On a cool sunny day the route down to Balancing Rock was the choice for a hike on the snow.   When the snow builds up it is hard to pull off the highway at the right spot, but with only 10 cm of snow it was easy enough.    All of the hiking was on the snow, down the hill to the viewpoints of Balancing Rock.  

From each direction, Balancing Rock has a different look.   We hike down around the rim of the gully for various views.    We can hike down to the base of the pillar too on a loose steep slope.  

Below Balancing Rock are a series of hoodoos.    If a hiker wants to do some scrambling he/she can explore the hoodoos and the base of the pillar in a loop route. 

The hike down to the hoodoos and back is short so the usual route is to do a loop, skirting the rim of the slope break above the drop offs down to the lake, bearing north, then west.  There are a series of viewpoints on this route, but no trails to follow. 

At the northwest corner of the route is a point above the lakeshore.   A large erratic sits on the glacial tills that make up the ridge.  

The final part of the hike is up the slopes to the parking area.   A few lone trees have survived insect invasions and drought on the open slopes.  

This is a favorite loop route for hiking in the shoulder seasons.