TOURISM HOT SPOTS

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Home to curious wildlife and bristlecone pines that have been hanging around since the last millennium, Cedar Breaks is a place where time seems to stand still — and that’s really not a bad thing. Situated about 2 miles south of the town of Brian Head, this giant amphitheater sits high atop the Markagunt Plateau and measures over 2,500 feet deep and more than 3 miles across.

The spectacular colors of Cedar Breaks are breathtaking to behold in any season, and the views only get better at night! Cedar Breaks National Monument is a designated International Dark Sky Park. This recognizes Cedar Breaks as a night sky sanctuary, the first of its kind in southwest Utah.

While the road through Cedar Breaks (Hwy. 148) is closed during winter, this doesn’t mean the monument is inaccessible. Snowmobile tours, cross-country skiing and snowshoe hikes lead visitors to a spectacular view. With a dusting of snow, the crimson formations of Cedar Breaks come alive!

Utah Shakespeare Festival

As you walk the tree-lined courtyard of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, lively music beckons like the Pied Piper. After taking your seat in the grand outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, Elizabethan-costumed actors enter the stage and, beneath the stars, you’re whisked away into a world and time outside your own.

Founded in 1961 by a young theater professor named Fred Adams, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is one of North America’s oldest and largest Shakespeare festivals. Each year, the festival presents eight plays in three theaters along with all the extra “festival experiences” — the traditions and activities that guests love.

Enjoy the free Greenshow, backstage tours, repertory magic, play orientations, seminars and more before sitting down for a stunning performance. The festival season runs from mid-June to early October.

BRIAN HEAD RESORT & TOWN

The best snow on Earth, a family environment and stunning views make Brian Head Resort ideal for everyone. Covering over 650 acres, the resort has two connected mountains, Giant Steps and Navajo, which offer 71 runs and eight chair lifts, two of which are high-speed quads.

Outside the resort, rent snowshoes at Georg’s Ski Shop and explore the surrounding Dixie National Forest or take a guided snowmobile tour through the forest to unique views of Cedar Breaks National Monument from the High Mountain Overlook before traversing the meadows into the monument itself.

During the summer months, entertain your inner adrenaline junkie with a zipline, scenic chairlift rides, disc golf or alpine tubing. The summer season is short but sweet, and the mountain biking in Brian Head is not to be missed. Fly down gravity-fed flow trails in the lift-serviced mountain bike park or enjoy scenic backcountry trails with the help of a local shuttle service.