Things to do in Cedar City
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I’m convinced that Utah is one of the best hidden gems of the United States. Anytime you ask someone who loves adventure or the outdoors where they want to go or where they suggest going in the States – Utah is ALWAYS on the list, if not at the top of that list.
Many know all the great adventure and outdoor related things there are to do in Utah while others may be reading this and thinking…Utah? What the hell is in Utah?
Well, this article is for you, my friend – Things to do in Cedar City!
Cedar City is located in the very Southwestern corner of Utah – very close to the Nevada and Arizona borders.
National Parks
If there is one thing Southern Utah has, it’s National Parks and really what more could an outdoors lover ask for?
Bryce Canyon
Located less than 80 miles East is Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is a very unique park in that it includes the largest collection of hoodoos – odd-shaped pillars of rock – in the world.
During the day, you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding and more! And, during the night you can stay at one of the two campgrounds and enjoy star-gazing – seeing 7500 stars on a moonless night! That’s triple the amount you can see in most rural areas.
Zion
Located even closer than (70 miles South) Bryce Canyon, is Utah’s first national park – Zion National Park.
With plenty of things to do, you can never get tired of this gorgeous national park. Backpacking, hiking, bicycling, camping, canyoneering, climbing, birding, horseback riding and boating on the Virgin River are all great activities to do here.
Hiking The Narrows and The Subway are too unique experiences at Zion National Park. The Narrows is the narrowest region of Zion Canyon with walls a thousand feet tall and the Virgin River sometimes just twenty to thirty feed wide.
Grand Canyon
Want to take a side trip from Cedar City? Head to the Grand Canyon – 3-6 hours away depending on if you want to go the North or South rim.
The Grand Canyon doesn’t really need any introduction and is considered one of the natural wonders of the world.
National Monuments
Grand Staircase-Escalante
Located 82 miles East of Cedar City is the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This national monument offers many activities including horseback riding, ATV, hiking, fishing and camping.
Cedar Breaks
Located 21 miles East of Cedar City is the Cedar Breaks National Monument. Considering that Cedar Breaks was named as one of USA Today’s Ten Great Places to Stargaze, consider heading here at night. Take advantage of the remote location and high elevation and enjoy one of the darkest skies in the country.
Other things to do here include hiking, mountain biking, ATV, camping, and skiing.
Dixie National Forest
Dixie National Forest occupies almost two million acres – meaning tons of space for hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, horseback riding, winter sports and more!
Located within Dixie National Forest is Navajo Lake, Brian Head, Mammoth Cave and many other well-loved landmarks.
Cedar City is a great base for tons of outdoor adventures at national parks, monuments and forests. With Cedar City as the center of Dixie National Forest and within 2 hours of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Cedar Breaks and Grand Staircase and only a half a day drive to the Grand Canyon, Southern Utah is a definite must for any outdoor lover.
Other National Parks located in Utah include Canyonlands (5 hours), Capitol Reef (3 hours), and Arches (5 hours).
There are many things to do in Cedar City, what have you done?
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Great post! Zion and Bryce are a couple of my favorite spots! That whole area offers so much in terms of sheer natural beauty. Awesome pics too!
I’ll probably go the west coast of the US this year and hope to have some time for Utah as I’m far more interested in US national parks than the big cities. So cross your fingers and thanks for sharing. I’d love to see Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches and Bryce Canyon and actually Antelope Canyon as well which is not far away. We’ll see how it goes. Probably everything is not possible, so if you have some preferences, I’d be happy to hear which nationalparks are your favorites in this area! Cheers!
I loved my time time exploring Zion and the Grand Canyon a few years ago. I definitely need to get back and explore more of southern Utah!
Wow what beautiful photos!! This is a great guide to checking out some National parks! Thank you. We really hope to get out that way some time soon and be away from the city! And all those stars sound simply amazing!
Those hoodoos at Bryce are otherworldly — it’s almost like I’m looking at space aliens. And Zion also, in particular, sounds like it offers gorgeous scenery (although I don’t think I’d be up to the strenuous physical challenge of traversing the Subway). 🙂 Also, as someone who goes months with seeing virtually no stars at all in my city’s night sky, I like the idea of seeing the sky brilliantly filled with innumerable stars over Bryce or Cedar Breaks. (The last time I saw a night sky like that was when I was at the Grand Canyon.) Some great ideas here!
Fantastic wrap-up of the main attractions to hit in Southwestern Utah. I literally just got back from Zion last weekend and had a total blast. By far one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The Narrows were epic, and we enjoyed Angel’s Landing as well, though it was quite nerve racking! Heard great things about Subway but we didn’t have a permit or time to do it… We wanted to hit Bryce for the top-down view but unfortunately timing wouldn’t allow for it either. Definitely making my next Utonian trip long next time!
-Greig
Utah parks are on many people’s bucket lists 🙂 They are just amazing, but I would not be able to deal with the heat or crowds in the height of summer. I want to go hike the subway and narrows and to see the milky way or a meteor shower in UT!
Bryce on my list:) MY gosh…. there’s a lot to add… LOL Great post:)
My friend has been trying to get me to visit so I will def keep these places in mind. Especially since I have never been to Utah.
Great post! I just had a road trip to Zion last December and we were chatting with a bunch of rock climbers during Sunset… Suddenly all the rock on the cliff changes colors and we all gasped in amazement… !!!
I absolutely love this area. It is a photographer’s dream. The only national park I haven’t been to is Arches. Will need to head out there soon.
Nothing can really beat the beauty that nature offers. It took long years before these were sculpted to perfection. Love your list!
These all look like great places! I’ve heard amazing things about Bryce Canyon as well. Would love to get there one day. Unfortunately, flights from Toronto are still pretty pricey into Utah. Guess I’ll just have to keep waiting!
Utah sounds like a great place to go on vacation. I would love to see Bryce Canyon in person.
I love the looks of the western area of the U.S. I want to get out there and visit places like this so much!
Wow what a beautiful place to visit. I am adding this to my travel list of places to visit. Stunning views.
Wow! I just want to grab my backpack and start hiking through all those parks and monuments. It looks like a great place to really have some old fashioned solitude
Yes! Which I’m in desperate need of right now haha
What gorgeous scenery. I would love to visit – and take lots of photos!
Wow, that looks like a breathtaking place to vacation. Putting this on my bucket list right now!
The landscape in Utah is just amazing. Thanks for sharing.
I have been to Utah but never to this area. I plan to go cross country to Phoenix in June and may need to stop by!
I think you should! 🙂
Those are some of my favorite national parks ever. It is exquisitely beautiful out that way.
When I was 16 we went on a 3 week excursion to all of these places. The mule train to the bottom of the Grand Canyon was amazing and I highly recommend it!
Amazing! What an amazing trip for a 16 year old too!
I have never been to Utah before. These canyons look stunning, I would love to go and just snap photo’s!
A photographer’s dream, I believe! 🙂
I always think the pictures I see posted from Utah are nice. I wouldn’t mind a trip out that way.
Yep, the pictures have always blown me away too 🙂
Utah is so beautiful. I can’t wait to go back. I’m adding these spots to our list of places to visit.
Yay, I’m glad you’ll add these spots when you go back. They’re so magical! 🙂
I just returned from Utah and you are right! It really is a gem for outdoor and adventure lovers! We visited Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Canyonlands National Parks and were just blown away by the incredible landscapes and natural beauty. The area has become very popular so if you have an activity like canyoneering or horseback riding in mind, be sure to book it ahead of time or you could end up missing out!
I had only been to Grand Canyon on this list but all the others look great too! Look forward to visiting many of these when we visit USA next summer 🙂
I love Utah!! Zion and the Grand Canyon were my favorites but I missed out on Bryce Canyon! It looks amazing and perfect for adventuring!
If I will come to American I will definitely visit Utah and go see the canyons for myself. Bryce Canyon looks absolutely stunning. I never came across any similar landscape in my travels. I would love hiking in the Grand Canyon also.
No need to mention how fantastic the Grand Canyon looks like. But the other national parks are also amazing! Great guide on the opportunities that await there and the adventures you can take. These places must be every photographer’s dream!
Utah has such gorgeous and unique national parks. I would love to visit Zion!
Amazing pictures! Cedar city is on my list, I’ll definitely save this. Thanks for this great list!
Wow! seeing these pictures, even I’m convinced Utah is a hidden gem in USA. Those canyons look surreal!
Utah sounds awesome!I didn’t know there was so much on offer. I would love to sleep under the stars at Bryce national park! 🙂
Those photographs are beautiful! I especially want to visit Zion and the pink rocks of the Grand Canyon. Can’t wait!
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Wow your pictures are amazing. The landscapes of these places are incredible!
A paradise for me. I am more into mountains so these adventures are perfect for me. Very scenic photos.
Ashley, these look absolutely GORGEOUS! I have never been to North America (a tragedy I know!), but it looks like I’ll have to hit up Utah first just for the canyoning alone! Also how can you NOT like pickles…its one of my favourite things! 😀
There’s so much to see in Utah. The only ones we have not been to are Dixie, Grand Staircase, and Capitol Reef! We have been there thrice!
As much as I love to travel I always focus on international travel. I forget how many great sights my own country has! These national parks are gorgeous.
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Beautiful pictures for a beautiful place! I’ have never been to Utah nor anywhere in the U.S, it’s undeniable that you guys have amazing gems worth the visit.
Great post! I’ve been trying to plan a road trip to hit most of the national parks. Utah is definitely on my list, love the pictures too!
I stayed in Cedar City last week when I was driving through Utah – it was fantastic! I didn’t know much about the area, but the visitor’s center directed me to some amazing petroglyphs and historical sites right outside of town. And the frontier homestead state park was great.
Love this post! I lived in the Grand Canyon for 3 short months during 2009. I’ve been wanting to get out west again to explore what the Southwest has to offer. It’s such a beautiful area!
Thanks for sharing this post! looks fantastic.