Cedar Breaks National Monument

on October 11, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

Cedar Breaks high mountain ridge is cut and curved by water over the eons into amazing, colorful, giant amphitheater, where nature show is presenting it glory, no wonder it is often referred to as the “Circle of Painted Cliffs”.

The park rim and main facilities are located at an elevation of 10,000 feet and the cliffs are dropping 2,000 feet below to its floor and Ashdown gorge.

This relatively unknown park with it three-mile-long rim over the “amphitheater” provide amazing viewing points, high elevation aspen trees fall colors, and ancient bristlecone pine trees.

The Cedar Breaks resembles the not so far away and much more famous Bryce Canyon National Park.

Cedar Breaks is different, much bigger and less intimate, you can’t hike from the high rim down into the amphitheater, but it also have a lot less visitors, so it is less crowded. This is not a replacement for Bryce Canyon visit.

I recommend planning half day visit if you are going to hike, if this is just driving through the park viewing point it is about one hour visit.

Where? :

The monument is located 23 miles east of Cedar City on highway 14 and three miles south of Brian Head Resort.

The park only road, highway 148, that is crossing the park parallel to the rim is connecting between highway 14 on its south side and highway 143 on it north side.

If you are traveling on highway I-15 and visiting Cedar City. Travel north on Main Street for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto E Center Street/Utah Highway 14.

Continue east on Utah Highway 14 for approximately 18 miles. Turn left onto Utah Highway 148 and continue 4 miles to Cedar Breaks National Monument.

If you are driving south on I-15, take the exit to Parowan and drive up the mountain on highway 143, pass Brian Head and 3 miles after you will reach the park.

You can also come here using highways 14 or 143 if you are using highway 89.

Google Map Link

When? :

Cedar Breaks National Monument Road is open from late May to mid-October.

The visitor center is open mid-June to mid-September.

Due to it high elevation services and roads are closed for the winter, due to heavy snow.

Because of the high elevation, summer daytime temperatures are cool, with average 60 f, afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common, and it is cold at night.

Be prepared for cooler temperatures and unpredictable weather. Snow, sleet, and hail can occur at any time of the year, even in the summer!

The best time for wildflower viewing is in July and the best autumn foliage is end of Sep and Oct..

Due note 1: The entrance fee for Cedar Breaks is $10.00 per adult. Children under 16 are free. The pass is good for 7 days.

You do not need to pay if you have National Parks yearly pass.

There is no ranger entry point and paying is being done at the small visitor center.

Due note 2:

When the park is open the road through the park is open to vehicle access 24 hours a day.

Due note 3:

Cellular service is very limited and unreliable in the park. Some cellular service can be achieved at the park rim overlooks.

Due note 4:

The nearest lodging and dining options are in the ski resort town of Brian Head, 3 miles north. The nearest substantial town is Cedar City, located 20 miles to the west.

Due note 5:

Local camping available from mid-June to mid-September.

Due note 6:

There are restrooms and water facilities in most of the main viewing points and visitor center.

Due note 7:

Bring your food with you, there isn’t any restaurant in the park.

Except camping there is no hotel or lodge in the park.

My thoughts:

I tried to get to this park one time in the past but fail because of the deep snow, it was later April.

This time I came mid-August 2024, and I really enjoy this half day visit.

I stop at several viewing points and hike 2.5 miles to see the Bartizan double arch.

The hike was fun, and the view was rewording.

Nearby Location Blogs:

The visit:

The park area is spanning over the large amphitheater area and the high rim along the road. The 6 miles long road crossing the park from south to north along the rim is the main place to visit, I’m not aware on any official trail starting at the rim and descending into the deep canyon.

Along the road you can find several viewing points, the park visitor center, the park campground and 2 hiking options.

Start your visit at one of the viewing points that are located along the road.

Viewing points north to south:

· North View Lookout

· Chessman Ridge Overlook

· Sunset View Overlook

· Point Supreme Viewpoint

Although the view is not the same from all points from all of them you will see how rock cliffs are dropping 2,000 feet below and creating the amazing, colorful, giant amphitheater, where nature show is presenting it glory.

No wonder it is often referred to as the “Circle of Painted Cliffs”.

The million years of eroding process transform the limestone and sandstone rock layers into stone spires, columns, hoodoos, pinnacles, and deep canyons with deep colors of red, orange, yellow and purple.

In the park you can find bristlecone pine growing. They are one of the world's oldest trees leaving on earth.

The Dixie National Forest that is surrounding Cedar Breaks providing lush high altitude open meadows and forest of ponderosa pines together with large aspens trees.

The viewing points are perfect place to enjoy the park unique view, but this is especially correct at sunset when the sun is lighting the amphitheater cliffs with yellow and orange glowing colors.

As the sun start to set in the far west below you the colors get more entrance, and the shadows emphasize the color contrast.

When I visit here early Aug 2024 at the afternoon black thunderstorms start to accumulate and a strong summer storm started over the ridge.

The contrast between the red, orange amphitheater cliffs, the black clouds and the sunset light was instance.

Alpine Pound Trail:

One hiking option is the two mile trail that leads from Chessman Ridge Overlook to small Alpine Pond and the Spectra Point Trail. The trails are easy walks but can be strenuous because of the park's high elevation (3,000 m). the trail can also be access from Alpine Pond North Trailhead.

Bartizan Arch and Viewing Point Hike:

This hike was the main activity I did in the park, except visiting the many viewing points along the rim drive.

Near the new visitor center building, you’ll find Point Supreme Overlooks, this was also the starting point for my hike.

The trail start near the visitor center parking at elevation of 10350 ft, from here the trail heading left, cross the hill and get near the cliff line.

As you hiking along the trail the view into the amphitheater is changing all the time. From here the trail climb up to the highest point (10500 ft) near the park water tanks. From this point it is heading down along the ridgeline and rim cliffs.

Along this trail you can see many old and impressive bristlecone pine trees.

The first official viewing point on your way down will be after 0.8 miles you’re your starting point will be Spectra Point Overlook (10290 ft).

From this viewing point the trail is getting into the back side creek, away from the cliff edge and into the forest.

The next viewing point is after additional 0.9 mile of walking down, this is Ramparts Overlook (9950 ft).

Keep hike on the trail down, mainly without amphitheater viewing and after 0.7 miles you will reach Bartizan Arch. The impressive double arch is located on the left side of the trail. Its best view is from the trail, you can walk above it but it not as clear from the side viewing.

From here a short climb up the hill will bring you to Bartizan viewing point (9800 ft).

This is a perfect place to take a long rest, drink and eat something.

This spot is probably having the best view of the park because it is located for about 1.5 miles out west, in front of the rim, and you can see from here the entire amphitheater at it glory.

It was getting late in the afternoon and the sun start it way down to the west, shining with it yellow color the rocks and cliffs. High above the rim the black thunderstorm cloud create the perfect background to the view.

After resting and enjoying the view and solitude I started with my hike back up, this is 2.5 miles up with about 1,100 ft of elevation gain.

Overall, this 5-mile hike took me 3 hours to complete with a lot of time spending in Bartizan viewing point.

When I arrived at the new visitor center, I went to Point Supreme Viewpoint platform and waited to the sunset.

The clouds over the rim where dark and to the west there where many cloud brakes so I can see the sun going down. The sky colors just added additional upscale to the view.

When I finish here it was already dark and cold, so I drove down to my next destination.

One of the less visited National Monuments in southern Utah, especially compared to the near by Zion and Bryce National Park.

The view from the rim is breath taking and impressive and the hike I did was fun.

www:

https://www.nps.gov/cebr/index.htm

Map:

https://www.nps.gov/npgallery/GetAsset/9c61ee87-21e7-403a-8238-8a5f447331b8

Additional Pictures:

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