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Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Cedar Breaks National
Monument!
Experience the Spectacular Canyon Country Tour
Stay in Mt. Carmel Jct., the heart of the parks, and visit
the treasures of the Southwest.
Mileage: Mount Carmel Jct.
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Zion National Park 12 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
South Canyon 75 miles
Plan your Cedar Breaks Vacation with our Utah
Maps and Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Cedar
Breaks National Monument. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps,
pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds
and things for kids to do.
Making summer memories in the Utah national parks and Utah
national monuments.
Utah!
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Cedar
Breaks Road Map
Cedar Mountain Map
Directions to Cedar Breaks
U-143 Closure
Dates. U-143 to Cedar Breaks closes at times in the winter, due to snow depth.
From Las Vegas: Take I-15 north to Cedar City. Take U-14 east
from Cedar City to U-148 and turn left to Cedar Breaks.
From Arizona: Take US-89 north through Mount Carmel Junction and turn west on
U-14. Turn right at U-148 to Cedar Breaks.
From Salt Lake City: Take I-15 south, exit at Parowan. Take U-143 to Cedar Breaks.
From Mount Carmel Junction: Take US-89 north to U-14. Follow U-14 to U-143 and
Cedar Breaks.
The Bartizan Arch at Cedar Breaks is off the beaten path, but certainly worth the effort to get there.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Trailhead
37°36.716 N
112°50.260 W
Spectra Point
37°36.652 N
112°50.699 W
Rampart Viewpoint
37°36.825 N
112°51.256 W
Shooting Star Creek Cascade
37°36.842 N
112°51.703 W
Bartizan Arch:
37°36.951 N
112 51.799 W
Bartizan Summit:
37°37.018 N
112°51.769 W
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo Beck and www.zionnational-park author, Tanya Milligan.
Suggested Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend for canyoneering in Zion . Quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced Zion hikers and canyoneers like the Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
To offer corrections, updates, etc... or for more information please visit the Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks Forum
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Shooting Star Creek and Bartizan Arch
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Most of the trails and view points at Cedar Breaks tend to congregate around the amphitheater, but this route will take you off the beaten path to see a small but unique triple arch called Bartizan Arch. The rarely seen structure was named for the lofty promontory that stretches out toward the western boundary. Along the way hikers will also get a glimpse of the stair-stepped cascade of Shooting Star Creek as it splashes down a vertical rim-rock sending water on its way into the riparian void far below.
At a Glance
Photo Album: Photos
Trail Maps: Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: 4.5 miles round-trip.
Average Hiking Time: 4 hours round-trip.
Equipment: Bring 2 -3 liters of water per person, sunscreen, supportive hiking shoes, sun protective clothing, emergency supplies.
Difficulty: Strenuous hiking.
Sun Exposure: You will be in full sun most of the hike.
Trail Usage: The trail will be well traveled to the end of the Ramparts Trail, but then few venture beyond that section of the path where the trek becomes more of a route-finding adventure.
Permits: Not required.
Trail Conditions: The long dirt path has several elevation changes and you will be required to do some route finding in a forested area.
Trailhead: Cedar Breaks Visitor Center parking lot.
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Trail Access: Check road conditions before heading to the monument in the fall and winter. U-148 closes in the winter, but the Monument remains open to cross country skiers and snowmobiles. Snowmobiles are limited to roads. Highways are not plowed after the first large snowfall, which may occur as early as October. Normally the roads open again in May.
Best Season: This route is best done in the summer or fall before winter storms make hiking hazardous near the creek and arch.
Elevation Loss and Gain: 700 feet
Trailhead - Begin at the parking area where the toll booth and Visitor Center are located. Spectra Point and the Ramparts Trail share the same trailhead and trail. From the parking area the path ascends a short distance north, leading to the rim, then skirts the edge of the canyon to the southwest as it approaches some water tanks and then descends to Spectra Point. Do a quick jaunt to Spectra Point for an amazing view into the depths of Cedar Breaks and then backtrack a short distance to the Ramparts Trail and walk westerly as the path continues to descend until its end.
Trailhead - Begin at the parking area where the toll booth and Visitor Center are located. Spectra Point and the Ramparts Trail share the same trailhead and trail. From the parking area the path ascends a short distance north, leading to the rim, then skirts the edge of the canyon to the southwest as it approaches some water tanks and then descends to Spectra Point. Do a quick jaunt to Spectra Point for an amazing view into the depths of Cedar Breaks and then backtrack a short distance to the Ramparts Trail and walk westerly as the path continues to descend until its end.
Shooting Star Creek - From the end of the Rampart Trail, continue west, staying near the rim for about a quarter of a mile. When the terrain becomes steeper, bear left, leaving the rim and heading into the vegetation. The creek will be on your left as you head downward through the thick vegetation. Chose your path carefully, picking the clearest route through the foliage. Travel will be downhill in a southwest direction, descending toward the creek. Do not go all the way into the bottom of Shooting Star Creek, instead bear to the right and contour above the drainage bottom. Choose the easiest path to follow downstream as it approaches the rim until arriving at the 40 foot high spillover. You will have hiked almost 2 miles at this point. Be cautious approaching the edge where the limestone is unstable. Whenever rock is wet it is even more apt to break, but wet or dry, avoid getting too close to the rim. Walk to the north side of the cascade for a good place to see the multi-stepped waterfall. The water should be running most of the year after a high snowfall season, but it may dry up in the late summer or fall.
Bartizan Arch - From the cascade hunt for a game trail that leads farther west-north- west. This path will drop in and climb out of several small drainages. The Bartizan is the peak at the end of the ridge that resembles a turret, visible about .2 miles from the cascade. You should be able to see the southern side of the structure and a short distance to the south or left of the high point, poised on the rim edge, you should be able to identify two arcs of the arch. There is a small third arc but it is only visible from the backside. The best area to get photos is near the Shooting Star cascade, however all three arc's cannot be seen from there. Scramble toward the arches, being careful while traversing the loose limestone scree slopes. From the arch bear north to arrive atop the Bartizan. There are flat areas there offering shade, making an ideal spot to eat lunch and relax as well as to take unique shots of the amphitheater from a different perspective before the mostly uphill return trip. Return the same way you came.
This article by Bo and Tanya was published in the Today in Dixie Magazine
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