|
Cedar
Breaks National Monument
NPS
Photo by Troy Hunt
A huge natural
amphitheater has been eroded out of the variegated Pink Cliffs (Claron
Formation) near Cedar City, Utah. Millions of years of sedimentation,
uplift and erosion have created a deep canyon of rock walls, fins, spires
and columns, that spans some three miles, and is over 2,000 feet deep. The
rim of the canyon is over 10,000 feet above sea level, and is surrounded
by the Dixie
National Forest.
The Cedar Breaks Scenic Drive offers
beautiful views of the rock formations, meadows and forests. Four
developed overlooks, and trailheads for two hiking trails, are located
along the scenic drive.
Spectra Point/Ramparts Trail: Moderately
strenuous at 10,000 feet above sea level, this trail leads for one mile to
the Spectra Point Overlook. Many visitors return to the trailhead from
Spectra Point, making a 2-mile round trip. Hikers who are prepared for a
slightly more strenuous stretch on this trail may continue one mile
further to the Ramparts Overlook at trail's end, then hike the two miles
back to the trailhead for a 4-mile round trip.
Alpine Pond Trail: This is a 2-mile
self-guided loop trail through meadows and forest to a small spring-fed
pond. Illustrated trail guides may be purchased at each trailhead for this
moderately strenuous hike.
Geology programs are presented on the hour
between 10 am and 5 pm daily, from late May through mid-October at the
Point Supreme overlook.
Evening Campfire programs: These ranger
programs are presented at the campground amphitheater and begin at 9:00
each evening during the camping season (mid-June through Labor Day). Daily
topics will be posted at the visitor center.
Wildflowers: The meadows at Cedar Breaks
are full of a wide variety of wildflowers. Take a camera and a field guide
to discover the beauty of alpine flowers. A checklist of the plant species
can be obtained at the fee booth.
Cedar Breaks offers one improved campground
with 30 campsites. This campground is on a first come first serve basis.
For more details on this campground click
here. More camping is available in the Dixie
National Forest.
For more information on Cedar Breaks Click
Here
Click
here to for hotel reservations in Cedar City UT, just 24 miles from
Cedar Breaks National Monument
|
