How to Hike the Ramparts Trail in Cedar Breaks Monument

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 amphitheater. 

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. 

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!

Other related posts

• Fairyland Loop Trail – Bryce Canyon
• Angels Landing vis Scouts Lookout – Zion National Park
• 10 Epic Things to Do in Page Arizona
• The Famous HorseShoe Bend Hike
• A Day Trip From Flagstaff to The Grand Canyon

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

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.

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!

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 get in in early October before the weather gets too crazy.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

• Here are the directions
• It will take you about 45 minutes.

From Salt Lake City

• 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

• Here are the directions
• It is just under 3 hours from Page (For things to do in Page, click here.)

Before you go

Double check you have your America The Beautiful card and if you don’t you can buy one online here. 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.

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 Airbnb (click here for $62 CAD off your first stay) 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.

Other related posts

• Angels Landing vis Scouts Lookout – Zion National Park
• 10 Epic Things to Do in Page Arizona
• The Famous HorseShoe Bend Hike
• A Day Trip From Flagstaff to The Grand Canyon
• Checklist for Hikers

What to bring

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

So bring:

• Water! Especially in the summer months when Utah gets steaming hot!
• Sunscreen is a must hiking anywhere in Utah! Even if you go early in the morning.
• A camelbak (backpack for water) or a few eco friendly water bottles if you’re doing the full hike.
• Bring some food that you can snack on and will give you some energy. Dates, fruit, PB&J sandwiches, protein bars, vegetables, and smoothies are all great snacks for hiking.

We hope you enjoy this hike in southern Utah as much as we did! Ramparts trail was definitely one of our favourite due to just having the hike to ourselves. Hopefully you get as lucky as we did and can take in these awesome views. Enjoy and stay safe out there!

Have fun!

Dom & Jo

Red White Adventures

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