Balanced Rock — a rock formation in Garland County, Arkansas — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Hot Springs National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Hot Springs, about 3.0 km (1.9 mi) away (Balanced Rock lies NW of town).
From the National Park Service
Balanced Rock is located on Sugarloaf Mountain along Sunset Trail between Blacksnake and Cedarglades Road. It's a huge novaculite outcrop with a great view.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Balanced Rock the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:17 AM | 90° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:01 AM | 61° ENE | 8:29 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 28m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:01 AM | 89° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:16 AM | 118° ESE | 5:06 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 50m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Rock towers and buttes glow red and orange in the first and last half-hour of sun; midday light flattens their shape.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:52 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 06m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:56 PM | 6:22 PM | 10h 57m |
| March | 6:59 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:45 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:16 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 5:43 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 58m |
| June | 5:31 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 27m |
| July | 5:43 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 15m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 28m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:36 PM | 10h 22m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:32 PM | 9h 52m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Balanced Rock, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 4:50 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:04 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:02 AM – 5:02 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:06 AM – 4:26 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:12 PM – 4:12 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:08 PM – 2:48 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:33 PM – 12:43 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 8:45 PM – 10:45 PM | 2.0 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:42 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.92 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 72 | 75 | 81 | 88 | 96 | 108 | 108 | 113 | 105 | 94 | 85 | 75 |
| Low °F | -1 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 34 | 53 | 55 | 53 | 44 | 29 | 18 | 11 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this rock formation
- Find a spot where the formation sits against open sky to emphasize its silhouette.
- At night, a formation under the Milky Way or star trails makes a strong anchor.
- Use the sunrise and sunset azimuths below to know which face will be lit.
- Stay on trails; desert soils and lichens take decades to recover from footprints.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring and autumn are best in desert regions; winter snow on red rock is rare but spectacular.
Suggested gear: Wide and telephoto lenses, Tripod, Headlamp. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Balanced Rock, closest first.
Botanical Garden
State Park
WaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Gulpha Gorge Campground3.5 km (2.2 mi) · reservable
- Stephens Park11.7 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- Avery11.8 km (7.3 mi) · reservable
- Stephens Park Day-Use11.9 km (7.4 mi) · reservable
- Spillway (Lake Ouachita)13.8 km (8.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Balanced Rock?
What time is golden hour at Balanced Rock?
Where does the sun rise and set at Balanced Rock?
Can you see the Milky Way from Balanced Rock?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Balanced Rock?
How far is Balanced Rock from Hot Springs?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.