During the winter months, the roads through Utah's Cedar Breaks National Monument have closed to vehicle traffic thanks to heavy snowfall, but the colorful amphitheater and hoodoos of the park are still accessible for those willing to go in by snowshoe, cross country skiing or snowmobile.
To help visitors get a taste of what it’s like to explore the snowy park by foot, starting the weekend of January 15, Cedar Breaks National Monument will bring back its park ranger-guided snowshoeing tours on weekends. Rangers will offer two daily programs on Saturdays and Sundays through March 27.
The program went on hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to staffing. Brent Everitt, chief of visitor services for Cedar Breaks National Monument tells Lonely Planet that staff "worked hard throughout the fall to reimagine the showshoe walks and bring them back to the public after two years."
The new 90-minute long tour is by reservation only and provides participants with snowshoes and poles. There is no fee outside the cost of entry into the monument which is $10 per person or by showing an America the Beautiful Interagency pass.
During the tour, visitors walk a half-mile (approximately 800 meters) through the pine trees of the park before stopping for a 10-15 minute formal program with a park ranger. Participants then make the half-mile trek back to the starting point.
Located approximately 55 miles from Bryce Canyon and 68 miles from Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument was established in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The park sits at an elevation of 10,450ft atop the Markagunt Plateau and its geologic amphitheater stretches a half-mile deep.
Since the park sits at a high elevation, visitors are encouraged to read through the park’s ski and snowshoeing guide before participating.
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How to reserve a guided snowshoe tour
Cedar Breaks National Monument offers two tours a day, one at 10am and the other at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays through March 27. The tours last approximately 90 minutes.
Since the park has limited parking and gear available for visitors, it also has limited spots available for the tours. It requires a reservation and park staff encourages those who want to participate to make a reservation as soon as possible.
You can email the park for a reservation at CedarBreaksInfo@nps.gov or by calling 435-986-7120.
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