Planning a trip to Cedar Breaks National Monument

Getting Around

The 5-mile road through Cedar Breaks National Monument offers easy access to the monument's scenic overlooks and trail heads. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to make the drive. Start at the visitor center and nearby Point Supreme for a panoramic view of the amphitheater. Then drive north, past the campground and picnic ground turnoff, to Sunset View, for a closer look at the amphitheater and its colorful canyons. From each of these overlooks you'll be able to see out across Cedar Valley, over the Antelope and Black mountains, and into the Escalante Desert.

Continue north to Chessman Ridge Overlook, so named because the stone hoodoos below the overlook seem like massive chess pieces. Watch for swallows and swifts soaring among the rock formations. Back in your car, head north to Alpine Pond, to walk among the wildflowers on the self-guided nature trail. Finally, proceed to North View, which offers perhaps the best views of the amphitheater and its rock statues.

Getting There

Cedar Breaks National Monument is 85 miles north of the main section of Zion National Park. From Zion's south entrance, head west on Utah 9, then north on Utah 17 to I-15. Follow I-15 north to exit 57 (Cedar City), turn and head east on Utah 14, then turn north on Utah 148, which goes straight into the monument. From the Kolob Canyons section of Zion, which is off exit 40 of I-15, it is only 40 miles to Cedar Breaks.

The national monument is 23 miles east of Cedar City, 56 miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park, and 247 miles south of Salt Lake City. If you're coming from Bryce Canyon or other points east, the park is accessible from the town of Panguitch on Utah 143. If you're coming from the north, take the Parowan exit off I-15 and head south on Utah 143. It's a steep climb from whichever direction you choose, so take care, especially if your vehicle is prone to vapor lock or (like many motor homes) to loss of power on hills.

Health & Safety

The high elevation -- 10,350 feet at the visitor center -- is likely to cause shortness of breath and tiredness. Those with heart or respiratory conditions should consult their doctors before making the trip to Cedar Breaks. During thunderstorms, avoid overlooks and other high, exposed areas -- they're often targets for lightning.

When to Go

At over 10,000 feet of elevation, it's always pleasantly cool at Cedar Breaks. It actually gets downright cold at night, so bring a jacket or sweater, even if the temperature is scorching just down the road in St. George. The monument is open to those traveling by car, truck, or RV for a short summer season -- from after the snow melts, usually in late May, until the first heavy snow, usually in mid-November. However, if you have a snowmobile or a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes, you can visit throughout the winter.

Camping

The 30-site campground, Point Supreme, just north of the visitor center, is open from June to mid-September, with sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. It's a beautiful high-mountain setting, among tall spruce and fir. Facilities include restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, grills, and an amphitheater for the ranger's evening campfire programs. No showers or RV hookups are available. Camping fee is $14 per night. Keep in mind that even in midsummer, temperatures can drop into the 30s (single digits Celsius) at night at this elevation, so bring cool-weather gear.