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Cedar Breaks National Monument protects a spectacular natural amphitheatre near Cedar City, Utah.
Introduction to Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument is a natural amphitheatre 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) wide and over 2,000 feet (610 meters) deep. It’s similar to the amphitheatre at nearby Bryce Canyon National Park but more eroded.
The monument was established on August 22, 1933. It once featured a lodge designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood (1890-1961). It was the smallest lodge of all the parks in the Southwest but it was demolished in 1972 after the National Park Service deemed it “uneconomical to operate”.
Planning Your Trip to Cedar Breaks National Monument
It’s easy to visit the park in an hour or so if you don’t plan on hiking. In our experience, we only spent about an hour at the overlooks and visitor center and even saw some light snow flurries. Check the official website for more info.
Before getting into some of the trails and highlights of the park, here’s some essential information to help you plan your trip:
Entrance Fees to Cedar Breaks National Monument
The entrance fee to Cedar Breaks National Monument varies depending on your mode of transportation. Prices are current as of September 2025:
- For private vehicles, it’s US$25.
- For motorcycles, it’s US$20.
- For visitors entering on bicycle or on foot, it’s US$15 for adults and free for kids under 16.
- Holders of any interagency pass are covered for one vehicle or four per person fees.
Entrance fees are good for seven days and payable at the visitor center. Be aware that the main road through the park is closed from around mid-November to late May. Click here to learn how to access the park in the winter.
Visitor Center at Cedar Breaks National Monument
The visitor center opened on August 22, 2024. It was once housed in a log cabin a few steps away. The cabin was built in 1937 and now hosts exhibits on the area’s human history.
Camping at Cedar Breaks National Monument
There’s one campground at Cedar Breaks, the Point Supreme Campground, and it costs US$30 a night (as of September 2025). It has 25 reservable sites and is open from mid-June to mid-September.
Hiking at Cedar Breaks National Monument
Had it not been freezing cold, we probably would have done one of the four hikes:
- The Sunset Trail is a 2-mile round-trip accessible paved trail between the Point Supreme and Sunset View overlooks.
- The Nature Trail is an easy 0.6-mile unpaved trail connecting the Sunset Trail to the Point Supreme Campground.
- The Alpine Pond Loop Trail is a moderate trail that forms a figure-eight through meadows and forests. It can be 1 or 2 miles round-trip, depending on how much of the figure-eight you hike.
- The South Rim Trail is a 5-mile round-trip that follows the rim to the Spectra Point and Bartzen viewpoints. It’s moderately strenuous and starts near the visitor center.
Activities at Cedar Breaks National Monument
Other activities at the park besides hiking include ranger guided programs, stargazing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
Point Supreme Overlook
There are four main overlooks to visit for views of the amphitheatre. The first is at Point Supreme, which is just past the visitor center. It has been the main scenic overlook at Cedar Breaks since the park opened. It’s at an elevation of 10,350 feet (3,155 meters).
Sunset View Overlook
The Sunset View Overlook, which faces directly west, is about a mile north of Point Supreme. It’s closed to vehicle access in the winter. The Civilian Conservation Corps camp was located near this point from 1934 to 1938.
Chessmen Ridge Overlook
The Chessmen Ridge Overlook is located near the center of the rim. It’s the highest overlook at the park, at 10,467 feet (3,190 meters). The overlook is closed to vehicle access in the winter.
North View Overlook
The North View Overlook is the fourth and final overlook as well as the northernmost overlook at Cedar Breaks. It sits just inside the north entrance.
Charles Adams and his daughter Minnie built Minnie’s Mansion near the North View Overlook in 1921. It was a popular spot for local ranchers and their families to gather in the summer after a hard day’s work. They would socialize, dance, share meals, and hold holiday rodeos. Unfortunately, it closed after only five years because it was unable to turn a profit after a short summer season.
