Cedar Breaks National Monument

About this place

Cedar Breaks National Monument lies in Utah near Cedar City, about 20 km in a straight line east of it. It is a huge natural amphitheatre about 4.8 km across and more than 610 m deep, with a rim over 3,000 m above sea level, and Brian Head peak rises just outside the monument above it. The amphitheatre's rock is more eroded than, but otherwise similar to, the formations of nearby Bryce Canyon. Because of the altitude, snow often makes parts of the park inaccessible to vehicles from October to May, and the rim visitor centre opens only from June to October. Several hundred thousand people visit each year, and it is the source of Mammoth Creek. From viewpoints on the rim an amphitheatre of spires, cliffs and gullies opens below in orange, red, pink and white that shift with the light. Alpine meadows bloom with wildflowers in summer around the rim, along with spruce forest and ancient, twisted bristlecone pines, and deer and yellow-bellied marmots are seen. An entry fee applies. The air is thin and nights are cold even in summer, so bring warm layers and walk slowly. The road usually closes in winter, when the area becomes a place for skiing and snowshoeing.