There are currently 419 sites that comprise the National Park System. A mere 62 of those are designated as national parks and receive the lion’s share of attention, funding, and visitors. Books have been written about each, and there’s no shortage of information about them online. But what about the other 357 sites?

Known by a surprising number of designations – from national monument to national battlefield to national lakeshore – the vast majority of the National Park Service’s protected areas aren’t actually “national parks.”

The Roarbots’ series of NPS Adventures takes a big-picture view of one of these sites and highlights some of the best it has to offer. This almost always includes activities and suggestions we can recommend from personal experience. And pictures. There are lots and lots of pictures. Glad to have you aboard!

Welcome to Cedar Breaks National Monument!

Stats

• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• Location: Utah
• Established: 1933
• Admission: $10/person (valid for 7 days); kids 15 and under are free
• Social Sites: Facebook, Instagram

Rising 10,000 feet above the rest of southern Utah, simply getting to Cedar Breaks is half the fun. The road there (either via Utah 143 or 148) is dramatic, scenic, and makes the trip to Cedar Breaks WELL worth the diversion. In the summer, the temperatures are considerably lower than the rest of the region, which can be brutal. In the winter, Utah 148 (i.e., the park’s scenic drive) is closed, which makes Cedar Breaks more difficult to access… but it’s still open. (Brian Head ski resort is just up the road.)

Reminiscent of Bryce Canyon National Park (about 50 miles to the east), Cedar Breaks is a 3-mile-wide amphitheater where millions of years of uplift and erosion have created a striking display of hoodoos, arches, fins, and canyons.

(Click on all pictures to embiggen.)

Information Center

A small information/visitor center (open June through October) is near the southern end of the park (and scenic drive). You’ll need to stop here to pay your admission – even if you arrived from the north and drove the entire park before arriving here. It’s essentially an honor system since you could conceivably drive through the park, stopping at the overlooks, and never pay admission – but come on, you wouldn’t do that, would you?

Built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the log cabin structure that today houses the information center was built using local spruce timber and volcanic rock. The building (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) was originally a combined museum and administration office; today, it houses a small bookstore and visitor center.

Scenic Drive and Overlooks

Most visitors to the park stick to the 7.5-mile scenic drive that runs along the eastern rim of the amphitheater. The road skirts the edge of the park (along the boundary with Dixie National Forest), and four overlooks command jaw-dropping views of the entire park – and Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area beyond to the west.

The drive, which crosses alpine meadows, fields of wildflowers, and impressive views of the mountain peaks of the Markagunt Plateau, is brilliant enough… but you won’t want to miss the park’s four overlooks. From north to south, North View, Chessman Ridge, Sunset View, and Point Supreme all all worth stopping at.

Chessman Ridge is the highest point in the park at 10,467 feet (3,190 m), but the all four overlooks (and the entire scenic drive) are over 10,000 feet, so if you find yourself short of breath, that’s why.

Hiking

Though no trails descend into the amphitheater, there are a few shortish hikes that run along the rim for some spectacular views.

The Ramparts Trail (4 miles roundtrip), Campground Trail (1/2 mile one way), and Sunset Trail (wheelchair-accessible paved 1-mile one way) all begin at the information center. The first has some steep sections and ends at Ramparts Overlook. The second leads to the park’s 28-site Point Supreme campground, obviously. And the third follows the same basic path as the scenic drive and connects the campground with the Sunset View Overlook. Alpine Pond Trail (2-mile loop) is accessible from the Chessman Ridge Overlook and leads to a forest glade and pond.

Junior Ranger

Like most NPS sites, Cedar Breaks has a park-centric Junior Ranger program. The book focuses on the geology, flora, fauna, and history of the park. For the Roarbots, Junior Ranger booklets and swearing-in ceremonies are a mandatory part of any NPS visit.