Utah's National Monuments, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monuments, Hovenweep National Monument

A 5-mile wide, 2,500 feet deep natural amphitheater eroded out of the variegated Pink Cliffs near Cedar City, Utah. Millions of years of sedimentation, uplift and erosion have created a deep canyon of rock walls, fins, spires and columns, that spans some three miles. The rim of the canyon is over 10,000 feet above sea level. in summer, the park is rich in wild flowers and the area also has plentiful wildlife. It is similar to Bryce Canyon on a small scale.

Spectra Point/Ramparts Trail - Moderate, at 10,000 feet above sea level, this trail leads one mile to the Spectra Point Overlook. Many visitors return to the trailhead from Spectra Point, making a 2-mile round trip. Hikers who are prepared for a slightly more strenuous stretch on this trail may continue one mile further to the Ramparts Overlook at trail's end, then hike the two miles back to the trailhead for a 4-mile round trip.

Alpine Pond Trail - A 2-mile, easy self-guided loop trail through meadows and forest to a small spring-fed pond.

How to Get There

South on I-15, exit at Parowan, then take Utah Highway 143 east, to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Visitors traveling north, on I-15 exit at Cedar City, then take Utah Highway 14 east for 18 miles, then Utah Highway 148 north, 4 miles to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Visitors traveling north/south on U.S. Highway 89, can take either Utah Highway 143 from Panguitch to Cedar Breaks, or Utah Highway 14 west, to Utah Highway 148, and north to Cedar Breaks National Monument. It is 75 miles from Zion National Park and 72 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park.

For further information, contact the superintendent at Cedar Breaks National Monument:

2390 W. Hwy. 56 Suite 11

Cedar City, UT 84720-4151

(435) 586-9451

Dinosaur National Monument

One of the world's largest collections of fossilized dinosaur bones. The monument also has beautiful geological features, deep narrow gorges, sandstone cliffs and the Green and Yampa Rivers confluence at Steamboat Rock 2,500 feet below the vista at Harpers Corner.

Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (round trip)
Desert Voices Nature Trail	The interpretive signs will introduce you to the threats confronting arid environments in the West. Good for children.	begins in the Split Mountain area across from or west of the boat ramp close to the Dinosaur Quarry	1.5 mi.
Cold Desert Trail	The trail will introduce you to the variety of plants and animals that make the desert shrub community their home. This is a great trail for the family	Monument Headquarters Visitor Center along US 40, 2 miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado	1.5 mi.
Plug Hat Trail	flora and fauna of the pinion pine and juniper forest community. An added bonus is the spectacular views of the surrounding landscape from the trail. There are also additional signs and scenic views across the road at the Plug Hat picnic area.	Plug Hat picnic area	.25 mi.
Harpers Corner Trail	Takes you to viewpoint of dramatic geologic features and the canyons of the Green and Yampa rivers. The best times to walk this trail are in the early morning or evening when the light is especially dramatic for artful photographs.	End of Harpers Corner Road	2 mi.
Jones Hole Trail and Ely Creek Trail (moderate)	Considered the prettiest trail in the park. The Jones Hole Trail follows the Jones Hole Creek where you can wade in the water. The trail passes an archeological site, Deluge Shelter and Indian rock art. The trail also passes Ely Creek waterfall shaded by Douglas fir and birch trees. For a more complete description click on the following link: http://www.nps.gov/dino/trail	From Dinosaur Quarry, drive for an hour along the Brush Creek Road and Diamond Mountain Road to the Jones Hole national Fish hatchery.	Jones Hole Trail - 8 miles to Green River Ely Creek Trail - 4 miles
Sand Canyon Hike (moderate)	Leads into Sand Canyon. A river crossing is necessary to enter the canyon. Archeological sites and rock art. http://www.nps.gov/dino/trail	Located in Echo Park 21 miles up the Harpers Corner Road from Monument Headquarters Visitor Center. Turn onto the Echo Park road and drive 13 miles down the Echo Park	4.5 miles
Pat's Draw Hike (easy)	This hike gives you a history of flash floods. For a complete description click on the following link: http://www.nps.gov/dino/trail	See above	2 miles

How to Get There

Drive east from Vernal, Utah. Take Rt. 40 (Main Street) east out of Vernal until a well marked turn left/north from Jensen, UT onto Rt. 149. 7 miles later you reach the park

Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Rainbow Bridge is the world's largest natural bridge and one of the seven natural wonders of the world at 290 feet tall and 270 feet across. The bridge was formed by erosion of the sandstone by water flowing from Navajo Mountain towards the Colorado River. It is considered sacred by the Navajo culture as a symbol responsible for creating clouds, rainbows and rain. It was declared a National Monument in 1910. Visitors may take the trail from the courtesy dock to the viewing area for the bridge. Swimming, fishing, water skiing, etc. are not allowed anywhere within the monument. The bridge may be reached by boat, on foot, or on horseback. It is located 50 boat miles northeast of Wahweap Marina. Boat cruises from Wahweap or Bullfrog Marinas are offered daily.

How to Get There

The popular Fossil Bone Quarry area of the park is only a 30 minute drive east from Vernal, Utah. Take Rt. 40 (Main Street) east out of Vernal until a well marked turn left/north from Jensen, UT onto Rt. 149.

Natural Bridges National Monument

Natural Bridges National Monument established in 1908 is comprised of three bridges that were formed by streams that eroded the canyon walls as well as Anasazi Indian ruins. These bridges are named Kachina, Owachomo and Sipapu and are located on a tree-covered mesa cut by deep sandstone canyons that can be seen from overlooks along a nine-mile paved loop road through the monument. The bridges have Hopi Indian names: the delicate Owachomo means "rock mounds," Sipapu which is the second largest natural bridge in the world means "the place of emergence" and massive Kachina means "dancer." The Anasazi Indians occupied this part of Utah from 2,000 to 650 years ago. Cliff dwellings and pictographs can be found in the monument. Moderate short trails (each under 1.5 miles) lead down to each bridge. A strenuous primitive trail system connects all three bridges and allows visitors to spend most of a day exploring White Canyon. The full loop (to visit every bridge) is roughly 8.5 miles long. The bridges also may be viewed by walking short distances to overlooks. A 9-mile loop drive takes visitors past Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo natural bridges. Natural Bridges National Monument is 42 miles west of Blanding. The visitor center and primitive campground are open year-round.

How to Get There

The entrance to Natural Bridges is at the end of Highway 275, which is roughly 35 miles west of Blanding on Highway 95. It is 121 miles from Moab, 126 miles from Arches National Park 156 miles from Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky entrance and and 115 miles from its Needles entrance.

Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument established in 1923, noted for its solitude, undeveloped and natural character, is spread over a twenty-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons along the Utah-Colorado border that preserves five prehistoric, Features Puebloan-era villages that was once home to more than 2,500 people in 900 A.D. The name "hovenweep" means deserted valley. Multi-storied towers perch on canyon rims and balance on boulders that resemble European castles.

The largest of the ruins is Square Tower, where several well-preserved structures are located in a system of three loop trails of castles, towers, check dams (for irrigation), cliff dwellings, pueblos, houses and petroglyphs (rock art). Other groups include Holly, Horseshoe, Hackberry, Cutthroat Castle and Cajon.

Hovenweep National Monument is 20 miles north of Aneth on a gravel and paved road. Closest accommodations are in Bluff or Blanding.

How to Get There

Hovenweep National Monument is 113 miles from Moab, 118 miles from Arches National Park and 143 miles from Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky entrance and and 107 miles from its Needles entrance. The road to the Visitor Center and Square Tower Group is paved from Cortez, Colorado, on County Road G (the McElmo Canyon Road), and from White Mesa (south of Blanding) on Highway 262. The road from Highway 666 (near Pleasant View) is dirt and may be impassable after storms. This road accesses most of the outlying units in Colorado. All roads into the outlying units are dirt and are not maintained regularly. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for visiting these sites.

Links:

National Park Service - Cedar Breaks

National Park Service-Dinosaur National Monument

National Park Service-Hovenweep National monument

National Park Service-Natural Bridges National Monument