Cedar Breaks

Photo by poison-yvi on Freeimages.com

Cedar Breaks, at an elevation of over 10,000ft+ in some areas, is another incredible National Monument to see. The views are just as breathtaking as those in Bryce Canyon. The hiking trails along the canyon wall allow those to peer into the vast, colorful bottom. This is a must-see area and generally has less foot traffic compared to Bryce Canyon, though still can be busy during peak summer season. Please be aware that Cedar Breaks closes during winter and is inaccessible.

Places to Hike

Cedar Breaks conveniently has trails along the top of it’s canyon wall. They are generally pretty easy to navigate with some slightly difficult areas. It’s best to check the weather before hiking any trails at these high elevations.

  • Sunset Trail (Distance: 2 mi. Difficulty: Easy. Time to complete: 1 hour)
  • Nature Trail (Distance: .6 mi. Difficulty: Easy. Time to complete: 30 minutes)
  • Alpine Pond Loop Trail (Distance: 1-2 mi. Difficulty: Moderate. Time to complete: 1.5-2.5 hours.)
  • South Rim Trail (Distance: 5 mi. Difficulty: Moderate – Strenuous. Time to complete: 4 hours)

Best Time To Visit

The optimal time to visit is during the spring and summer months. Since this national monument is located at 10,000ft it can still get cold during the warm season and is advised to dress appropriately. Cedar Breaks can also be visited during winter for their guided snow shoe tours.

Camping

Cedar Breaks National Monument has a single campground, Point Supreme, with 25 campsites open to both tent and RV camping. The amenities at this campground are limited and is only open from mid-June to mid-September.

Location

Cedar Breaks Visitor Center is a great place to start for information. It is a bit of a drive from Tropic, however, the views are a site a see.