If your attitude is ‘why stop at one’ – be it desserts, vinos, shoes or vacays – then you’ll love Cedar City, Utah. Because why settle for one of the Beehive State’s incredible national parks when you can have access to them all? Smack dab between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, Cedar City is the perfect launchpad for a Utah adventure.
If easy access to jaw-dropping landscapes, Utah’s abundant adventure activities, and a touch of small-town charm sounds like the best of all worlds, it’s because it is!
Cedar City has all the perks of a larger town with plenty of accommodation, delectable dining options (there’s even a winery), and a regional airport for convenience. It’s also more affordable than staying on the fringes of Utah’s national parks.
Here’s why a stay in Cedar City should be on your Utah itinerary.
Access to Utah’s natural wonderlands
Just look at the map to see that Cedar City makes an ideal base. Utah’s most popular national parks – Zion and Bryce Canyon – are easily reached by car on day trips from Cedar City, each 75 and 90 minutes respectively. In fact, if you head to Kolob Canyons, you’ll be in Zion National Park in under 30 minutes!
Cedar City is ideal for travellers seeking convenience, more accommodation options, and plenty to see and do. And great for those of us who hate packing and unpacking every day (eugh)!
There’s also the Capitol Reef National Park – a Utah hidden gem – only 200 kilometres from Cedar City. The grandeur of the colourful rock layers that form a staircase at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, is also only 80 kilometres away.
More than a gateway
If Utah’s national parks are the sundae, Cedar City is the cherry on top! Along with being an excellent base or stop on your tour of Utah’s iconic parks, Cedar City has its own unique vibe.
Think charming Main Street stores to browse downtown, a vibrant local art scene (including eye-catching murals), and fabulous restaurants, from cheap eats to fine dining.
Close to Cedar City, the I/G Winery makes for an excellent end-of-day treat after hiking Utah’s famed trails, like Angel’s Landing and the Navajo Loop Trail.
Top central Cedar City activities include visiting the Frontier Homestead Museum to discover the life of the region’s early pioneers. Art lovers rave about how well the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) highlights regional and national artists via its evolving exhibits. There’s even an annual Shakespeare Festival if you want to feel especially cultured.
No visit is complete without venturing into Cedar Canyon. It’s a short drive from Main Street with scenic trails under the canopy of a conifer forest. Your soundtrack? The babbling streams and wandering wildlife, including mule deer, golden eagles, and western bluebirds.
Scenic splendour on the doorstep
Close to Cedar City, more delights await. Like Kolob Canyons, the lesser-visited side of Zion National Park. Hike the red-rock canyons, pausing to marvel at the spectacular scenery, and expect to stop frequently for wow-worthy vistas seen on the scenic drive there.
Take a 15-minute drive and start your day chasing waterfalls on the moderate Kanarra Falls Trail. The slot canyons, cascading streams, and peace of the park appeal to outdoor lovers keen for a half-day hike.
Utah is well known for its dark skies, and nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument is a top spot to witness constellations, planets, and maybe a shooting star or two. By day, the colourful limestone rock that long ago formed a natural amphitheatre leaves a lasting impression, too.
Nearby, Brian Head Resort is open year-round for adventures galore, from skiing and snowboarding in winter to hiking and mountain biking in summer. Yes, you read that right… there’s a ski resort only 30 minutes away! It’s another example of how Cedar City gives you the best of every world.
The deets
Cedar City connects you to so much of Utah, whether you’re hiking, biking, skiing, or soaking up the views.
Head to visitcedarcity.com to plan your stay, then contact your preferred travel advisor to book.
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