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All the United States Oregon Culver Metolius Balancing Rocks

Metolius Balancing Rocks

Formerly secret, precariously perched boulders.

Culver, Oregon

Added By
Denise Gregory
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The balancing rocks.   Forest Service/Public Domain
The balancing rocks.   Forest Service/Public Domain
  zvyj27sfj4 / Atlas Obscura User
  McCrisa / Atlas Obscura User
  McCrisa / Atlas Obscura User
  zvyj27sfj4 / Atlas Obscura User
Eclipse sequence - August 21, 2017   jomopdx / Atlas Obscura User
The balancing rocks.   Forest Service/Public Domain
  zvyj27sfj4 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

It's rarely a good thing when wildfire consumes a protected park area. Yet when an overgrown juniper forest burnt down in Cove Palisades State Park near the Deschutes National Forest, it revealed a series of seemingly impossible balanced rocks.

The slabs are perched atop cylindrical rock towers on a hillside overlooking Lake Billy Chinook to the east. The Park Service had been aware of the rocks' presence, but had left them off maps for fear of vandals and errant climbers. After the fire, the location was no longer a secret, and park rangers are now happy to direct hikers to the rocks. They offer a fabulous view of the Metolius River.

The rocks are remnants of volcanic activity in Oregon millennia ago. The rock spires were created by one volcanic eruption, while the balancing slabs on top were created by others. Because of their differing sedimentary make-up, the rocks eroded at different rates. 

Related Tags

Rocks Geology Geological Oddities Volcanoes Natural Wonders Nature

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Added By

dema43

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, McCrisa, jomopdx, zvyj27sfj4

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • McCrisa
  • jomopdx
  • zvyj27sfj4

Published

January 30, 2017

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Sources
  • http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/05/balancing_rocks_overlook_metol.html
  • http://www.bendsource.com/bend/balancing-rocks/Content?oid=2389991
  • https://www.shareoregon.com/en/listings/124976-metolius-balancing-rocks-deschutes-national-forest
  • http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2011/06/balancing_rocks_make_for_unusu.html
  • Google Maps Directions
Metolius Balancing Rocks
Cove Palisades State Park
Culver, Oregon
United States
44.581084, -121.412337
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Nearby Places

Erickson Aircraft Collection

Madras, Oregon

miles away

Head of the Metolius

Camp Sherman, Oregon

miles away

Crooked River Bridges

Terrebonne, Oregon

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oregon

Oregon

United States

Places 208
Stories 31

Nearby Places

Erickson Aircraft Collection

Madras, Oregon

miles away

Head of the Metolius

Camp Sherman, Oregon

miles away

Crooked River Bridges

Terrebonne, Oregon

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oregon

Oregon

United States

Places 208
Stories 31

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