A little bit about Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument located in southwestern Utah was established in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It preserves and protects an area of dramatic land formations known as hoodoos. Even if you have already been to Bryce Canyon National Park, you’re not going to be disappointed with Cedar Breaks. Certainly similar yet smaller in size, Cedar Breaks offers beautiful views of the amphitheater filled with hoodoos. What’s different here is that you cannot hike among the hoodoos. For that, you will need to head to Bryce or the Red Canyon next door. Cedar Breaks, however, offers scenic trails along the rim and if you have time, I recommend spending some time hiking the park’s trails. Here are 3 picturesque hikes you should do in Cedar Breaks National Monument:
3 Picturesque Hikes in Cedar Breaks National Monument
The Ramparts Trail
The Ramparts Trail was easily my favorite hike in the park. This 4 mile round trip loop hugs the southern rim of the amphitheater and allows you to see the area from different angels. The first section of the trail from the visitor center to Spectra Point is pretty easy. Once there, you will come upon a nice grove of bristlecone pines. The pines here are about 1,500 years old, which is quite impressive! They are not as old as the bristlecone pines at Great Basin National Park, but old enough to leave you amazed. Bristlecones are the oldest living things on earth and I was really glad to encounter them here.
The next section of the trail from Spectra Point to the Ramparts Overlook is equally pleasant with spectacular views of the colorful canyon and the hoodoos. You will descend several hundred feet here, which means you will have to climb up on your way back. It was, in fact, quite an effort. You’re hiking at an elevation of 10,000 feet, so ascending, especially in the heat, is going to be challenging. It was a beautiful trail, however, and even though tired, I was certainly glad I did it.
The Sunset Trail
Similarly to the Ramparts Trail, the Sunset Trail originates at the visitor center. The 2 mile-long trail is mostly flat and paved, which makes it quite popular with visitors. I was not particularly impressed with a section of this trail where you had to cross the road and hike next to a picnic area. Nevertheless, the trail takes you along a pretty meadow and the views from the Sunset View Overlook are stunning. If you only have time for one hike, I recommend the Ramparts Trail. The reason why is because you can drive up to the Sunset Overlook. If, however, you have time, definitely do both hikes.
The Alpine Pond Trail
This is a pleasant hike through the trees to an alpine pond. We were lucky to be here in July when the flowers were in bloom. It was really pretty to see red, yellow, violet and blue flowers covering the ground. As you hike along, occasionally, you will have views of the amphitheater, especially if you hike the Lower Trail. Even though the whole trail is 2 miles long, you can shorten it by taking a shortcut to the pond. We took the Upper Trail to start with, then cut across by the pond, and eventually returned via the Lower Trail. We would have hiked the entire 2 miles but it was simply too hot. Parts of the trail are shaded but there are also exposed sections. So, plan accordingly, especially if you’re here in the summer. Don’t forget to check out the Chessman Ridge Overlook as the view is spectacular.
