Winter is descending on Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. This shot is from 2017/NPS file
Winter has officially arrived at Cedars Breaks National Monument, where a snowstorm has prompted the Utah Department of Transportation to close the main road that accesses the colorful monument.
The closure of Highway 148 through the park on November 9 marks the end of one of the busiest seasons at the national monument in recent years. This summer saw 673,806 people visit the park vs. 498,974 people during the summer of 2019.
High visitation was driven by record numbers in September and October.
“We are happy more and more people continue to discover the wonder of Cedar Breaks,” said Superintendent Kathleen Gonder. “We were especially happy to welcome so many first-time visitors and campers in a safe and responsible way this summer.”
How busy was the summer at Cedar Breaks? The Point Supreme Campground hosted 6,429 campers in 2020, far exceeding the 2019 total of 4,032.
Winter access map for Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Although Highway 148 is closed, the park remains open. Vehicles can access the northern side of the park via Highway 143, which will remain open throughout the winter but may close temporarily during and immediately after heavy snowstorms and periods of blowing snow.
For up-to-date road conditions, visit the Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) website at ww.udottraffic.utah.gov or call 511 in state, or 866-511-UTAH (8824) out of state.
As the snow continues to build, the scenic park road through the park will be transformed into a marked and groomed snowmobile route. The rest of the park will become a winter playground for those on snowshoes and skis. Keep in mind there are no visitor services in the park at this time.
Snowmobiles are only permitted on the marked, groomed path through the park. Staying on the marked path ensures a safe and enjoyable recreational experience for visitors while protecting park resources such as plants and wildlife. Additional details will be released once snow coverage is enough to establish the snowmobile route.
Comments
My wife and I were at Cedar Breaks in November 1974 when the first snow of the season occurred. Except for another NPS couple who were visiting at the same time, we were the only people in the park that day. What made it even more interesting is my wife was 9 months pregnant at the time and we were four hours from Las Vegas where our second daughter was born. We will always remember hiking around in the snow at 10,000 ft elevation. It was beautiful!