CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT

This natural amphitheater of vivid colors and magnificent hoodoos, which peaks at over 3,000 meters on the Markagunt plateau, is located 30 minutes from Cedar City. The roads that take you there offer beautiful panoramic views. The amphitheatre, over 600 metres deep and almost 5 kilometers in diameter, is the result of millions of years of geological processes. Erosion caused by wind, rain and even snow have sculpted the multiple coils of changing hues that make up the amphitheatre, ranging from orange to purple, depending on the amount of manganese and iron in the rock. The plateau is covered with conifers, sub-alpine vegetation and flowers that bloom in July and August, and are home to many species of birds and mammals. There are several ways to visit it:

Scenic Drive (9.6 km) crosses the plateau, skirting the amphitheatre and offering four viewpoints.

Ramparts Trail (6.4 km round trip) starts near the visitor center. The hike offers two superb viewpoints: Point Supreme and Spectra Point. For a less strenuous hike, Spectra Point (1.6 km) can be reached before turning back. Here you can observe the bristlecone pine, one of the oldest trees in the region.

Alpine Pond Trail is a medium-difficulty loop offering three kilometers of walking through fields of flowers.

Rattlesnake Creek Trail is a hike in the far north of the park for experienced walkers.