The Balanced Rock

"Quick, someone get a photo of me riding it like a surfboard!"

One of the weirdest features I've seen in a Pennsylvania state park sits (or should I say "leans") in Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County.

The Balanced Rock is a giant boulder that appears to defy physics by teetering precariously over a cliff. It's so massive that it can be seen hundreds of yards away from the road.

It doesn't looked as "balanced" here, but
the Balanced Rock still sticks out with its
white surface among a sea of green below.

Despite the name, the Balanced Rock is only an optical illusion, though it has performed a sort of "balancing act" for years.

The rock is a geological feature known as an "erosion remnant," according to a 1969 document written by geologist John P. Wilshusen of the Pennsylvania Geological Society. The Balanced Rock seen today started to form millions of years ago when Trough Creek began cutting into the valley below, Wilshusen wrote.

Wilshusen's explanation gets a bit confusing from there, but an illustration of how the rock formed provides better insight. 

The rock was one of several blocks that made up the ridge it now sits upon. A mix of erosion and "undercutting" from Trough Creek caused the rock to break away from the cliff above. Gravity kicked in, and the rock began to slide downward at an angle. It eventually came to a rest, but erosion never did. Most of the cliff above and around the broken rock eroded over time. Some of the cliff below it also eroded, but most of it remains today. 

Photo illustration courtesy of the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources / This illustration
demonstrates how the Balanced Rock was formed. The
block with the dotted line shows the rock as it appears
today. The block with the curved arrow coming from it
is the Balanced Rock as it was originally. Note how the
rock broke from the cliff above, which does not exist
today because of erosion.

The finished product is a rock that appears ready to crush an unsuspecting group of hikers at any moment. Although flimsy-looking, the rock is quite sturdy. I can guarantee you many people (maybe myself included) pushed on the rock in an attempt to cause a catastrophe. Rest assured, the Balanced Rock is quite stuck, and it's going to take more erosion to cause it to budge.

Surprisingly, the biggest threat hasn't been gravity or erosion, but graffiti. Several people who have ventured to the overlook have carved or painted their names, initials or other messages onto the rock. I'm not sure if there's any form of prosecution if someone is caught in the act, but I wouldn't advise anyone to do so -- not just because it might be illegal, but it's desecrating something that took millions of years to form. One thing the graffiti does show, however, is how popular the rock is. 

The Balanced Rock is also easy to get to. It is labeled on the park map, and there is a designated trail to reach the overlook where the rock sits. It is also easily accessible because of wide stone stairs installed in the path. Just about anyone of any age can make it to the top without major problems.

If you decide to venture out to Trough Creek, make a stop at the rock. If it's the only thing you do the whole trip, it will be well worth the visit.

Graffiti is visible on most of the rock. It's a shame something that
took millions of years to form is treated like a boxcar.

These are what the stone steps look like on the trails leading up
to the Balanced Rock. They're probably some of the sturdiest
stone steps I've seen on any trail.