"Cedar Breaks Amphitheater in Summer" by NPS Photo , public domain
![]() | Cedar BreaksBrochure |
Official brochure of Cedar Breaks National Monument (NM) in Utah. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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On the drive from Cedar City to Cedar Breaks National
Monument, a cascade of sensory changes begins. At 10
thousand feet, the air cools and becomes crystal clear.
It sharpens the reds and whites, purples and pinks of
the landscape. The Milky Way and celestial objects
beyond our solar system fill the night sky. Meadows
blaze urgently with wildflowers. Sleet falls in July. At
the spot where the Colorado Plateau abruptly ends and
the land breaks away to the west, you’ve crossed a line
into the unexpected. A stop here, on the way to betterknown destinations, can stretch into a satisfying day, or
days, if you allow it.
Golden eagle
Brian Head Peak
National Monument
Utah
Peregrine
falcon
American
kestrel
Engelmann
spruce
In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated
these 6,155 acres as a national monument. Early visitors
arrived by rail or car at Cedar City, then continued by
bus on a circuit that included Cedar Breaks National
Monument, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion
national parks.
Common
raven
Aspen
Bristlecone
pine
White-throated
swift
Mule deer
An inland sea 90 million years ago
Lake Claron 60 million years ago
Volcanic ash and earthquakes 20 million years ago
The Colorado Plateau today
As mountains to the west aged,
they shed sediments, including
sandstone, limestone, and shale.
Rivers and streams carried these
sediments eastward to a sea
that covered much of present-
After the sea retreated east, a
low-lying area formed and filled
with fresh water carried by
streams, rivers, and rain that
drained from the new mountains to the west. Sediments
and minerals, including oxides
of iron and manganese, sank to
A fault became a conduit for
molten rock to rise from deep in
the earth, creating lava beds.
Volcanoes blanketed the region
with ash, creating the Brian
Head Formation. For about the
last 10 million years, earth-
Cedar Breaks, at the western
edge of the Colorado Plateau’s
Grand Staircase, is higher, cooler,
and wetter than points to the
east. It supports species that
thrive in high-elevation condi-
day Utah and northern Arizona.
As the sea drained, it exposed
rock formations created by compressed layers of sediments. You
can see these formations in the
canyons near Cedar City.
the bottom of Lake Claron,
along with organic matter
like algae and the remains
of shelled creatures. All
contributed to the brilliant
hues you can see in the
canyons of Cedar Breaks
(below).
quakes continuously lowered the
landscape to the west, leaving
the park at the highest elevation
point of the Grand Staircase.
Brian Head Peak
11,307 ft
Cedar
Breaks
Claron Formation
Bryce
Canyon
tions, including coyote mint
(below), southern ligusticum,
deer, and elk (far left). Outside
the park, American Indians continue to gather and hunt these
and other species for healing
and food.
Western tanager
North American
porcupine
Cedar Breaks
Brian Head Formation
(below) can be seen along
the Alpine Pond Trail.
Zion
Rocky
Mountain
elk
G R A N D S TA I R C A S E
Cedar City
5,846 ft
Elkweed
North
American
pika
Long-tailed
weasel
Bristlecone
pine
Southern
ligusticum
Red fox
Violet-green
swallow
Bristlecone pines are among
Earth’s oldest surviving organisms. In a grove at Spectra Point,
some trees are over 1,500 years
old. Few other tree species will
grow at the edge of the breaks,
where the soil is poor, water is
scarce, and wind is extreme.
Little
sunflower
Clark’s
nutcracker
Silvery lupine
King’s flax
Mountain
bluebird
Yellow-bellied
marmot
Aspen
bluebells
Northern
flicker
Cushion phlox
Uinta
chipmunk
Scarlet
paintbrush
© ADRIANO ZAMBALDO
Black-chinned
hummingbird
Listen for a high-pitched call and
look for neat piles of drying
plant stalks—signs that pikas
are near. The small, highly social
species thrives above 7,500 feet.
A decline in their numbers in
warming subalpine areas is a
climate change indicator.
2,460 ft
© LOREN MOONEY
Fireweed chamaenerion
White-lined
sphinx moth
Colorado columbine
Markagunt
penstemon
Rufous
hummingbird
Grand
Canyon
Hurricane
Fault
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
An Abrupt Change
Oregon fleabane
Broad-tailed
hummingbird
ILLUSTRATION—NPS / ARLENE
BRAITHWAITE; ALL OTHER
IMAGES NPS UNLESS
OTHERWISE CREDITED
Bristlecone pinecones
© ELIOT COHEN
Wind, rain, and insects
pollinate subalpine
wildflowers.
Native bees on
elkweed
Utah blue on
fireweed
Bumblebee on
coyote mint
Milberts’ tortoiseshell butterfly
Crown fritillary
butterfly
Plan Your Visit to Cedar Breaks
Roads, facilities, and services
are open daily from late May
to mid-October.
Scenic Drive Take a 7½-mile
road through the highcountry.
Protect yourself and wildlife by
obeying posted speed limits. Do
not drive into meadows, which
are easily damaged. Stop only
at designated roadside parking
areas and overlooks.
Overlooks View the massive
Cedar Breaks amphitheater
from different perspectives at
four overlooks along the scenic
drive. Stay behind fences and
away from the edge, where the
rock is loose and crumbly. Do
not throw rocks or other objects
off the rim. Watch children
closely. Avoid exposed areas
during thunderstorms.
Camping and Picnicking The
25-site campground is open
mid-June to mid-September. All
of the campsites can be reserved
at www.recreation.gov up to six
months in advance. The campground has water, restrooms,
showers, tables, and fire grills.
Daytime temperatures are in
the 60s and 70sºF; nighttime
lows are in the 30s and 40sºF.
The picnic area has a shelter,
water, and tables. Fires are permitted only in the campground.
Safety and Regulations Your
safety is your responsibility.
• High altitudes may cause
shortness of breath and tiredness—slow down, rest often,
and drink plenty of water.
• Wear a hat and use sunscreen.
• Pets must be leashed and attended; they are prohibited on trails.
• Hunting is prohibited inside the
park. For firearms and other
regulations, check the park website.
• Do not feed wildlife. • Do not pick
flowers or plants. • Federal laws
protect all natural and cultural
features; leave them undisturbed.
Accessibility We strive to make our
facilities, programs, and services
accessible to all. To learn more, ask
a ranger or visit the park website.
More Information
Cedar Breaks
National Monument
2390 West Hwy. 56, Suite 11
Cedar City, UT 84720-4151
435-986-7120
www.nps.gov/cebr
Cedar Breaks National Monument is one of over 400 parks
in the National Park System.
To learn more about national
parks and National Park Service
programs, visit www.nps.gov.
Emergencies call 911 first,
then contact a park employee.
IGPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx New in 20xx
Printed on recycled paper.
Cell service is limited in the park.
NPS
Ski and Snowshoe
See the Stars
Roads, facilities, and services are closed mid-October
through May because of heavy snow, but it’s possible
to pursue winter sports. Visit the park website for
more information.
An International Dark Sky Park, Cedar Breaks hosts
star parties throughout the year to celebrate and
share the beauty of the night sky. Visit the park website for scheduled programs and locations.
© D.L. ASHLIMAN
© NOAH LAY
Take the Trails
Cedar Breaks offers hiking options for all skill
levels. Pets are allowed only on Sunset Trail and
must be leashed at all times.
Sunset Trail, 2 miles, roundtrip
The easy, paved, wheelchair-accessible path passes
through the Point Supreme picnic area and campground.
It connects the Point Supreme and Sunset View overlooks
and offers gentle slopes and many rest areas.
Alpine Pond Loop Trail, 2 miles
Easy to moderate. The upper trail takes you past meadows
of native wildflowers, through spruce-fir-aspen forest, and
past ancient deposits of volcanic materials. The lower trail
offers excellent views of the “breaks.”
South Rim Trail, 5 miles, roundtrip
Moderately strenuous, not recommended for those with
cardiac or pulmonary problems. The trail follows the plateau rim. It includes steep climbs, spectacular views, and
ancient bristlecone pines. Viewpoints along the trail
include Spectra Point (1 mile), Ramparts Overlook (2 miles),
and the Bartizan (2½ miles).
Sunset over Cedar Breaks
from the rim.
© KEVIN O’CONNOR