Cedar Breaks: An Amazing Amphitheater

Cedar Breaks : Amazing Amphitheater

Cedar Breaks National Monument is near Cedar City, Utah. We made a day trip to see it and think it was well worth the hour's drive from our RV park in the Hurricane/St. George area.

The red cliff formation is aptly named the Amphitheater and is a fantastic display of eroded cliffs with all sorts of hoodoos and sculpted shapes. The expansive area of rock walls, spires and columns spans three miles across and runs over 2,000 feet deep. The elevation at the rim of the canyon is over 10,000 feet above sea level, but we seemed to adjust to the altitude without a problem.

Make the scenic drive through the National Monument. It takes you through a mixture of forests and meadows. There are a number of observation points along the way - take the time to stop at each to appreciate the different perspectives.

Cedar Breaks has a small Visitors Center with an observation overlook and information.

We hiked 2 miles on the Alpine Pond trail, walking through forests of spruce, fir and aspen to a small spring-fed pond. We were there in July and were able to se the many wildflowers in bloom. There is a trail guide available at the trailhead for a small fee, which makes the hike more interesting.

We also hiked along the rim on the Spectra Point/Ramparts Trail, a moderately strenuous hike at 10,000 feet above sea level. It provides some great views of the amphitheater.

One mile will take you to the Spectra Point Overlook. Many visitors return to the trailhead from Spectra Point, making a 2-mile round trip. We continued another mile further to the Ramparts Overlook at the trail's end, which made for a 4-mile round trip. If you decide to go to the Ramparts Overlook, bear in mind that the return trip is largely uphill.

Bottom line: Cedar Breaks is worth a stop for RV travel in this area. The National Monument is not too far off Route 15. The elevation makes it a welcome retreat from summer temps.

Beyond Cedar Breaks, read more about southwest Utah.