Spectacular Geology, Forests, and Meadows at 10,000 Feet.
Discover one of America’s most special parks: look down into a half-mile deep geologic amphitheater; wander among timeless bristlecone pines; stand in lush meadows of wildflowers; ponder crystal-clear night skies; and experience the richness of the subalpine forest.
Created to protect “spectacular cliffs, canyons, and features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest,” Cedar Breaks National Monument is one of 270 national park units identified as containing significant natural resources. The park includes an outstanding, scenic, multi-colored geologic amphitheater with a mixture of spruce/fir forest and subalpine meadows on the rim lands.
At this elevation, (8,100–10,662 feet), winters are long and cold. Summers are brief and cool. Mean monthly minimum temperatures are above 32 degrees F only in June, July, August, and September. Annual cumulative snowfalls can exceed 30 feet. A wide variety of plant life exists in the park, due to the wide range in elevation and micro-habitats. The park’s topographic diversity also supports a large variety of animal life.
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Dixie National Forest (Surrounding)
The Dixie National Forest, with headquarters in Cedar City, Utah, occupies almost two million acres and stretches for about 170 miles across southern Utah. It straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River.
Frontier Homestead State Park Museum (45 min)
Travel through time with the Frontier Homestead’s massive collection of horse-drawn vehicles. Imagine yourself as a stagecoach driver or a pioneer crossing the plains in a covered wagon. Experience life on the frontier with interactive displays and exhibits.
Parowan Gap Petroglyphs (45 min)
You approach the petroglyphs at Parowan Gap along an ancient trail. In prehistoric times the gap was used by peoples living in the Parowan Valley as a convenient passage through the Red Hills. Yearly migrations passed here on their way west to harvest desert resources.
Southern Utah University (45 min)
Come learn and play across SUU’s 100 acres and beyond, thanks to an educational partnership with the National Park Service alongside SUU Outdoors, which takes students on once-in-a-lifetime adventures.
Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park (1 hour)
The Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park is located at Exit 40 on Interstate 15, 40 miles north of Zion Canyon and 17 miles south of Cedar City. A five-mile scenic drive along the Kolob Canyons Road allows visitors to view the crimson canyons and gain access to various trails and scenic viewpoints.