Last year I had done Hiero to the Siphon Draw, at the time I had commented on how the upper Hiero Canyon was a lot of work. It was suggested to try the balancing rock trail. So when looking for a hike today that ended up being my destination.

I hit the trail just after 7AM. When I got to the hieroglyphics I headed towards the balancing rock. First the balancing rock is really something to see. The base looks so small it's surprising it could still be standing there. The trail up to about the balancing rock level is pretty non-existing. It's mainly just bushwhacking up the draw and the sides of the draw. Above that I was happy to see the cairns start. Then suddenly there was a marking in white paint. I couldn't believe it, my first thought was that the painter needed to be tarred and feathered.

Some of this trail is really exposed, right on the edge of some pretty good cliffs. Nothing required ropes, but...

A few areas I ran into marks from the white painter that were actually very helpful and were in areas that a cairn was not possible due to the vertical nature of the rocks. So my attitude towards the painter softened a bit. One spot there was a cairn that made it look like a left was necessary, after squeezing between a couple rocks I was on this narrowest ledge. At that point I decided if this was the way up then I was going back down. Luckily after getting back before the cairn I found that the trail really went to the right, not the left. There were a few areas like this on the hike where it would be easy to get into trouble.

I was amazed to suddenly find myself on top of Superstition Peak. The views were fantastic. I then returned via the ridge line to West Boulder Saddle and to Carney Springs. Speaking of views, the ridge line has to have the best views of anywhere in the supes, simply breathtaking.