Known as the "the grand staircase" and featuring a half-mile deep geological amphitheater, Cedar Breaks National Monument is one of America's most interesting parks and is perfect for RV lovers. Cedar Breaks National Monument is located in south-western Utah, specifically in Iron County near the west end of the Colorado Plateau. The human history of the area dates back thousands of years to when The Southern Paiute Native American tribe called the area home. Eventually they had to defend their land from other tribes and then eventually the European-Americans who decimated their current population to less than 1,000. During the Great Depression Era the first amenities were built in and around the National Monument, some of which are still in use today.
The park is most famous for its stunning rock formations that has resulted in a huge natural amphitheater that stretches across three miles and features a depth of over 2,000 feet. The highest point of the amphitheater also has an elevation of over 10,000 feet above sea level which brings large snowfall during the winter months.
Along with checking out the impeccable views from the top of the amphitheater, there are plenty of other activities to be found within the area. Guided ranger tours, hiking, stargazing and winter recreational activities can all be experienced and if you are in the area in the first few weeks of July you may even get to check out the wildflower festival!
Cedar Breaks National Monument is a fantastic RV camping location with 25 campsites available from mid-June until mid-September. All of the campsites at the monument are primitive and can be reserved online or chosen via a first come, first served basis. Peak season at Cedar Breaks National Monument runs from June until October.
Visitors can access the park via Highway 143 and the town of Brian Head. You can view Cedar Breaks from the Northview Overlook. State Route 143 will remain open, weather permitting. On April 22, the seasonal snowmobile trail will close.
The Visitor Center and park bookstore are closed for the season and will reopen Spring 2024.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is located in south-western Utah near Cedar City. The park is around 20 miles from the Old Highway 91 or around 30 miles from the US-89. This makes the area easily accessible as you drive to the park from either the east of the west.
Due to the location of Cedar Breaks National Monument there are no major cities located within a short drive. Despite this, Cedar City is within a short drive (around 20 miles away) and is the most populated area in Iron County. Along with Cedar City there are many small towns nearby that will the have supplies and amenities needed to enjoy your trip. These include Duck Creek Village (14 miles away), Alton (around 33 miles away) and Hatch (around 37 miles away). Apart from Cedar City the next closest city to Cedar Breaks National Monument is St. George, which can be found around 72 miles to the south-west.
If you are visiting the monument during the summer months you shouldn't encounter any problems when driving to the park. This can change during the winter time as the area is known for large snowfalls that close the highways. If you are traveling to the park during the winter months we recommend you call ahead to the park to confirm the road will be open.
There is plenty of parking available at Cedar Breaks National Monument.
There are no public transport options that will take you to Cedar Breaks National Monument.
RV camping is possible thanks to the Point Supreme Campground. Located within Cedar Breaks National Monument, Point Supreme Campground has 25 RV friendly sites that you can choose from to call home for your trip. All sites at the campground are primitive and there is no dump station within the campground.
The campground has some great amenities, including water collection points, picnic tables, showers, restrooms, ADA accessible sites and easy access to the views from Point Supreme. Pets are also allowed within the campground and you should also be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
Due to this campground being the only one within Cedar Breaks National Monument it is quite the popular destination. Because of this we recommend that you book a reservation before you leave, however if you forget some sites will be available on a first come, first served basis. Point Supreme Campground is open for camping from mid-June until mid-September.
The Visitor Center at Point Supreme should be your first stop once you arrive at Cedar Breaks National Monument. The center was originally constructed in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to resemble the classic National Park Service architecture. Since it was built it has been and continues to be used as the Visitor Center for the monument. Along with providing all the information you will need to enjoy your visit to the monument the building itself is also listed under the National Register of Historic Places.
Throughout the year staff at the Cedar Breaks National Monument hold free ranger talks and walks that help visitors to the area learn more about its history, flora and fauna. The Geology Talk is held daily where you can learn about the mountains, structures and rocks that form Cedar Breaks while other programs such as the Ranger Choice Talk are held at various times. There are also evening programs available for you to enjoy where you can learn more under the beautiful night sky. For a full program list and schedule check out the monument website.
Located just a short walk away from the Visitor Center is Point Supreme. Here you will be able to enjoy the incredible view down into the natural amphitheater that the National Monument is famous for. Make sure you bring your camera because it is unbelievable! Please note that during the winter this area is closed due to heavy snowfall. If you want to see the monument in all its glory we recommend visiting during the warmer months.
Thanks to the majestic night skies and lack of light pollution there are some amazing stargazing opportunities available for visitors to Cedar Breaks National Monument. The area has been named as an International Dark Sky Park and was the first to achieve this in southwestern Utah. The park is known for its "star parties" where park rangers and volunteer astronomers host groups for stargazing at the Point Supreme Overlook. For more information on stargazing visit the park website.
Love to hike? If so, you will love what is on offer at Cedar Breaks National Monument. There are five unique trails that are available for you to explore that total to around 19 miles of trails. The trails vary from being paved to unpaved and most are suitable for beginner hikers. If you are looking for a challenge we recommend the Rattlesnake Creek Trail, which is a rugged 10 mile trail that drops 2,500 feet in four miles where it intersects with Ashdown Creek. This trail is recommended for serious hikers only, so make sure that you are prepared for it before departing.
Most of the activities at Cedar Breaks National Monument close down during the winter months but there is still some fun to be had if you want to get out in the cold weather. The park encourages visitors to go snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling and there are also guided snowshoe hikes available throughout January and March. If you do plan on visiting the park in the winter make sure that you are rugged up as the temperatures can get very, very cold!
