Cedar Breaks National Monument has similar hoodoos to Bryce Canyon National Park near Cedar City, Utah. It is only about 30 minutes east of I-15, so you can visit this incredible gem as detour.
Seasonal
Cedar Breaks National Monument is open year round, but part of the road is closed for winter from November-May.
Directions
If coming from the north, take exit 78 off I-15 at Parowan, Utah. You will be on Main Street for 1.2 miles. Turn left onto Center Street for 0.3 mile and then take UT-143. After sixteen miles, the road changes into UT-148. Continue about 5 miles to the Point Supreme parking lot, the main viewpoint.
If you are coming from the south, take I-15 north and then exit 57 in Cedar City. Head east on Main Street for 2.1 miles and then turn right to continue east on Center Street. It soon turns into UT-14. Follow it for 17.3 miles and then turn left onto UT-148 for three miles to the Point Supreme parking area which is a main viewing area.
Altitude
Cedar Breaks is over 10,000 feet in elevation, so it is typically much cooler temperatures. We were just there in July on a day that was 100° in Cedar City and Salt Lake City, 113° in St. George and yet a comfortable 72° in Cedar Breaks!
Trees and Wildflowers
Cedar Breaks is a beautiful combination of these intense red rock hoodoos and green forests.
In mid-July the wildflowers were in full bloom!
Cedar Breaks is also home to some of the oldest living things on the planet: Bristlecone Pine Trees can live over 5,000 years!
Wildlife
Wildlife includes black bears, red foxes, and California Condors. I only saw ravens, mountain chickadees and chipmunks.
Dark Sky Designation
Cedar Breaks is an official dark sky location for night sky photography. I haven’t had a change to photography the Milky Way there, but I bet it’s incredible.
Hiking Trails
The most popular trail in the park is Spectra Point. It is an easy 1.9 miles round trip that follows the south rim of the Cedar Breaks amphitheater and is so gorgeous!
There are a handful of other hikes in Cedar Breaks and I can’t wait to return to try them. Here is a list:
-Spectra Point and Rampart Overlook Trail – 3.8 moderate miles
-Alpine Pond Trail – 2.2 easy miles
-Barizan Arch Trail – 5.0 moderate miles
-Sunset Trail -2.2 easy miles
Here are a few more photos of incredible Cedar Breaks!
Other spots to explore nearby include Parowan Gap Petroglyphs, Hidden Haven Waterfall, Kanarra Falls, and Timbercreek Overlook. If you want more red rock hoodoos there is a small section at Devil’s Kitchen in the Utah County’s Nebo Loop and then astounding Bryce Canyon National Park.
