Cedar Canyon
Region: Zion & Southwest Utah | Land Manager: U.S. Forest Service (Dixie National Forest) | Cost: Free
Cedar Breaks National Monument, near the Cedar Canyon area. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Cedar Canyon climbs east out of Cedar City on Highway 14, toward Cedar Breaks National Monument, with dispersed camping tucked into the pines well above the desert heat below. It's a solid basecamp for Cedar Breaks, Brian Head, or an early start into the high plateau country.
Quick Facts
| Distance from Cedar City | About 10-15 miles east on Highway 14 |
| Road & Clearance | Paved highway with graded dirt spurs to dispersed sites; most spurs suit any vehicle |
| Rig Suitability | Tents, vans, and most RVs |
| Amenities | None at dispersed sites |
| Cell Signal | Limited |
| Best Season | Summer through fall; elevation brings an early snow season |
| Stay Limit | 14 days |
Map
Getting There
From Cedar City, head east on Highway 14 into Cedar Canyon. Dispersed pull-offs and spur roads branch off the highway as it climbs, with more options the further you get from town.
What to Expect
Ponderosa pine forest and canyon walls replacing the desert scenery of the valley floor, with genuinely cool nights even in mid-summer thanks to the elevation. It's a convenient, scenic basecamp for exploring Cedar Breaks National Monument or Brian Head further up the highway.
Good to Know
The high elevation here means an early start to winter, don't count on access much past fall without checking current conditions. Cedar City makes a good supply stop before heading up, since amenities thin out fast once you're in the canyon.
Cool, high-elevation nights are more comfortable with a power setup that can run a heater without draining your battery bank. See what an off-grid power system looks like