National park · United States
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Go only between late May and late October: the rim road (UT-148) closes under snow for the rest of the year. One half-day on the rim is enough — walk the Ramparts Trail to Spectra Point, then drive the 5-mile rim road. Skip it if you have only one day in the region and have not yet seen Zion or Bryce.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
25 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (25 km²)
approximate
Established
1933
Best months
Jun–Jul, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 25 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (25 km²)
- About 6,155 acres (check); the monument is a narrow rim strip, not a large backcountry park.
- Established
- 1933
- Best months
- Jun–Jul, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Cedar Breaks National Monument is a single eroded amphitheatre cut into a high plateau at 10,000 ft (3,050 m) in Southern Utah, managed by the National Park Service and named a national monument in 1933. The rim road, UT-148, is the whole visit: a 5-mile drive with four signed pull-outs, a CCC-era visitor centre at Point Supreme, and two short rim trails. Because the road sits above 10,000 ft, it closes under snow from late October to late May, so the monument is effectively a summer and early-autumn stop. It is small — a rim strip rather than a backcountry park — and works best as a half-day add-on to a Southern Utah loop based in Cedar City or Brian Head, not as a destination on its own.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1933.
Size and age
25 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (25 km²) · national park since 1933
About 6,155 acres (check); the monument is a narrow rim strip, not a large backcountry park.
Why go
- A single 3-mile-wide amphitheatre of red, orange and purple limestone, eroded from the rim at 3,050 m (10,000 ft).A single 3-mile-wide amphitheatre of red, orange and purple limestone, eroded from the rim at 10,000 ft (3,050 m).
- The Ramparts Trail walks the rim edge itself, with bristlecone pines growing on the lip.
- Summer temperatures at this altitude are 10–15 °C (18–27 °F) cooler than St George or Cedar City, so it works as a hot-day escape.Summer temperatures at this altitude are 18–27 °F (10–15 °C) cooler than St George or Cedar City, so it works as a hot-day escape.
- Point Supreme Visitor Center, built by the CCC in 1937, is still in use and has the only maps and book shop on site.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayCaution
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanUT-148 closed; snow access only
- FebUT-148 closed
- MarUT-148 closed; deep snow
- AprUT-148 usually still closed
- MayRoad may open late in the month; check before driving
- JunRoad open; wildflowers start; campground opens mid-month
- JulWildflower peak; afternoon thunderstorms
- AugMonsoon storms; go early
- SepClear, cool, fewer people after Labor Day
- OctEarly October only; road closes late in the month
- NovUT-148 closed
- DecUT-148 closed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildflowers (lupine, columbine, paintbrush) in the meadowsJul–Aug · Peak bloom is usually mid-July to early August. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Mule deer and elkJun–Oct · Dawn and dusk along the rim road; drive slowly. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Pika, chipmunks, golden-mantled ground squirrelsJun–Sep · Pika are heard more often than seen in the talus below the rim. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Bristlecone pinesJun–Oct · Some trees on the rim are thousands of years old; do not touch or carve them. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Rattlesnakes in the gorgeMay–Sep · Watch where you put hands and feet on the Ashdown Gorge route. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Cedar City
I-15 exit 59, then UT-14 east and UT-148 north to the rim; signed turn.
45–55 min
From Parowan
I-15 exit 78, then UT-143 east to the monument.
50–60 min
From St George
I-15 north to Cedar City, then UT-14 and UT-148; nearest airport is St George.
2–2.5 h
From Las Vegas
I-15 north to Cedar City, then UT-14 and UT-148; full-service airport.
3.5–4 h
From Salt Lake City
I-15 south to Parowan, then UT-143 east.
4–4.5 h
From Zion National Park
UT-9 and I-15 north, or the slower UT-14 route through Cedar City.
2–2.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Rim drive (UT-148) | A 5-mile road along the amphitheatre with pull-outs at Point Supreme, Chessmen Ridge, Sunset View and Spectra Point. | Open to cars when UT-148 is open; free pull-outs, fee station at Point Supreme. |
| Point Supreme | Visitor center, fee station, restrooms and the start of the Ramparts and Alpine Pond trails. | Open in season; the visitor center is the only staffed building. |
| Amphitheatre rim and Ramparts | The eroded cliff edge and the trail that follows it to Spectra Point and the Wasatch Ramparts. | Walk-in; stay behind the rim edge, no climbing down. |
| Alpine meadows and forest | Spruce, fir, aspen and bristlecone above the rim, with wildflowers in July. | Open; Alpine Pond and Twisted Forest trails. |
| Ashdown Gorge Wilderness | The drainage below the rim, in Dixie National Forest, ending near Cedar City. | No monument fee; rough route, flash-flood risk. |
Sketch map
- 1Point Supreme Visitor Center · Headquarters≈37.619, -112.837Map ↗
- 2Point Supreme Campground · Sleep≈37.610, -112.831Map ↗
- 3Spectra Point · Viewpoint≈37.627, -112.834Map ↗
- 4Chessmen Ridge · Viewpoint≈37.637, -112.830Map ↗
- 5Sunset View · Viewpoint≈37.645, -112.842Map ↗
- 6Cedar Breaks Amphitheatre · Viewpoint≈37.637, -112.830Map ↗
- 7Brian Head · Town≈37.693, -112.815Map ↗
- 8Cedar City · Town≈37.678, -113.062Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the UT-148 rim and the nearest towns, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance, private vehicle | US$10 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; covers 7 days. Check current NPS rate. |
| Entrance, per person on foot or bike | US$5 | person | 2026 estimate; 7 days. |
| Entrance, motorcycle | US$10 | motorcycle | 2026 estimate; 7 days. |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | pass | 2026 estimate; covers this monument and other federal fee sites for a year. |
| Point Supreme Campground | US$24 | night | 2026 estimate; 25 sites, mid-June to mid-September, weather dependent. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Monument entrance permit or guide
Overnight backcountry in Ashdown Gorge Wilderness no permit
Camping at Point Supreme permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$10
- US$5
- US$10
- US$80
- US$24
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Cedar Breaks fees and passes before you go.
Park rules
- Stay behind the rim edge
- The rim is loose, undercut rock. There is no maintained route down into the amphitheatre from the monument.
- Drones
- Launching drones is not allowed in the monument without NPS permission (check).check
- Pets
- Not allowed on the trails; they may be walked in parking areas and along the road on a leash.
- Camping
- Only at Point Supreme Campground in season; no camping on the rim or in the meadows.
- Collecting
- Rocks, fossils, plants and artefacts must be left in place; federal law applies.
- Fires
- Fires only in campground fire rings when fire restrictions allow; check current county restrictions.
Where to stay
In the park
Point Supreme Campground
25 sites at 10,000 ft, tents and small RVs, mid-June to mid-September; cold nights even in July.
Near the park
Brian Head
Resort lodging and condos 15–20 min west on UT-143; the closest beds to the rim.
Near the park
Duck Creek Village
Cabins, lodges and a USFS campground along UT-14, about 30–40 min east.
Near the park
Cedar City
Full range of motels and hotels, 45–55 min away; the practical base for a Southern Utah loop.
Near the park
Parowan
Small-town motels on I-15, about 50–60 min via UT-143.
Safety
Altitude (10,000 ft / 3,050 m) medium
Afternoon thunderstorms and lightning high
Flash floods in Ashdown Gorge high
Snow and ice on UT-148 medium
Cold nights low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The rim pull-outs, Point Supreme Visitor Center and restrooms are reachable by car with level or gently sloping paths.
- The Ramparts Trail and Alpine Pond Trail are dirt, uneven and at high altitude; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- No shuttle; you need your own vehicle to move between pull-outs.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the trail on the rim; the meadow crust and bristlecone roots are easily damaged.
- Carry out all rubbish — there is no food service and limited bins in the monument.
- Treat the bristlecones as living artefacts: no carving, no touching, no collecting.
- In fire season, follow county fire restrictions rather than lighting a ring fire.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cedar Breaks National Monument?
In 2026 the entrance fee is about US$10 per private vehicle, US$10 per motorcycle and US$5 per person arriving on foot or by bike, valid for 7 days. The America the Beautiful annual pass (about US$80) covers this monument and other federal fee sites. Rates change — check the NPS page before you go.
What are the best hikes in Cedar Breaks National Monument?
The Ramparts Trail to Spectra Point (about 4 miles / 6.4 km round trip, moderate, 2–3 h) is the signature walk along the rim. Alpine Pond (about 2 miles / 3.2 km, easy) is the family option and best in July for wildflowers. Twisted Forest is a short bristlecone walk outside the fee area. Ashdown Gorge and Cedar Breaks Bottoms are hard, one-way routes below the rim.
When is the best time to visit Cedar Breaks National Monument?
Late June to early October, when UT-148 is open. July and early August give wildflower peak and the warmest weather; September brings clear, cool days and fewer people after Labor Day. The road closes from late October to late May, so winter visits mean skis or a snowmobile.
Is Cedar Breaks worth visiting if I am going to Zion or Bryce?
Yes if you are already driving I-15 between St George and Cedar City — it is a 45–55 minute detour from Cedar City and needs only half a day. If your trip has one canyon day only, spend it at Zion or Bryce instead; Cedar Breaks is smaller and the road is closed for half the year.
Can I drive to Cedar Breaks in winter?
No. UT-148 through the monument closes from late October and usually reopens in late May. In winter the rim is reached on skis or by snowmobile, and there is no visitor center service.
Is there food, fuel or lodging inside the monument?
No. There is no food, drink or fuel sold in the monument and no lodging. The nearest beds are at Brian Head and Duck Creek Village; Cedar City has the full range of services, 45–55 minutes away.
Do I need a reservation or permit?
No permit is needed for day visits or the rim trails. Camping at Point Supreme needs a reservation or an early arrival — 10 of the 25 sites can be booked in advance, the rest are first-come first-served.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go