July 12, 2016
This year I finally planned right for the Cedar Breaks National Monument Wildflower Festival. Tis the season for meadows to explode with color in the high country. So get ready for some more wildflowers because Widforss and Big Basin just weren’t enough.
From the hell heat of Kanab to 10,000+ feet (3048 m) with a brisk wind and jacket needing temperatures the day was filled with contrasts and sensory overload.
The drive north on SR89 always seems to lead Bill and I to someplace beautiful. Hard to loose through Utah’s red-rock country and white cliffs. Road cuts tell a complex geologic story. Plus it’s always a good excuse to stop at the German Bakery in Orderville for breakfast where they make the most delicious assortment of pastries.
Then SR14 winds through forests, meadows, and lava flows which I got better shots of on the return drive. Some roads are just to busy to stop along.
Scarlet Paintbrush, Markagunt Penstemon & Pretty Cinquefoil
Had barely entered Cedar Breaks on SR143 north and had to stop for the first field of flowers. Lush green meadows scattered with dots of brilliant and subtle colors. The wind caused those blooming stalks to dip and dance.
Scarlet Paintbrush
Next stop, the entrance station where I finally bought my Geezer Senior Pass. It’s likely this $10 for life pass will cost more in the near future for 62-year old US citizens.
The Visitor Center is a quaint little log cabin built by the CCC during the 1930s when they also constructed roads, scenic overlooks, and other facilities at Cedar Breaks. I bought a book about 65 Utah byways for backcountry drives. We’ve done a few and I’m looking forward to more.
Aspen Bluebell & Scarlet Paintbrush
Was given a flower list and thankfully many of the flowers around the Visitor Center were labeled. We missed the Ranger guided wildflower hike yet managed to see quite a bit on our own.
The view is to die for from the Point Supreme overlook at 10,350 feet (3154 m). And we did see one artist from the Plein Air Art Event painting both flowers and the view.
Sulpher Buckwheat, Aspen Bluebell & Southern Ligusticum
I’d truly hoped to see more Columbine. Best shot because I wouldn’t think of walking on the flowers and didn’t see them anywhere else.
Southern Ligusticum & Colorado Columbine
We drove to the end of the 6 mile road to North View overlook and were greeted by shades of orange and beige rock carved into fantasy figures of stone. The steady southwest wind felt more than brisk along the rim at 10,435 feet (3180 m).
Silvery Lupine
Then stopped for flowers on the way back. Still windy moving the flowers about but not quite as chilly.
I got really lost in this field of lupine, meadow, forest and a cabin. We were right on the edge of the monument boundary. Can you imagine living with this kind of view? Would be buried under snow in winter.
Plus 11,000 foot (3352 m) Brian Head for a backdrop.
Towering trees, not all living, lined the colorful meadows. Fresh sharp smell in the air like a blend of pepper, syrup, and lemon.
Another amazing view of Cedar Breaks’ rocky amphitheater from Chessman Ridge Overlook at 10,460 ft (3188 m).
Someone left their mark, at least it’s removable.
Back out of the monument on SR14 we stopped for a clear view of a cinder cone and young lava flow from only 1,000 to 5,000 years ago. It’s interesting to see how the forest grows out of this coarse looking rock. Mammoth Cave lava tubes can be explored nearby yet we had no lights so must return a different time without Sasha along.
Navajo Lake is a product of this volcanic activity. Water flows underground through old lave tubes sometimes popping up to the surface in rivers and springs. The lake feeds two different watersheds—south into the Colorado River and east into the Great Basin. During the 1930s, the CCC built a dike across the lake to maintain water levels for recreation.
Stopped at the Duck Creek Visitor Center which I suspect could be CCC built. A map and signboard showed lots of camping opportunities in the Dixie National Forest. Three feeders on the porch must need constant filling with so many hummingbirds ferociously flying about. Very difficult to photograph especially under a shady porch overhang.
I saw a few people fishing in Duck lake across the road. But there’s not much to see in the town of Duck Valley except real-estate businesses. We drove through looking for a place to eat with absolutely no luck as everything was closed except the hardware store.
Before too long we could see red rock again and turned off SR14 before SR89 for a short cut through Stout Canyon.
I don’t know why some of you are having problems posting a comment. I’ve tried to figure it out with Google’s help and no luck. I’m open to suggestions. If you can’t sign in please leave your name in the comment so I know who you are instead of Anonymous. Thanks for your patience and persistence.
My wife and I plus two Siberian Huskies visited the wildflowers their two weeks ago. We were camping in Red Canyon and the heat was too much for us and the dogs so we traveled up to Ceder Breaks for a break in the temperature. It was a beautiful 70 degrees, 20 cooler than at camp.
We had no idea about the wildflowers until we got there. What a bonus! We’ve been there before but only in the Spring or Fall. It’s just stunning to see all the color and beautiful blooms. We hiked from the visitor center to the Ceder Breaks Campground (1/2 mile trail) with the dogs through hills and meadows of wonderful blooms. Definitely gets two thumbs and eight paws up from us.
We were probably there on the same day Lew. It was sure a lot cooler than Red Canyon would have been. I almost felt like I should have been singing in the middle of one of those meadows. But no one would want to hear that. 😉
We absolutely loved Cedar Breaks when we were there in 2011. Although taking a big rig down is pretty harrowing. Your pictures of the flowers, especially the first one with you in it are just beautiful, the one from Point Supreme is amazing as are the views of the amphitheater. What color!! I’m glad they are raising the Senior pass price as long as ALL the money goes to the parks and not to administrative costs. Seems to me most of us could pay considerably more as a one time fee or even an annual fee since our Congress chooses to keep cutting the part of our taxes that supports our National Parks. Makes me seriously angry.
Thanks Sherry. I still don’t feel real good at selfies and Bill was sitting in the truck. SR14 sure isn’t for sissies. But I do love that drive. Agree the Senior Pass should cost more but I wanted to take advantage of the lower price. Also agree that Congress should support the parks more. It’s a very small % of our taxes that to to the parks.
Beautiful flowers and surrounding area. I have been trying to comment for the past hour but there seems to be a problem – again!!! Hope this will work now but not sure what I have done different! Take care Diane & Nigel, all the best to Bill.
Thank you for your persistence. I just don’t know what to do about this comment problem. I’ve Googled to no avail.
We loved Cedar Breaks! Our first attempt to visit was met with closed gates down the road and wall of snow in June. Our second attempt was late Oct and everything was closed but the NM was still open which was fine for us. We really enjoyed the trails here. Glad you got there for the wildflowers and some cooler temps:) The lupines sure do make all the drives spectacular.
They do have a short season at 10,000 feet. Ours was just a day trip, and with Sasha along that meant no hiking. But the flowers were spectacular.
You certainly timed it right for the flowers. We, too, loved Cedar Breaks. A nice “break” from the heat at lower elevations.
It’s such a sweet little monument and certainly a break from Kanab’s heat. Although Bill had to put a coat on. 😉
Looks like a wonderful time up in the cooler elevations. You bought your senior pass??? Nooooo:) I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford that pass if it goes up in price:) That’s one of the coolest benefits of being a US citizen…..an affordable life long park pass. It doesn’t get better than that! Anyhow, glad you were able to get out and have some fun. Although, I think you have fun everyday over there:) But it’s nice to have couple and alone time away from the crowds. Do the pastries have some ham and cheese options? Sounds delish:)
It’s me! Chris….I’m not anonymous but it won’t let me put in my name:)
Thanks for your persistence Chris. Others having the same problem and I don’t know what to do. Yep, bought that pass only three months after turning 62. Life, as you know, is about having fun, otherwise why bother. 😉 There are meat and cheese options on fresh baked bread.
So beautiful Gaelyn. The most beautiful wildflowers i ever saw were in the mountains above Denver someplace (our son drove us in his Jeep — I’m not even sure where we were) but they were marvelous. These pictures look very much like that area — I just love them. Thanks for the share.
Thanks Sallie. I’ve really been sucking up the wildflowers recently, with more to come. Spring/summer may come later in the mountains but puts on the most marvelous shows.
Gorgeous photos of the flowers and landscape.
Now to test to see if it will post my name. If not, I am Marilyn from Dania Beach, FL.
It won’t let me fill in the name. I hope I can submit.
Thank you Marilyn, for your compliment and persistence commenting. I am at a loss why you and others can’t leave a name.
Beautiful flowers and beautiful views!
Cedar Breaks is special, and not so overly visited.
Really, really enjoyed these photos, commentary, and info. Just moved back to Henderson, NV, after living in Alaska for 30 years. Spent a lot of my younger life backpacking & rafting in Southern Urah & Grand Canyon. Have been dying to return & show my grandson around. I just needed a refresher to regain my bearings. Plus…things have changed! Great job & much appreciated. Chris Hodges
Thank you. Must be culture and weather shock from AK to NV. Have fun sharing the SW with your grandson.