Now is the time of year to head into the desert regions of the southwestern U.S. With the monsoon season coming to an end and temperatures beginning to moderate, there is no better place to hike than in the circuitous canyons, red rock mazes, and open mesas of Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. The majority of visitors to the area will stick to the centerpiece attractions of the so called Grand Circle Tour: Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks. And, for good reason. The boundaries of these three park units enclose spectacular rock formations, breath taking canyons, and soaring walls. But, for the traveler with a bent for places that remain off the beaten path, several smaller parks tucked between the headliners should not be missed. Three such gems are Cedar Breaks National Monument (Utah), Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada), and Kodachrome State Park (Utah). All of these parks are easily added into a tour of the region.
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| Cedar Breaks amphitheater |
This postage-stamp sized park, located just 22 miles east of Cedar City on Utah SR 14, is perfectly situated for a day or overnight visit on the way to or from Bryce Canyon National Park. Because of its size, the fact that it requires a side trip (albeit a very short side trip), and its chilly high elevation (over 10,000’ at the visitor center), far fewer visitors compete for camping and trail space. A mere 500,000 people stop by Cedar Breaks annually compared to over 4,000,000 to the Grand Canyon, over 2,000,000 to Zion, and just over 1,000,000 to Bryce. The monument’s main attraction is a deeply cut amphitheater with walls decorated elaborately with auburn and gold hoodoos. The best and longest hiking trail leads from the rustic Civilian Conservation Crew era visitor center to Rampart’s Overlook. This four-mile (round trip) trail keeps hikers close to the rim of the canyon most of the way, drops into a cool forested valley for just about ½ mile toward the end, then leads back to the edge for expansive views across and deeper into the canyon. An added bonus of this route is the presence trailside of ancient Bristlecone Pines, including one wizened and dramatically contorted grandfather which dominates a sandy viewpoint about half way down.
