Expect more than cedars! In fact, there are none. Most of the trees are pinyon pine and Utah junipers - but there are also bristlecone pine trees, which are thousands of years old (but still younger than the ones I've seen in Nevada and California). Several short hikes are available as well as many views. It is also possible to hike from a nearby viewpoint to the area where people need to pay the ranger (for those who don't have an annual parks pass letting them visit all national parks and monuments and seashores that charge an entrance fee). The most popular hike is along the rim - for 1-2 miles (each way) to Spectra Point or Ramparts Overlook (to see the bristlecone pines up close). Allow an hour or more - due to elevation, terrains, and the desire to stop and take photos along the way. Views are not really much better than from visitors center- just different. You can see the bristle cones from afar (and photos of them in the visitors center). Also popular is the alpine pond trail - from Chessmen Ridge Overlook - with a short loop possible if you don't want to go all the way to the North Alpine parking lot. Water refill at visitor center ranger station is shut off from first forecast freeze (later September/early October) until summer - because pipes are not insulated. Water in (pit toilet) restroom sinks is on - and exact same quality as refill station. Cell phone service is intermittent and very unreliable. If you are really lucky you might see pika. On the drive up you might also see domestic sheep. I think the best view is from the North View Overlook. Starting October 1st snow tires or chains are required. This is a popular place for snowmobiling. There is also a campground. read more

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Cedar Breaks is in many ways a smaller and more intimate version of Bryce Canyon. It is higher in elevation, with the overlooks iat 10300 to 10500 feet of elevation. A short walk uphill will put many out of breath, since most of us do not live at such elevations. Anyway when we arrived the main parking area was full so we dropped down to the overflow area and hiked the quarter mile trail back to the main area, including Point Supreme. Then we went back to the car and had our picnic lunch inside, because it was too cold to eat outside in mid--September. After lunch we walked the Sunset Trail both ways before moving the car to all of the viewpoints heading north. Each viewpoint gave a different perspective and along the way we saw plants and animals that live in the park. It was a very worthwhile time in the National Monument and recommend it to anyone visiting the area, including those visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. read more

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DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE. EYE-POPPING TERRAIN. Just a short drive off of the main highway cutting through the Dixie forest. Coming from St. George, you can visit this place as you are going to Bryce Canyon NP. Just look at the photos. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - Closed because of Obama - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

Great place to visit. The rangers were excellent and very informative. It's really a little version of Bryce Canyon NP. At 10,300 ft it was a nice break for the warmer temps in Cedar City. If your in the area it's worth the trip up the mountain to get there. Definitely recommend. Additionally, there are several nice scenic drives in and around the area. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - Cedar Breaks Nat'l Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

We love escaping the Las Vegas heat every summer to camp here. The Cedar Breaks view is absolutely amazing. You can hike a 1/2 mile one way from the campsite to one of the overlooks. Bryan Head is a short drive away if you need anything. At night, the sky is the best view ever! If you get the chance, join in on the summer night star party. Point Supereme Campground is one my my favorite places to camp! It's so peaceful and quaint. The flushing toilets, free showers and firewood for a small donation is so convenient. The elevation is definitely something to get used to, but it's worth it. Every weekend the ranger hosts an educational session in the amputheater. The last time we learned about the spruce bark beetles. You won't regret it. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - My cute parents posing for a picture at Cedar Breaks. So beautiful! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

National Memorials are a funny thing under the National Parks service because each one can be so different.  Cedar Breaks was not what I was expecting, but this Memorial seems to be easily overlooked.  It's well worth pulling over to see this interesting point. After pulling into parking lot, walk along a short path to an overlook called Point Supreme, which is at 10,350 feet.  After driving through forests to get here, I had no idea I would come upon this beautiful sight.  There are also a few trails to walk around, but we just took in the sights on our visit. Don't look at the photos and just come for the surprise! read more

Cedar Breaks looks a lot like Bryce Canyon -- mostly because it is made of the same rocks. If the crowds at Bryce drive you crazy, you can breathe easily here. Note that you won't be able to go directly into the amphitheater. Park rangers can tell you a route in the Dixie National Forest where you can climb into the lower extremities. Climbers should note that this is not climbing rock: it breaks easily. There are no facilities other than a campground and a tiny visitor center. Don't make plans to come in winter: heavy snows keep the monument closed at this 10,650 foot elevation. Tired of looking at hoodoos? Hike the rimside Alpine Pond Nature Trail which takes you into an evocative forest filled with wildflowers, aspens, pines, and -- as advertised -- a pond. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - Cedar Breaks from Point Supreme - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

Breathtaking park. Very beautiful views of the surrounding area. Great trails with wildflowers and interesting wildlife. read more

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One of the most beautiful places that I have ever been to. We didn't have time to hike through the trails we wanted at Cedar Breaks, but luckily there are several different vantage points that you can drive to in order to get different views of the amphitheater. The colors and the formations are magnificent. I saw the sunset here and stayed until dark to watch the stars in early December. Due to the high elevation, it was freezing, but I would willingly do it again. The roads may or may not be closed during that time of year depending on the weather. At that time, Google maps told us that the roads were closed, but they weren't because the weather conditions weren't bad at all. Cedar breaks is an international dark sky park and if you ever get the opportunity, do stay to see it for yourself. For the first time, I understood what it meant for stars to twinkle. I'm at a loss for words to describe how beautiful and surreal it felt to see that many stars. It's definitely something you need to experience for yourself. read more

Worth the drive. It is a bit cold. Plenty of walking space. Easy to get to. The walk is well paved and easy to use. I went before sunset and the gold light enhance the warm tones of the rocks. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

Absolutely beautiful spot in Southern Utah. A pretty easy drive up from I-15 (in the summer) despite the 10000 ft + elevation. We were happy to make this the first destination of Epic Road Trip '10 because we had missed it on Epic Road Trip '07 (It was late November and it was questionable if the road thru the park would be open or snowed in...however if you like to cross-country ski or snowshoe I understand it's also a nice visit in the winter!) We arrived on a Thursday evening and were hoping to find a campsite in the first-come-first-served campground. We had planned to arrive much, much earlier in the day but you know how plans are...well we were pleased to find that only a small fraction of the 28 campsites were occupied. Also it was about 20-25 degrees cooler than it was down in Cedar City - very refreshing! Nice, quiet, small campground (with running water and flush toilets!) and I understand that there's a ranger program on weekend nights this summer. They have a nice visitors center, knowledgable rangers, and incredible overlooks. We attended both a ranger program about lightning and a nature walk with a volunteer naturalist about all of the wildflowers that were in bloom. The road that runs right through the park has several stops for scenic overlooks or short hikes, and leaves the park going north toward Brian Head ski area. There were a good amount of people at the visitors center but not by any means what I would call crowded. However at the stops along the scenic drive route we only saw about three other cars and saw almost nobody on the trail we hiked. I found this surprising considering the proximity to Bryce and Zion. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

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Cedar Breaks National Monument is simply amazing! A must see place in the USA! We found Cedar Breaks on accident on our last trip to Navajo Lake. We were up there camping and was talking to the camp host who said we had to go to Cedar Breaks since we were in the area. I am so glad we listened to him because Cedar Breaks is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen in my life. Thanks Mr. Cloyse! The National Monument here is similar to Bryce Canyon without the crazy crowds. In fact, the park ranger said that in about 10,000 years Cedar Breaks would look more like Bryce since they are made of similar material and the same erosion process is occurring in Cedar Breaks, just at a slower pace. If you have been to Bryce, you should still come here just to see the differences. Cedar Breaks is a smaller park and only costs $4 per person to go in and the tickets are good for several days. There are a lot of walks, hikes, and scenic views for you to take in the beauty. Do yourself a favor and go visit Cedar Breaks because it is awe-inspring and just awesome to see in person. read more

How can you give Mother Nature anything but 5 stars? You can't! I love this place! Especially during the Wild Flower Festival in July! I love how the rangers are so involved with the kids and offer so many educational things! So beautiful and worth the drive! read more

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As much as I recognize my dependence on everything that technology (like my phone, which keeps me connected, informed, and gives me access to Google Maps) and our civilization (without which we would likely have no toilet, toilet paper, plumbing, the toothbrush, Munchery...) has brought to my life, sometimes when I'm surrounded by nature at its most magnificent, I like to imagine what it would be like to live right in the middle of it all. I felt that way - for a moment - when I visited Cedar Breaks. Cedar Breaks features ampitheaters similar to those in Bryce Canyon, except with significant signs of erosion along with more greenery and wildlife. This makes the beautiful scenery very different from Bryce's and worth a separate visit. Not to be missed if you have the time to add it to your road trip, even if you only manage to drive by. Keep in mind that there are seasonal road closures due to extreme weather and potentially unsafe conditions, so make sure you do your research and plan accordingly. read more

One of the best National Monuments in our country and should not be overlooked simply because you've been to Bryce Canyon National Park. It's been said a million times before and I'll say it too, Cedar Breaks is like a mini Bryce Canyon. But why would you skip it for that reason? You loved Bryce Canyon right? So it only makes sense you'll love Cedar Breaks too! Some of the highlights are Spectra Point (accessible via the two mile Ramparts Trail), Point Supreme (10,350' above sea level), Sunset View, Chessmen Ridge Overlook and the Alpine Pond Trail. You'll see many views that remind you of Bryce, but you'll also see lots of trees and ponds if you do the Alpine Pond Trail. Do it all! The park is small and you can see most of it in just a few hours. I visited this park while driving between Great Basin National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Please don't feel wildlife. read more

This park is really small. There are about five overlooks. There is a campground. I didn't see anything like hiking or anything of that sort that allows you to go down into the canyon. I see this park as more of an intro for driving from Cedar City to Bryce Canyon National Park. It is quite pretty with the evening sun rays. But if you do end up missing Cedar Breaks and still do Bryce Canyon, not a big deal. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - From the main lookout point by the visitor center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

We stopped by on Sunday, Sep 22, 2013 based on reports down at Zion NP that California Condors had recently been seen here. No Condors were found, but we did see several beautifully coloured Western Red-tailed Hawks, an even dozen Black-capped Chickadees ( a life bird!), and a nice Hermit Thrush. We were also treated to views of some pretty amazing geological features, and some of the first Fall colour of our month-long trip as winter came early to this very high country. (The elevation at the visitor center/overlook on Hwy 148 is about 10,300 feet above sea level.) *** And now a few notes on California Condors: California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are among the largest, rarest birds in North America, and despite the name you can also find them soaring over the red-rock cliffs of southwestern Utah. Long ago, thousands of California condors soared over the western United States. Their numbers plummeted with the arrival of European settlers. Habitat loss, lead poisoning, poaching, power-line accidents, and DDT contamination have all taken a deadly toll. By 1987, the world's 22 remaining California condors, all living in the mountains above Santa Barbara in California, were captured and held in captivity. A captive-breeding effort at southern California zoos helped the condors avoid extinction ... for now. In 1991, condors were reintroduced to the wild. Left to their own devices, California Condors may live up to 50 years, will mate for life, and are very attentive parents. These magnificent birds are fully protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, the use of lead shot and lead bullets continues to kill birds every year when they feed on lead-contaminated carrion. Ignorant poachers also pointlessly kill birds every year. How do you know if you've seen a California Condor? They are one of the largest flying birds in North America, with a wingspan of nearly 10 feet, and a body that's four to five feet long -- i.e., the size of a small car! Unless the bird you're seeing makes you think of a prehistoric Pteranodon or Pterodactyl, and makes you want to run and hide under a rock overhang, you're probably seeing the more common but similar appearing Turkey Vulture or Black Vulture. In flight, condors are truly breathtaking. They can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour when soaring, and they sometimes travel up to 200 miles a day in search of large mammal carrion like deer, sheep, elk and cattle. They also sometimes feed on smaller carrion, like rabbits, hares and coyotes. Although they often winter in Arizona, many condors from the southwestern population soar over Utah, and can travel back and forth between the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park in a single day! If you're lucky enough to see a Condor up close, the adult birds will have bald pinkish-orange heads and a distinctive white triangle pattern on the undersides of their jet-black wings. Juvenile condors are generally a dull black with grayish heads. Their coloration begins to change after three or four years, but they don't reach full maturity until they are about six years old. Their long, featherless heads are hygienic adaptations that help the birds avoid problems associated with eating carrion. These birds commonly visit Utah between April and November, but peak numbers usually occur from June through August. One of their favorite places to roost is near the Lava Point overlook in Zion National Park. It is not unusual to see more than 20 condors in this area. If you see a California condor in the wild, you should: -Take pictures! Sadly, these enormous, majestic birds are far from safe from extinction, and it may be the only chance you'll ever have. As of May 2013, population counts put the number of known condors at a mere 435, including 237 living in the wild, and 198 in captivity. -Keep your distance and do not feed condors. This will help you and the birds avoid negative or unsafe human-condor encounters. -Immediately report anyone who appears to be poaching or harassing condors. You can contact Utah state wildlife officials at 1-800-662-DEER (3337), or the Mountain-Prairie Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement in Denver at (303) 236-7540. read more

Cedar Breaks is GORGEOUS National Monument. With hoodoos eroded from the Claron Formation, the geology is similar to that of Bryce Canyon, although the amphitheater is much steeper in Cedar Breaks. Also the park is at much higher elevation (around 10,000 feet) so the temperatures are cooler, and the flora and fauna is much different (closer to sub-alpine). There are a few gorgeous meadows and great views of the summer thunderstorms clouds...although lightning strikes can be dangerous here, so watch it and be careful. Added bonus = getting to hike among the ancient bristlecone pines! read more

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I drove up to Cedar Breaks National Monument on 8/8/2018. I've been there several times before. This time, I drove up there from Cedar City to eat my lunch. It is a beautiful drive and the views from the 10,000 plus feet elevation are spectacular. Plus, I took photos. read more

A must see. I've been to the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park, and Zion. Cedar Breaks is the most special for me. The drive up there from the 15 hwy is amazing. The Monument has everything. The incredible red rock bowl. The pines (including bristle pines) and quaking aspen all around. It has open meadows with grazing deer and wild flowers. Peaceful pond. Wonderful hikes. And cool summers. Come prepared for any kind of weather. read more

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Breathtaking (literal and figurative) - at 10,400', if you're not used to the altitude it can make you woozy. The rangers were great and there was hardly anyone there! AMAZING views. read more

Cedar Breaks is the younger, unpopular brother of Bryce Canyon. Both are more accurately described as a break rathe r than a canyon, feature similar geology and Bristlecone Pines along the rim. Cedar Breaks sees few tourists , and a half mile walk along the rim can almost assure solitude. A mile walk along the rim brings you to a small grove of Bristlecone Pines, the longest living organisms known on Earth. Some of these trees were living during the time of the Roman Empire. They have a tough, knarled, twisted appearance from weathering centuries of life. A beautiful, relatively secluded park. It lacks the scale of Bryce, but compensates with the lack of tourists and tourist facilities. read more

I must say that I really enjoyed Cedar Breaks. It was a last minute addition to our southern Utah national parks tour. We weren't even familiar with it. A friend mentioned that we should check it out. I was a little worried that it might be too similar to Bryce Canyon. Man, was I wrong! The views are awesome. In fact, I liked the whole experience much better than Bryce. It is smaller but that doesn't matter. We hiked the Alpine Pond trail and it was great. It is an easy loop trail of a little less than two miles. It has great scenery and wildflowers. Plus, you may even see some deer or other wildlife. It is particularly good hike for families with young children. We visited during the wildflower festival and my 8-year-old son had a great time participating in the special activities to earn small prizes. After the festival activities, we had lunch at the designated picnic are. Even this was pretty cool. There were a few picnic tables and trash cans dispersed among this beautiful field filled with wildflowers. Some great picture moments You definitely don't want to bypass Cedar Breaks. Even if you only have time to drive through and stop at a few viewpoints, make sure you do it. Cedar Breaks is an unexpected delight! read more

No cedar at Cedar Breaks, but we did take a break here on the way to Bryce Canyon. If going to Bryce from Las Vegas, driving through Cedar Breaks only added an extra three miles or twenty minutes of driving time. It's one of the best rest stops I've taken. In hindsight, it was an obvious detour, but one most people overlook (pun intended). My ranked list of activities along the Hwy 148 through the park: - Chessmen Ridge Overlook (4 out of 5 stars): Only two miles from the Visitor Center, this was my favorite of the three major overlooks because the rock shapes are most vivid. The topography is similar to the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, but not as big. It was cool (and cooler temperature) to stand on a canyon rim that's higher (10,000+ foot elevation). - Point Supreme Vista (4/5): Located at the Visitor Center, it was hard to see "down" into the amphitheater due to the fence, but good for a broad view of the canyon. - Sunset View (4/5): Only a mile away from the Visitor Center, this outlook has the best angle for seeing down into the valley. - Visitor Center (3/5): Tiny old cabin with a couple educational displays, the only shelter when weather is bad, and a great window view of the basin. From the time we paid at the visitor center to when we left the last vista point took 30 minutes. There isn't much to do because there are no trails going down into the canyon. We came just after they opened for the season in late May and they were still snow plowing the roads. Check the NPS website for "park alerts" before going - particularly for road closures and delays. Thankfully, the snow meant for some cool pictures of the red and orange rocks covered in snow. read more

Do it--Point Supreme Campground in the National Monument is lovely ($14, free hot shower, free chopped firewood, ranger programs), and the amphitheater is sort of like a mini-Grand Canyon. read more

The hikes were beautiful and the bristlecone pines are incredible! They have a few different hikes for different levels. The bristlecone pines can be seen on their popular spectra point hike. The spectra point hike was fairly easy, we saw people doing it in sandals, we saw children doing the hike. The hike is cliffy at some points but the path is pretty wide. They had a geology talk that was interesting, however brief. The park is only about 30 minutes from Cedar City and the temperature dropped to about 70. The drive is beautiful. We did hit a deer on our way up, so be alert and careful. Parking is limited, we had to take a few laps to get a spot. We came at about 12pm and it seemed like some of the morning crowd was leaving. read more

Beautiful national monument. Clean facilities and friendly park rangers and lots of fun trails for all ages. Parking can be tricky when its busy. The paying or showing for your pass is difficult too, its not a drive up window which I prefer, you park and have to walk up, which is tricky if you have kids you don't want to leave in the car or can't find a parking spot near the shack. Worth the stop though! read more

Beautiful area, drove thru in May 2014 from Bryce N.P to Cedar City on highway UT 14 .Many scenic views, but I'm sure can be a scary drive, when weather is bad. Have driven in CA & NV in mountains, so this was fun to me. We stayed a few days in Cedar City, nice place. read more

We were told to take Utah 14 as a scenic route from 89 and we discovered Cedar Breaks! The amphitheater us somewhat similar to what you see at Bryce, but smaller. We were there is mid-July and the wild flowers were amazing! Fields of wild flowers! There were several rangers there giving different programs. We looked at the sun through telescopes and she explained what we were seeing. There was a program about wild flowers and other offerings. We were told that it is a premier viewing spot for the night sky and sometimes there are ranger led programs. The park is quite small. It wasn't at all crowded. The temperature was comfortable. We loved it! read more

Beautiful national treasure- like a small Grand Canyon with hoodoos. The gift shop was great and the ranger gave a geology talk that was very informative. We didn't get a chance to hike because the late afternoon storm blew in. read more

Cedar Breaks National Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Brian Head, Utah

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Was up working in Cedar City and after work ran up the hill to Cedar Breaks for a sun Down view, That is the best time to go as the red rocks really come to life with the low angled light. It is high up in altitude so take warm clothes and lots of water. If high altitude bothers you I would say don't go. read more

The first time I visited Cedar Breaks was on a whim while some friends and I were down at Cedar City for the Utah Shakespearean Festival. It was mentioned in one of the area attractions, so feeling outdoorsy, we went. Now every time I am in that area, I love to stop by just because the scenery is so breathtaking. They have a cute little visitors center and a few nice trails as well as a campground. It's also very nice because it doesn't get crowded and it is very close to other nice things in Dixie National forest such as Duck Creek and Navajo Lake. read more

Cedar Breaks is a wonderful National Park. It reminded me clearly of the Tuolumne Meadows in the High Country of Yosemite. As most of the park is at 10000 FT elevation and above it makes for a wonderful afternoon but be careful of the altitude the oxygen is less your endurance is less and if you feel light-headed stop and rest. There are many trails to hike many Meadows to see many Vistas to enjoy, but Beware of the altitude it can be tricky. Now because of the altitude Cedar Breaks is closed typically November to May depending upon the snowfall. I was there in August and The Meadows were in bloom. The color was wonderful and I just love Alpine Meadows in bloom. The views at Cedar break into the giant Cliffs and the Bryce Canyon like Spires is beautiful a sunset can be amazing. Now back to the altitude your car may have to work quite hard to get up to that altitude. It just seems like a little climb up the road but the engine in the car just like the lungs in your body are wishing they had just a little more oxygen. Anyway don't miss Cedar Breaks it's amazing read more

What a gem hidden in the alpine region of Utah. I was luck enough to make the side trip while driving between Zion and Bryce Canyon and I can honestly say I enjoyed it as much, if not more than either of them. It is small, hence the monument status, but the canyons are almost as beautiful as Bryce and the wildflowers in the middle of July were just stunning. If you can take the time to make the trip to visit, do so - you won't be disappointed. read more

We actually saw Cedar Breaks as a scenic detour on our way back home this August. The road going up to the park from the 15 was steep (we saw two cars fail at the top) but so worth the views. A lot was under construction, and with our time limit and the elevation, we didn't go very far. Just stopped and wandered around all the pullouts we could get into. Especially liked the wild roses blooming, and the main viewpoint (where you had to pay if no pass) was the best. Just breathtaking. Would love to go back with more time to explore. One of those great places we wouldn't have gone if not for our trusty national park pass. GET ONE! read more

We stayed at Point Supreme Campground and that was awesome. Nice friendly host. clean and hot shower. watch for monsoon rain in summer. cedar breaks was great. worth the trip. read more

A very special place, indeed. Do.Not.Skip. Especially if you wish to avoid the Bryce Canyon Crazies and enjoy the same natural setting. Go in late June-early July to see the best alpine wildflowers. Walk easy and look closely...some of those guys are tiny, but very beautiful. read more

Does anyone know if there is a lot of fall colors going on right now? Or is it snowed out? I'm bringing a photographer to a location with lots of colors going on as a surprise but I need somewhere relatively close to Las Vegas. read more

We love going to Cedar Breaks. But did you know there was a 11 mile hike through an amazing gorge and slot from Cedar Breaks back to Cedar City. There is 2 options for this hike. Ashdown Gorge Trail is a 8.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Cedar City Utah. The gorge sits to the west of Cedar Breaks National Monument in southwestern Utah. Many people hike Ashdown Gorge as a one way hike from the Rattlesnake Trailhead (north of Cedar Breaks to Route 14). However such a one way hike requires a car shuttle and most of the hike is outside of the actual gorge. We started our hike from a parking lot on Route 14, down the stream and up Ashdown Gorge into Rattlesnake Creek Gorge and Lake Creek Gorge. Equipped with good hiking boots, hiking poles and not afraid to get wet, we set out to go find 2 waterfalls. On the way we also got to see Flanigan Arch. When a monolith known as Tom's Head will came into view we took the first left and headed into Rattlesnake Creek. After half an hour we reached another split, Lake Creek on the left and Rattle Creek on the right. Both ends here led us to a waterfall where it dead ends. This is a absolutely amazing hike. Really gives you a variety of things to see while hiking mostly in the shade. We thought this was a great hike for a hot summer day. Check out our YouTube with highlights of our hike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2r2Ljd6pkA read more

The last stop of our tour of the southwestern national parks, we spent 2 nights in this quiet, uncrowded little park. It is way high elevation - over 10,000 ft - so the air is a bit thin, and it's a lot chillier than nearby Zion or even Bryce Canyon. (Zion was so dang hot, and here we needed fleece jackets and warm blankets!) The main attraction is a junior version of the geological features of Bryce Canyon. But it was still great. And the trails offered variety: the canyon, meadows, alpine plants & animals. Nice little grove of bristlecone pines (ancient trees). The staff is young, and they had just opened for the summer so were not seasoned interpreters yet, but were still pleasant folks. No problem getting a campsite in the single small campground. (After the race for sites at the other parks, this was refreshing!) The wildflowers were pretty, but not yet at their peak. I'd like to go back in July when they'd be in full bloom. Easy to get to from I-15. read more