Swirl

The Grapevine Hills Trail, in Big Bend NP, is well known for its picturesque Balanced Rock. However, no one will deny the incredible surroundings with various rocks exhibiting odd shapes and characteristics that amaze anyone. The trail is reached via a 6.5-mile (10.5-km) drive on an improved dirt road. Once you park your vehicle, the hike is about 1 mile (1.6 km) on a relatively flat terrain until you reach the Balanced Rock area. The last quarter of a mile is steep and strenuous. Take time to stop and turn around to admire the various rock formations. These rocks are igneous, and through erosion (spheroidal weathering), they resulted in what we see today along the trail. This particular section caught my eye with the various circular swirl patterns.