General information about the National Monument
The National Monument protects a huge cliff of the Markagunt Plateau where you can find many bizarrely shaped orange hoodoos and earth pyramids. It is the little brother of the nearby Bryce Canyon NP.
Number of visitors
Best time to visit: All summer months. Due to the altitude, there may be snow in all other seasons.
Our visits:
So far 2 visits: October 2012 and June 2023
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 10$/person valid for 7 days
- Covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open all year round. In case of snow the roads are closed.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Cedar Breaks NM
Description: Cedar Breaks NM protects two drop-off ridges in the form of amphitheaters on the west side of the Markagunt Plateau. The park is located at an altitude of over 9800ft and is thus only accessible in summer (mostly from June to September/October), even though the park is open all year round. After the first heavy snowfall in autumn, the Scenic Drive is closed.
On the park road you can drive along the edge of the quarry and have a look at the beautifully eroded red rocks at various viewpoints. In addition, there are a few trails on which you can hike the park.
Our rating: During our visit in October 2012, we were basically lucky that we could visit the park at all, because at this time of year there is often already so much snow here that the roads are closed. However, all public facilities are already closed in October. The Winter Information Center is not yet in operation. So we could only drive to two viewpoints and get a first impression. If you know Bryce Canyon, this is certainly not so impressive, but in view of the crowds that have been swarming the national parks of the Southwest in recent years, you have a great, quiet alternative here.
