruts of waypoint 10 do present a minor challenge when going back up the trail due to them being offset causing wheel lift at opposite corners. You'll need combinations of tire bite and momentum to get through them when going uphill in a stock vehicle. Clearance could definitely be an issue. A vehicle with decent flex or lockers would have no problem.

Made a day trip to check this trail out. Coming across Rampart Range Road we went through beautiful sunny skies to thunderstorms and through snow for quite awhile. Balanced Rock was in good mostly dry condition though. Just made a trip about half way in and then turned around to explore some other spots.

Made a day trip with Colorado Land Cruisers (Colorado Springs) to run Ice Cave Road (FSR 323/324) and Balanced Rock Road (FSR 322). Weather was fantastic, given the cold front had past and deposited a couple inches of snow on the preceding Thursday. Trail conditions were dry in the sunny areas, but snowy in the shaded spots and northern slopes. The switchback and the rutted section near the end of the trail were the most significant challenges. Balanced Rock Road is an excellent day-trip destination on the Rampart Range.