# Giant Rock, and other anomalous places you’ve been **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [June 15, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917 "2026-06-15T19:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/1 "2026-06-15T19:45:03Z")
Got any anomalous places that you’ve been to? This is named Giant Rock. [![](https://i.imgur.com/kW9Jshv.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/kW9Jshv.jpg) We stopped by the other day. Located in the Mojave Desert north of Palm Springs, near Yucca Valley CA and the tiny town of Landers CA, its DD coordinates are ▲ 34.3328, -116.3886. Giant Rock is estimated to weigh around 25,000 tons. Giant Rock is the largest freestanding boulder in North America and is purported to be the largest free standing boulder in the world (as per wiki). The chipped piece fell off in early 2000. ➜ [Giant Rock - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Rock) ■ This is one BFR!! (big fine rock 😇) More of my photos are here: ➜ [Giant Rock! - Album on Imgur](https://imgur.com/gallery/JZoPFwt) ■ What anomalous places have you been to and also found interesting? Got any pics to share, We’ve also been to Yeager Rock. It’s a glacial erratic in central Washington state, at DD coordinates ▲ 47.8155, -119.553. I’ll look for my pictures but that was several years ago. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/2 "2026-06-15T20:43:29Z")
On a smaller scale, I visited the [Moeraki Boulders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeraki_Boulders) in New Zealand back in 2005. The tide and light were just right so that this boulder looked like it was floating. I’ve always thought this pic might have been a good Pink Floyd album cover. [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOBZUKMLIfOIrANwux1zLqTDmWboDh5qgrqu0dO6LOUs88ZQIxCW13StrkfhKEq3M3Vli193dcn4jRXgo-xGh3ibt_Fxk0UaaFJu3_U5fTQmJ1TUtIS9YQYBfyO4AGxSTyJVut5l7QWoRUcF1UP2_8FMg=w1061-h796-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOBZUKMLIfOIrANwux1zLqTDmWboDh5qgrqu0dO6LOUs88ZQIxCW13StrkfhKEq3M3Vli193dcn4jRXgo-xGh3ibt_Fxk0UaaFJu3_U5fTQmJ1TUtIS9YQYBfyO4AGxSTyJVut5l7QWoRUcF1UP2_8FMg=w1061-h796-s-no?authuser=0) There’s a similar collection of seaside concretions south of Point Arena CA called [“Bowling Ball Beach”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Ball_Beach). I’ve wanted to check it out for a while but haven’t been able to time my visit to a low enough tide. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/3 "2026-06-15T21:06:15Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > On a smaller scale, I visited the [Moeraki Boulders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeraki_Boulders) in New Zealand back in 2005. The tide and light were just right so that this boulder looked like it was floating. I’ve always thought this pic might have been a good Pink Floyd album cover. > There’s a similar collection of seaside concretions south of Point Arena CA called [“Bowling Ball Beach”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Ball_Beach). I’ve wanted to check it out for a while but haven’t been able to time my visit to a low enough tide That is awesome, dude. It doesn’t even look real. It would definitely make a good Pink Floyd album cover. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/4 "2026-06-15T21:07:58Z")
The creek of Clark Gully disappears once it gets out of the gully. It doesn’t go directly into a sinkhole at a fixed point, nor does it peter out over miles like desert streams. It completely sinks into the rubble over the span of a few hundred feet, but gradually and the exact point at which it disappears entirely depends on the water flow. The stream bed nonetheless continues for a mile or so afterward. So it’s possible that the water flows but entirely underground within the channel, except for anomalous flood years. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211spdH3Z7vE93ntYjUgdCGx6g%212m2%211d42.6612102%212d-77.331742%213f100.06%214f5.698%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/5 "2026-06-15T21:08:10Z")
[I skied here…](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chacaltaya) World’s Highest Permanatly Established “Ski Resort” ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/6 "2026-06-15T21:25:26Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > On a smaller scale, I visited the [Moeraki Boulders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeraki_Boulders) in New Zealand back in 2005. We were there in February of this year. Amazing! Closer to (my) home, here is a formation in the aptly-name Mushroom Rock State Park, located in the middle of a Kansas pasture. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/NY6fsSA.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/NY6fsSA) ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/7 "2026-06-15T21:50:47Z")
After a family trip to the Black Hills and Yellowstone and points in between, I asked my kids what their favorite thing was, besides this thing: > **[Independence Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Rock?wprov=sfla1)** > > Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and 850 feet (260 m) wide, which is in southwestern Natrona County, Wyoming, United States, along Wyoming Highway 220. During the middle of the 19th century, it formed a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails. Many of these emigrants carved their names on it, and it was described by early missionary and explorer Father Pierre-Jean De Smet in... Quite famous (Oregon Trail and all) so maybe it doesn’t belong here. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/8 "2026-06-15T23:37:47Z")
See what you did? This is why we can’t have nice things! Your mother and I are very disappointed! Go to your room! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/9 "2026-06-15T23:40:23Z")
I have been to Vasquez rocks= you can see where Kirk fought the Gorn, etc- > **[Los Angeles County - Parks & Recreation](https://parks.lacounty.gov/vasquez-rocks-natural-area-and-nature-center/)** ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/10 "2026-06-15T23:50:33Z")
**Rock City** — tourist attraction in Chattanooga, TN, atop Lookout Mountain. A walking path takes you around different rock formations, including **Balanced Rock** , a 1000 ton boulder balanced on a smaller boulder just waiting for ignorant tourists to come push it off (kidding, sort of). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/11 "2026-06-15T23:53:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Vasquez rocks= you can see where Kirk fought the Gorn… In the movie _Paul_, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost attempt to reenact the scene but they’re interrupted by a family of innocent bystanders. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/12 "2026-06-16T00:58:14Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > **Rock City** — tourist attraction in Chattanooga, TN, atop Lookout Mountain. A walking path takes you around different rock formations, including **Balanced Rock** , a 1000 ton boulder balanced on a smaller boulder just waiting for ignorant tourists to come push it off (kidding, sort of). In New York State there are several places like Rock City, one of which is also called Rock City. Rock City TN has the deepest and widest chasms, and lots of them, but the ones in New York you are allowed to climb up and around instead of staying on the paved trail. My favorite one is Panama Rocks since it is as extensive as Rock City TN but you are free to roam. It’s passages are narrower but that can be a plus since it makes them feel more spectacular than the impression their smaller height would normally give. Some of them also have precarious rocks but I can’t think of a particular one in New York. The specific one that I can think of in such a place is at Minister Creek in Pennsylvania in Allegheny National Forest, which is the smallest of the ones I am a fan of, but it does have one place where a cliff that is around 30 feet high ends except that there is one place on the clifftop where you can just walk onto a separately-standing boulder. I’m not even sure how high the cliff really is because the stride is so natural it doesn’t feel dangerous at all. But when you’re isolated on that rock, you can look at the 180 degree view of the approximately 400 foot deep valley and then the full splendor of where you are hits you. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/13 "2026-06-16T02:32:34Z")
On the Yellowstone trip, a bit west of Casper, we saw the sign for Hell’s Half Acre: > **[Hell's Half Acre (Wyoming)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell%27s_Half_Acre_%28Wyoming%29?wprov=sfla1)** > > Hell's Half Acre is a large scarp located about 40 miles (64 km) west of Casper, Wyoming on US 20/26. Encompassing 320 acres (1.3 km2), this geologic oddity is composed of deep ravines, caves, rock formations and hard-packed eroded earth. Hell's Half Acre was used as the location for the fictional planet of Klendathu in the movie Starship Troopers. > The location was known as "The Devil's Kitchen", "The Pits of Hades", and "The Baby Grand Canyon" until a cowhand appeared and thought he was at He... It was used to film scenes from _Starship Troopers_. What makes it weird is it just pops up (actually down) in the middle of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/14 "2026-06-16T02:54:44Z")
In central California between Paso Robles and Bakersfield is Carrizo Plain National Monument, home of [Painted Rock](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/painted-rock-california). The sandstone outcrop in the middle of nowhere not only has petroglyphs but a family of barn owls roosting in the alcoves. Depending on the season you can take a guided tour or a self-guided tour. If you take a self-guided tour in the wintertime there’s a chance you might have it all to yourself. [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMYXFu3v6L3Q5kbEE5moyW_Uzqoc8rTdyifgCUPpM0wwjEmbVGaNU2UruBzoNWg3rNG1dYGu3WNO2pZ1EnXpl7x8rIsZyzIjpCpnK2GPL51AVxdEcey4KR0ApZPmr2_rCZztk7Gnf1T8o2BXJ3EgEvmqQ=w1114-h796-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczMYXFu3v6L3Q5kbEE5moyW_Uzqoc8rTdyifgCUPpM0wwjEmbVGaNU2UruBzoNWg3rNG1dYGu3WNO2pZ1EnXpl7x8rIsZyzIjpCpnK2GPL51AVxdEcey4KR0ApZPmr2_rCZztk7Gnf1T8o2BXJ3EgEvmqQ=w1114-h796-s-no?authuser=0) [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPRXWYleeJ30k_3yt1X1ynGKSk8eNk1HLOABS_jiaOilBs0YdnYpYykOPhlWDtmqz7p8OxirNmIQch_y3FqhBQ096KvUl2pAlI0YFLU0nVBYnoFzcYb3hWSNeqbx4XrWFFJnRE6OLABB6Nsfia5Rmc32g=w1274-h796-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPRXWYleeJ30k_3yt1X1ynGKSk8eNk1HLOABS_jiaOilBs0YdnYpYykOPhlWDtmqz7p8OxirNmIQch_y3FqhBQ096KvUl2pAlI0YFLU0nVBYnoFzcYb3hWSNeqbx4XrWFFJnRE6OLABB6Nsfia5Rmc32g=w1274-h796-s-no?authuser=0) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/15 "2026-06-16T03:19:44Z")
[City of Rocks State Park](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=de05cf460d1f5f32&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1151US1151&sxsrf=ANbL-n7Paddcb16RKNRjiUpAQjCx_Msa6Q:1781580451829&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3hg2cLua8k0b5ikl_6e-_EuCXk5Shqht8q9TAUd4xszigs656NWJckSG_TGl5MY_SqxRRU3KEgpihthTAYMY6QAiEN3tnd_0ovOqpRlOeifOX9ygyU4TxLAZr38ANGbbibNj3GsO8FGM7l8ShIuOXMFnppYAzUqhnsXWDJJHLk-rCdnlOw&q=city+of+rocks+state+park&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiVg-Gv6IqVAxXtKEQIHQEAMm4QtKgLegQIEBAB&biw=1366&bih=599&dpr=1) near Silver City NM is pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/16 "2026-06-16T03:19:54Z")
Nifty! Here’s something you (probably) don’t see every day: River of Rocks. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/share.google?q=vSCPJHfJUHk1WfYUy)** You can hike the trail down from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and either circumvent the feature or, like Mister Crazy burpo, you can hike across the rocks themselves; you will hear running water flowing underneath the rocks — it’s strange. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/17 "2026-06-16T03:31:51Z")
Not sure how anomalous this is, but Chimney Rock State Park has an interesting formation to conquer: > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=chimney+rock+state+park&sca_esv=de05cf460d1f5f32&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS1098US1099&hl=en-US&sxsrf=ANbL-n69xyh6pJ1JqCkImK3q41N_fLtrkQ%3A1781580131793&ei=Y8EwaqX9L4_Sp84PjdST-AY&oq=chimney+rock&gs_lp=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&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp)** They blasted an elevator shaft through the solid rock of the base so you can take the lift to the level with the stairs and walk up to the top. My **PJ** (see avatar) climbed from the base all the way to the top; she seemed so pleased with herself! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/18 "2026-06-16T04:33:35Z")
I seem to remember walking between and under large boulders _while on the downslope of a mountain_ there, but I can’t find pictures of those now. I can’t think of anywhere else that has that. And if nothing else, it’s certainly distinctive. I saw it a year or two _before_ Last of the Mohicans came out, and I recognized the waterfall in the film from just that one visit. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/19 "2026-06-16T05:01:09Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > On a smaller scale, I visited the [Moeraki Boulders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeraki_Boulders) in New Zealand back in 2005. Ooh. I grew up near Moeraki. I went to High School in Palmerston, the neighbouring township. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917/20 "2026-06-16T05:21:10Z")
Another huge rock that is strangely out of place in its surroundings, is the Okotoks Erratic, better known as the “Big Rock”: > **[Okotoks Erratic – ‘Big Rock’](https://www.alberta.ca/okotoks-erratic-big-rock)** > > This prominent southern Alberta geological landmark is a historical site of great spiritual significance to the Blackfoot peoples. No, it is not the picture in the thumbnail; since the link leads to an Alberta government site, the picture is of the Alberta legislature. Regardless, the page is informative, and has plenty of photos of the Big Rock, including some with people, to show scale. Although it is not local to me (it’s about a two-hour drive), I’ve driven by it a few times, and yep, it is big, at about 135 by 60 feet and is 30 feet high. While a tourist attraction, it has spiritual significance to the local Indigineous peoples, so tourists are asked not to climb on it. That doesn’t stop a Calgary brewery from calling itself Big Rock Brewery, however. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-rock-and-other-anomalous-places-you-ve-been/1030917.md?page=2)