Schwieterman Summer Adventure Series 2025: Part Six – Cedar Breaks Monument, UT
Reading over our list of possible adventures, my husband and I prioritized our options and decided on a game plan for the day. Though I thoroughly enjoy my detailed, printed binder containing the pre-planned itinerary for each day (time, miles, where to eat, what to see, etc.), I also enjoyed the last-minute brainstorming session and coming up with a plan together. Perhaps future trips will employ a little bit of both of these methods. Variations to the itinerary typically make for the best memories!
We had a full day before us as we set off with our travel companions. (We were still vacationing with Daddy’s brother and his family.) We started with Frontier Homestead State Park Museum which provides a window to the past. It houses an impressive collection of stagecoaches and covered wagons, farming implements, and structures of a pioneer settlement.
Next up, Cedar Breaks National Monument. The weather at the Visitor Center and Point Supreme overlook were quite chilly, the temps dropped about 15-degrees as we climbed in elevation to over 10,000 ft. With the higher elevations, we didn’t allow our Trachie to spend anytime off the ventilator (sprinting), and we even used the higher vent settings to give her as much support as possible. The sights at the monument are very similar to Bryce Canyon with a fraction of the people. We continued north to the trailhead for the Alpine Pond for a beautiful 1-mile hike at 10,500 feet elevation. The Ponderosa pines and wildflowers made for a delightful hike. I must admit that I had a bit of a headache and felt a little disoriented after the hike, which I’m assuming was altitude sickness. After recharging the electrolytes, we continued north to Brian Head Peak. This was an incredible memory! You can drive all the way to the top of the mountain, an elevation of 11,307 feet. The views of the mountain town below and the neighboring peaks in the distance was truly breathtaking. We could see the smoke from two active wildfires in the distance as well. Be sure to bring a hoodie on this remarkable adventure. Next we hit the North View Overlook for Cedar Breaks, which, in my opinion, boasts the best views of the park, and Sunset View Overlook on our way back south.
It had already been a full day of sightseeing, and it was only 2:00 PM. Our stomachs reminded us that it was lunchtime, so we found a cute diner (Aunt Sue’s Chalet) in Duck Creek Village before heading out for more exploration. If you are into side-by-side/ATV destinations, definitely look into this town! Our next adventure was part of that spur of the moment planning. Just outside of Duck Creek, within the Dixie National Forest is Cascade Falls Trailhead. Unfortunately, the waterfall was dry, but we decided to still embark on the 1.2-mile out-and-back hike. It boasts stunning views overlooking the Markagunt Plateau. Though it starts in a lush pine forest, for the most part, the trail hugs the edge of a cliff. This waterfall has a fascinating source! It is fed by a sinkhole in Navajo Lake which travels through a lava tube and escapes from a cave on the side of a mountain. Since there was no water running, we were able to see into the lava tube cave. It was a very unique experience and a beautiful hike despite the dry falls.
We had seen the Navajo Lake from Hwy 14 twice now on our travels, and we were ready to get up close and personal with the clear mountain water. On our route, we came across a pasture of hundreds of sheep, who were congregating by the roadside where their shepherd was watering them. It was a first for us and as farmers, we truly appreciated the experience. Once we found a place to park, the older girls sprinted to the lake to splash in the cool water.
It was a very full and very memorable day. The entire week in Utah had been a remarkable adventure. The following day, it was time to say goodbye to our California family and turn our camper to the East. Although, our journey wasn’t over just yet!
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