Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah is a Breathtaking Sight

Stunning Cedar Breaks National Monument is located in southwest Utah near the town of Cedar City. Similar to more-visited Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater canyon that rests atop the Colorado Plateau. The amphitheater is more than 2,000 feet deep and spans more than 3 miles. The elevation at the rim is approximately 10,000 feet above sea level.

The sedentary rock visible at this monument is natural limestone and the amazing colors are formed by oxidized irons and manganese, creating brilliant hues of red, orange, yellow, and purple. Established as a national monument in 1933, Cedar Breaks is often compared to Bryce and many believe it is even more beautiful, and because it is the less visited of the two parks, those who prefer to avoid crowds will find this a more desirable place to visit. Snow, however, makes it difficult to traverse during the winter months because of its high elevation.

The area where Cedar Breaks sits was once home to the peoples of the Southern Paiute Indian tribe. Much of the land later became the property of the Mormon Church and the Paiute population declined largely due to European diseases brought to the area by settlers.

The Ranger Cabin and Historic Visitors Center at Cedar Breaks National Monument were built by Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, a group of young men who, during the Great Depression, were paid to make improvements and additions to many of the nation's National Parks and National Monuments. Both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Visitors Center, though small, still functions as such and is an ideal place to begin a visit to Cedar Breaks.

From near the Visitors Center, guests who wish to hike throughout the park can pick up one of several trails suitable for hikers of various levels. The Spectra Point/Ramparts Overlook Trail is a 4-mile round-trip hike along the rim. This moderately strenuous trail takes hikers through bristlecone pine and provides breathtaking views along the way. Those who wish a shorter trail can turn around at the Overlook for a 2-mile round trip journey.

For a view of local fauna, the Alpine Pond Nature Trail takes guests through fields of wildflowers and forests of spruce, pine, and aspen to a beautiful spring-fed pond. This 2-mile loop is easy to moderate in difficulty. A more rugged trail can be found just outside the north entrance of the park in the Ashdown Gorge Wilderness area. In addition, the 1-mile Campground Trail is suitable for guests with pets.

While hiking can be enjoyed from late spring into summer, the park is ablaze with colors in the fall, making this an optimal time for hiking and photo taking. In the winter, some roads are often impassable and the Cedar Breaks Scenic Drive is usually closed. However, visitors are welcome to enjoy cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and snowmobiling inside the park. Rangers are at a minimum during the winter, so activities are done at one's own risk.

There is one campground on site at Cedar Breaks National Monument. Closed from mid-September to mid-June, it offers 28 campsites with no hookups. Reservations in advance are not permitted.