This stunning day hike is one of Utah’s hidden gems. Ramparts Trail hike in Utah is located less than an hour away from Cedar City.

Cedar Breaks Monument is where you will find this beautiful natural amphitheatre. 

We were lucky enough to visit Cedar Breaks Monument in the fall, so tourism had really slowed down at that point. We basically had the whole hike to ourselves and since we stayed in Brian Head it was only a short little drive to the trailhead.

It was the perfect little afternoon hike to marvel at the views of the National Monument.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the Ramparts Trail

We chose to stay in Brian Head because of its distance to Zyon and Bryce and by doing so, we stumbled upon this surreal hike.

Thankfully we were there in early October and the area was still open. Since it’s quite common that snow makes it inaccessible between October and May due to its high elevation and unpredictable weather this hike is usually closed by then.

A fun fact about Brian Head is that it’s actually one of the highest cities in all of North America. Sitting 2987 meters above sea level makes it Utah’s highest city.

Practical information about Ramparts Trail hike via Spectra Point

Distance: First option is 6 km return / 3.7 miles return
Elevation: 255 m / 836 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 1.5 – 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate hike
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Fee: $7 per adult or included if you have an America the Beautiful Pass.

Here’s a map of the beginning of Ramparts Trail hike.

Here’s a picture of the beginning of the trailhead for Ramparts Trail in Southern Utah

Trailhead for Spectra Point via Ramparts Overlook.

Why Ramparts Trail via Spectra Point is considered one of Utah’s best hikes

Admiring the views of this amazing souther Utah hike.
Enjoying this amazing hiking trail in Utah.
Utah's best hike is Ramparts Overlook.

We truly do consider this one of Utah’s best hikes. The feeling of walking on the rim of this enormous amphitheater named “ The Coliseum” is so surreal.

It easily feels like you’re on Mars or somewhere far far away. The rusty orange, purple, and red colors of rocks that are millions of years old truly give you a feeling of being in a different world.

The hike itself isn’t too difficult since it has minimal elevation but be prepared to get a good workout in because of the altitude you’re at.

Amazing views from a hiking trail in Utah.

For the entire hike, you’ll basically be walking around the rim of “The Coliseum” for the majority of the hike while admiring the beautiful cliffs and the amazing views.

It’s what you’d expect from hiking in Utah but when you’re there you really start to feel the magnitude of this natural wonder.

The photos you’ll get of “The Coliseum” just won’t do it justice. It’s something you really have to take in and admire for yourself. If you’re a nature lover like us then this southern Utah hike is one you must do.

There are tons of places to hike in the state but this place was definitely one of the more special places we visited while hiking in Utah. And because it’s a bit out of the way and less well-known, it doesn’t get a ton of visitors!

Some of Utah's best hiking trails.
Hiking trails in Utah.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks National Monument is located in the southern part of Utah and is roughly 3000 meters above sea level.

As we mentioned before, it’s best to go between May and October since the road is very weather dependent because of the high altitude.

If you’re lucky you can visit in early October before the weather gets too crazy but in between the peak tourism months (summer and winter).

Amazing day hike in Utah.

We experienced the crazy weather changes first hand. The first day was a nice warm fall day where you could walk around in shorts and a shirt as you see in the pictures.

The leaves had turned yellow and it was just gorgeous… Then overnight everything changed and it went below freezing (like 5 degrees Fahrenheit / -15 degrees Celcius freezing). So definitely check the weather before you go if you plan on going during the colder months!

Enjoying amazing views while hiking in Utah.

The park is a National Park so we do recommend having that America The Beautiful pass that gives you access to all National Parks in the country.

There will be a visitor center right near the trailhead where you can leave your vehicle and start the hike from.

You’ll get a map at the visitor center as well where you can see a bunch of info on the area. From there you can follow the signs to the “Point Supreme Overlook” where you will get an idea of the hike and what to expect. All we can say is you’re in for a treat.

Spectra Point hike in souther Utah.

If you’re wanting to hike in Utah in April or October the roads may be closed but otherwise, you should be completely fine to hike this beauty all throughout late spring, summer, and early fall.

If you’re looking for hikes in southern Utah after traveling from Arizona or you just randomly ended up in the southern part of the state then this is the place to do some amazing hiking.

Utah has so much to offer because of all the amazing nature and red rock formations scattered throughout the state. And it’s definitely worth spending some time outdoors in the area and visiting the small ski town of Brian Head and doing the hikes around the area.

You will also have Dixie National Park which is close by and totally worth a visit.

Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails Pro here.

Camping near Cedar Breaks

There are tons of amazing spots to camp near Cedar Breaks. Tons of people leave Cedar City and head out east to Cedar Breaks and Dixie National Forest for the weekend.

If you do have the time we recommend staying at least a night or two in the area to give yourself enough time to explore this area.

Since this part of Southern Utah is way less touristy than areas like Bryce and Zion you will get places like this all to yourself.

Point Supreme Campground

Point Supreme Campground is very close to the hike and a perfect place to stay if you’re passing by. It’s $24 a night for a spot. Each campsite comes with a fireplace and a picnic table so you can enjoy a nice Utah night under the stars.

Keep in mind though that the campsite is only open from about mid June to mid September. So it is more for the summer months but it is quite weather dependent since Cedar Breaks Monument is quite high up and weather changes so quickly up there.

So if you’re lucky enough and have some great weather then you can go find a camping spot at Point Supreme and walk across the street to start the hike. That’s how close the campsite is to Ramparts Trail.

The campsite is across from the visitor centre so you shouldn’t miss it.

How to get to Cedar Breaks Monument

From Cedar City

Salt Lake City to Ramparts Trail

  • Here are the directions.
  • It will take about 3.5 hours but it’s absolutely worth the drive.
  • If you’re looking for fewer crowds and beautiful scenery it’s worth making the drive down from SLC to southern Utah.

From Page Arizona

Enjoying the views of one of Utah's best hikes.

Before you hike Ramparts Trail

Double-check that you have your America The Beautiful card and if you don’t you can buy one online on REI’s website.

We’ve mentioned it in other posts, but if you plan to visit multiple National Parks within the span of a year you will save so much money by having this pass.

We literally saved hundreds of dollars, since the entry to each park can be between $20-35 and an annual pass is only $80. Just make sure you have the physical card on you.

Ramparts overlook trailhead.

It doesn’t hurt to check the weather. Especially if you’re coming from a ways away like Salt Lake City.

You don’t want to drive all the way there to see that the road is closed just 30 minutes before getting to Cedar Breaks Monument.

If you plan to stay in the area for a few days you can look on Expedia and Booking.com for some great Condos to stay in Brian Head.

It’s a great little ski town not too far from the monument and also only just under a 2-hour drive to both Bryce and Zion National Parks.

Leave no trace

When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.

This means:

  1. Plan ahead and prepare.
  2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
  3. Dispose of waste properly.
  4. Leave what you find.
  5. Minimize campfire impacts.
  6. Respect wildlife.
  7. Be considerate of others.
One of Utahs best hikes to do in the summer.

What to bring on the Ramparts Trail

It depends if you’re hiking in Utah in May when the season first starts or during peak season since the weather up there can change so drastically. Be prepared for any weather because of the altitude.

Enjoying Cedar Breaks Monument during our hike in southern Utah.

Packing list for the Ramparts Trail:

  • Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles for hikes. Ramparts Trail hike is a fairly long trail and especially on hot days water will be your best friend.
  • Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Utah. You’ll be exposed for most of the hike. Especially souther Utah in the summer gets scorching hot so come prepared.
  • A power bank is always nice to bring. Especially when you’re in a place you’re not completely familiar with. You’ll want some battery on your phone to know how to get back to your camping or accommodation after.
  • It’s highly recommended to bring hiking poles on the Ramparts Trail! There is some solid incline and decline and the section towards the end has a lot of loose dirt so bringing hiking poles will come in pretty handy there.
  • Wear proper hiking shoes on this one. Dom wears his Columbias on most of the hikes we’ve done in Utah. They’re also easier to clean after a day of hiking than runners or casual shoes.

You can also check out this great list of hiking gear to get some more inspiration for what you may need to bring!

Enjoying Cedar Breaks Monument during our hike in southern Utah.

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Recap of hiking Ramparts Trail

We hope you enjoy hiking Ramparts Trail. This hike in southern Utah is definitely slightly off-the-beaten-path compared to other parts of Utah.

That’s one thing we love about Cedar Breaks and specifically the Ramparts Trail is that there were way less people than in Bryce Canyon.

To this date, the Ramparts Trail is probably one of our favourite hikes in Utah due to the fact we had most of the hike to ourselves. Hopefully, you get as lucky as we did and can take in these awesome views.

We hope you enjoy this stunning hike and if you have any questions feel free to reach out to us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Have a great hike and enjoy Cedar Breaks Monument!

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An amazing hike in Southern Utah.
Amazing hiking trails in Utah.
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6 Comments

  1. Bettina on April 11, 2020 at 11:49 pm

    This hike looks so beautiful! I would love to do it while we’re in Southern Utah. I can’t believe how close we are and neither of us have heard of it before! Thanks for sharing.

    • redwhiteadventures on April 13, 2020 at 2:38 am

      Hey Bettina,

      Of course! Since you’re in Utah you have to try and make it to Cedar Breaks! Hope you enjoy it.

      -Jo

  2. Ashley on April 12, 2020 at 12:35 am

    Cedar breaks is so beautiful, I’d love to see it! Great photos and info.

    • redwhiteadventures on April 13, 2020 at 1:52 am

      Hey Ashley,

      Cedar Breaks is such an amazing National Park and very underrated! If you ever get the chance then definitely go check it out!

      -Dom

  3. Jen on April 12, 2020 at 7:02 am

    I plan on doing a road trip through Utah next year so I’ll definitely be saving this post for when I go ? beautiful photos!

    • redwhiteadventures on April 13, 2020 at 1:47 am

      Hey Jen,

      That’s awesome! Utah is so fun. I know you love hiking so think about Oregon as well! =)

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