.jpg "Road to Cedar Breaks NM UT")
Much like driving up to the North Rim of Grand Canyon through spruce-fir forest and subalpine meadows dotted with wildflowers, it’s hard to believe there could be anything called the Cedar Breaks National Monument Amphitheater..jpg "Historic Visitor Center Cedar Breaks NM UT")
Built in 1937 by the CCCFirst stop, the visitor center to get my Jr. Ranger book. I collect badges and always promise to do all the activities. (By different ages, kids usually only do a few pages.) I attended an excellent Ranger program about our first impressions of wildlife, specifically the Golden Marmot (which I saw briefly) and a weasel.
.jpg "View W Cedar Breaks NM UT")
View west towards Cedar City, UtahThen I walked .8 mile (1.3 km) out to Point Supreme, elevation 10,350 feet (3155 meters). And even though it’s a short and level trail I could feel the thin air. The amphitheater is more than 2,000 feet (610 meters) deep and at least 3 miles (4.8 km) in diameter.
.jpg "View NW Cedar Breaks NM UT")
View northwestMagnificent! I leaned on the smooth wood rail to absorb the view of stone spires and columns in layers of colors from the iron and manganese in the limestone deposited about 70 million years ago in a lake bed. I wondered what the environment looked like then.
.jpg "Looking into Cedar Breaks NM UT")
What a pleasant surprise when Gary settled in next me. He and wife Sue were my neighbors in 2008 on the North Rim and now he works at Cedar Breaks. He pointed out this arch..jpg "Arch in canyon Cedar Breaks NM UT")
I spotted this arch, can you?I didn’t get any farther into Cedar Breaks National Monument but returned the next day.
That's it, booking my ticket to Utah NOW. I so miss the SW. Sigh.
Awesome! I remember seeing some of this scenery in person…it took my breath away!
Sunny 🙂
Fantastic shots, Gaelyn! Not that I'm surprised as yours are always marvelous! What a gorgeous place and, yes, I did spot the arch! Great world you've got there!
Have a great week!
Sylvia
Cool place, Gaelyn. I saw the arch but had to look closely to see it. 🙂
Gaelyn: I love all the views from this park.
How nice… the road is your home and the country is your back yard. Nice arrangement!
WOW! What natural beauty.
Such awesome beauty in your backyard, Gaelyn, formidable!
I got vertigo just looking at your fab. pictures, you'd have to tie me down I would so want to fly.
Incredible, stunning, out of this world and I have no adjectives to adequately describe these.
Ooooh! Breathtaking shots, makes me want to be there. You are very lucky… home, daily life, work place all around these lovely spots.
Oh, my. How gorgeous … spectacular. Thank you! (You are lucky!)
What a beautiful place and your photos and descriptions do so much to show us your part of this beautiful world. Thank you Gaelyn.
Smiles
Fabulous views of the landscapes. You live in wonderful part of the world of these lovely formations.
Nice photos and thanks for sharing your blog.
Hello Gaelyn, first of all, I like your "home is where I park it"..And I never get tired of seeing these majestic views. You are so close to nature. I look forward to the next posts!
The first picture is awesome, I can see why you chose it for this post. And the arches? wonderful. I didn't know you saw Gary, what a pleasant surprise.
Gaelyn, this is another of your fabulous places that makes me wish I could still make use or air travel. Thank you for showing us, at least I can see a little this way.
Beautiful, majestic scenery. How great to live there!
Janice.
gosh! what beautiful sceneries you captured. they are really breathtaking.
The American West is so stunningly gorgeous, yet in parts bleak like a moonscape. When the pioneers left the fertile midwest to cross the Rockies, they can't have been too thrilled to see all these rocks. Absolutely beautiful.
I really enjoyed your photo tour of Cedar Breaks. Those dark green trees contrast so beautifully with the orange toned earth and the arch is awesome!
What a life! Had I been younger and had the chance I would have liked to travel more than I do now!
I love your posts. What a magnificent place to be. Spectacular shots!
You live the coolest life! What gorgeous photos and terrific narration. Nice job, Gaelyn!
Awesome photos of the southwest!
I see the arch!
We only visited Cedar Breaks once, many years ago, but I remember how beautiful and magnificent the amphitheatre is.
Those pictures take my breath away. Beautiful brown country!
Wow – very dramatic scenery. Seems very unspoilt too.
Magnificent hardly describes these spectacular views. How lovely to meet up with old friends too.
You really must have some of the most magnificent , dramatic scenery in the world. It makes ours look really tame!
Great photography.
The sky and wildflowers are so pretty in that first photo!
Oh my goodness – those columns are just amazing!!
Gorgeous photos Gaelyn! That cloud in the fist photo is very cool!
This is my favorite place on the planet. Honestly. I love the Bryce Canyon-like amphitheater on one side and the alpine meadows on the other. We go here EVERY year to take pictures of our kids in the wildflowers. When were you there????? We were there Tuesday, August 4, this year.