Cedar Breaks National Monument

A miniature, less-visited version of Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater that shows off colorful rock formations, known as “hoodoos” in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, most visitors miss this hidden gem because it is a little bit off the beaten path and not on the major routes to Zion or Bryce Canyon national parks. Located only 30 minutes east of Cedar City, the park’s average elevation is 10,200 feet and offers cooler summer daytime temperatures, a welcome respite from the heat.

Most visitors pay their entrance fee, stop at the visitor center, take in the view from Point Supreme (located right next to the visitor center) and leave. However, there are better vantage points for viewing the spectacular scenery at Spectra Point, whose trailhead is close to the visitor, and from the Alpine Pond Trail, a two-mile loop located just a few miles up the road from the visitor center. Be sure to get a trail guide while hiking to Alpine Pond. It offers interesting tidbits about the park’s geology, flora and fauna at marked stops along the trail.

Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons is a less-visited section of Zion National Park located just off I-15 Exit 40, approximately 18 miles south of Cedar City. This is an ideal place to see the narrow canyons and towering rock monoliths Zion is known for – without the crowds. The northwest corner of the park, Kolob Canyons features a 5-mile scenic drive and a few hiking trails, the most popular of which is the Taylor Creek Trail, which passes by two old cabins and ends at a double arch alcove. The vegetation and canyon walls make the trip a scenic adventure. Kolob Canyons is also home to the Timber Creek Overlook Trail, a 1-mile round trip paved trail at the end of the scenic drive and the trail to Kolob Arch, quite possibly the largest natural arch on earth.