You Haven’t Been to Cedar Breaks Yet?! Dude, Fix That ASAP
While everyone’s rushing to Zion, stuck in traffic, roasting under the sun and taking the same cactus pics — I found a real hidden gem: Cedar Breaks National Monument. It’s like Bryce and Zion had a collab… and forgot to tell anyone about it. Thank god.
What Is This Place?
It’s literally a colorful crater, like someone dumped a bucket of paint over the cliffs. Millions of hoodoos (those weird rock icicles), a giant rim, and forest all around. The air is fridge-level cool — a blessing when it’s 95°F (35°C) down below.Bonus: no crowds, no yelling tour buses, just you and nature. Okay, maybe a couple of hipsters with cameras.
What to Do There?
Shoot pics. First and foremost. The views are pure Instagram gold. Part Mars, part fairy tale.
Wildflowers — in summer, the whole place blooms like a Disney movie. There’s even a festival.
Stargazing — one of the darkest night skies in the U.S. Seen the Milky Way? You will now. 
Trails:
- Alpine Pond — chill walk, perfect for lake-and-latte stories.
- Spectra Point — the kind of view that’ll blow your mind.
In winter? Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiles. The park closes to cars, but opens to all off-track adventurers.
How to Get There?
From Cedar City, take UT-14, then turn onto UT-148. Four miles in — boom, paradise. Just a heads up: in winter the road is closed — so you might end up hiking in.
Fun Fact for the Nerdy Ones:
There used to be a lake here that filled up with minerals. Then it dried out, the whole plate lifted, and nature started carving its masterpiece. Now it’s slowly crumbling — and we just get to enjoy the view.
Bottom Line: Cedar Breaks = Hidden Top Tier.
Fewer people, more air, magazine-worthy pics. Perfect if you want a “WOW” without the travel agency vibes. Add it to your route, charge your phone, pack a hoodie (it’s summer down there but nearly winter up here) — and let’s go!
What is Cedar Breaks?
It’s a vibrant natural amphitheater filled with millions of hoodoos, surrounded by forest and cool mountain air.
Why go there instead of Zion?
Fewer crowds, cooler temps, stunning views — and not a single tour bus in sight.
What can you do there?
Take epic photos, hike scenic trails, enjoy wildflowers in summer, and stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the U.S. In winter: skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
How do you get there?
From Cedar City, take UT-14, then turn onto UT-148. Four miles in — boom, you’re there. Just note: the road’s closed in winter.
What makes this place special?
It’s like Bryce and Zion had a baby — but no one told the crowds. A true hidden gem with out-of-this-world views.
