Colorful Cedar Breaks National Monument
photo by Frank Kovalchek

Cedar Breaks National Monument

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Cedar Breaks National Monument is a United States National Monument that is located in the Dixie region of Utah.

Understand

History

The wild and rugged land compromising the area where Cedar Breaks lies today was known to 1800 Mormon settlers as “Breaks,” due to how difficult it was to travel in the area. In the 1920’s Iron and Kane Counties worked together to have a road constructed from Cedar City to Highway 89. A paved road up to Cedar Breaks was also built. President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Cedar Breaks a National Monument on August 22, 1933. The monument is managed today by the National Park Service. In the summer of 2006 parties have worked to have this outstanding monument become a National Park.

Climate

A cool, alpine climate.

Landscape

Impressive! Cedar Breaks is one of those places that is breath taking. The single amphitheater is filled with shapes and the subtle colors of limestone formations that are incredible. Surrounding the amphitheater are high alpine meadows covered in an array of wildflowers.

Flora and fauna

You would think the place would be filled with Cedar trees, but there is not a one in sight. Instead there are juniper trees that the early settlers mistook for Cedar trees. This is a high elevation monument however and although there are junipers, there are many more aspen and spruce. Due to the spruce beetle however, a live and thriving spuce tree is becoming a rare sight. The fir beatle has been doing some damage on the mountain lately as well. The bristlecone pine and fir trees dots the landscape in many places on the monument. The bristlecone is thought to be the oldest living thing in the world even though the Aspen, according to some scientist, might just be older.

At 10,000 feet the fauna living on the mountain must be hardy. Seen around the monument are deer, squirrels, chipmunks, pika and gophers.

Getting there

Check road reports before heading to Cedar Breaks in late fall and winter. U-148 closes anywhere from late October and does not usually open again until late May. Cross country skiers and snowmobiles can access the park by skies or snowmobiles.

If traveling on US-89, take Utah 14 west to Utah 148 north to Cedar Breaks National Monument. If traveling north on I-15, take the Cedar City exit and proceed to Utah 14. There will be a signed road to Cedar Breaks. Turn onto Utah 148 and drive 4 miles to Cedar Breaks National Monument. If traveling south on I-15, exit at Parowan, then take Utah 143 east to Cedar Breaks National Monument.

The closest airport is in St. George , about an hour south of Cedar City on I-15. The closest full-service airports are in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City , which are connected by I-15.

Traveling around

This is a small monument so it's easy to get around. Along U-148 there is a 5 miles drive with pull outs for visitors to view the amphitheater from different angles. Pull-outs include: Spectra Point, Sunset View, Chessmen Ridge and Point Supreme.

See

  • Cedar Breaks Ampitheatre from all 5 pull-outs.

  • Cedar Breaks Visitor Center. This rustic old building is wonderful!

  • Cedar Breaks Campground

Things to do

  • Alpine Pond Trail which is a great family hike through the forest to a nice pond.

  • Spectra Point & Wasatch Ramparts Trail is a moderate trail to a nice view of the ampitheatre.

  • Cedar Breaks Bottoms is a seldom done trail that begins in Dixie National Forest and ends down at the hoodoos seen from the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument.

  • Twisted Forest Trail is a nice meander through the bristcones.

  • Ashdown Gorge - Rattlesnake Creek is an impressive hike. It starts as a meander down hill through the bristecone with views of the Cedar Breaks Ampitheatre and ends in the gorge near Cedar City.

Eat

There is no food sold inside the monument.

Food sold near Cedar Breaks.

  • Duck Creek

  • Mount Carmel Junction

  • Cedar City

Drink

Drinks are not sold inside the monument.

Nearby Communities where drinks are sold:

  • Duck Creek

  • Mount Carmel Junction.

  • Cedar City

Sleep

Lodging

There is no lodging inside the monument.

There is lodging in nearby communities.

  • Duck Creek

  • Mount Carmel Junction

  • Cedar City

Camping

  • Cedar Breaks Campground

  • Dixie National Forest, Cedar Mountain Campgrounds.

Backcountry

Dixie National Forest and Ashdown Gorge Wildneress surround the monument and lend a vast backcountry area to the monument.

Buy

There is a nice book store in the rustic visitor center.

Safety

When hiking in the backcountry always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Avoid hiking rainy days if hiking Ashdown Gorge or any other slot canyon.

Fees/Permits

If visiting the Southwest where there are so many parks and monuments so close to each other, get the National Park pass. This pass is good for every National Park in the USA and it gets you into Cedar Breaks National Monument as well. If you want to pay just the fee for the monument then it is $4 for 7 days.

  • Zion National Park is a popular Utah National Park. Many that come to visit Zion take the quick jaunt over to visit Cedar Breaks.

Nearby Towns and Communities

  • '''Duck Creek Village

  • Mount Carmel Junction, Glendale, Orderville.

  • '''Cedar City

  • '''Brianhead Ski Resort

Contact & location

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The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:

Frank Kovalchek, Ken Lund, brewbooks, scott cassidy

Some photos courtesy of: . The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.

This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at WikitravelView full credits

Nick Roux, Frank and Ryan Holliday, PerryPlanet

This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at WikipediaView full credits

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