Why Cedar Breaks is a Great Alternative to Bryce Canyon

On a recent trip to Zion National Park, my intention was to head on to Bryce Canyon National Park.  But, there were a few problems with this scenario: 1) I had my dog with me, & Bryce only has one dog-friendly walking trail; 2) Bryce was going to be a major detour from my next stop in Park City, & 3) The hotels in & around Bryce seemed over-priced & not really worth the money.  Sooo…I had to figure out a Plan B!  Enter: Cedar Breaks National Monument, which is just a few miles outside of Brian Head, Utah.  Below, I’ll get into the top reasons “Why Cedar Breaks is a Great Alternative to Bryce Canyon.“

Cedar Breaks is a good choice if you can’t make it all the way to Bryce Canyon ~ especially if you’re traveling with a dog!

Map of Cedar Breaks & Bryce Canyon

Cedar Breaks is located off I-15, near Brian Head.  It’s basically due north of Zion National Park ~ with Bryce Canyon being further east of both, off Highway 89. 

• How Far Apart are Zion & Bryce Canyon? = 119 miles (by US 89), just over 3 hours driving non-stop.  
• How Far Apart are Zion & Cedar Breaks? = 54 miles (by I-15), a one-hour drive.  
• How Far Apart are Cedar Breaks & Bryce Canyon? = 84 miles (by UT-14), a 2 hours & 30-minute drive non-stop.

Why Cedar Breaks is a Great Alternative to Bryce Canyon

Here are the top 5 reasons why Cedar Breaks is a great alternative to Bryce Canyon:

1.  Because It’s Less Crowded: Over 1.5 million people visit Bryce Canyon every year; a few hundred thousand visit Cedar Breaks.  In July, I found a parking spot across from the Visitor’s Center at Cedar Breaks, no problem.  Good luck with that at Bryce ~ or Zion, for that matter.  At Zion, the parking lot in July was routinely full by 8AM.  So for less crowds & less stress in general, head to Cedar Breaks. 

2. Because It’s Easier to Get To: Of the three parks, Bryce Canyon is by far the hardest to reach: Zion & Cedar Breaks are both within 25 miles of I-15.  Whether you’re coming from Vegas or Salt Lake, these are the easier driving options.  Bryce adds an extra 5-hour round-trip from I-15, & works best if you’re also visiting Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is also out east, off 89.

3) Because It’s More Pet-Friendly: Technically, there’s only one pet-friendly trail at each park ~ at Bryce, Rim Trail is pet-friendly (if you can find parking), & at Cedar Breaks, Campground Trail is pet-friendly.  I didn’t realize this when I visited, & took my pup with me to most major viewpoints near the Visitor’s Center.  No one said a word.  With less people in the park, having a dog just didn’t seem like an issue.  And the town of Brian Head is also relaxed & very pet-friendly, with plenty of walking trails & hills to hike.

Bryce Canyon (pictured here) is known for its eerie “hoodoos” ~ which are tall, skinny shafts of rock, caused by erosion. But here’s the good news: Cedar Breaks has them too!

4) Cedar Breaks is Cheaper than Bryce Canyon: $7 Entrance Fee at Cedar Breaks vs. $35 Entrance Fee at Bryce Canyon, per vehicle.  Note: the Annual National Park Pass will get you into either of these parks for free.  

5) More Reasonable Accommodations near Cedar Breaks: There are only a few hotels right in Bryce Canyon (including Best Western’s Ruby Lodge), but the problem is: in the summer, they’re usually booked in advance & are pricey ($200+/night).  And many of these options are quite run-down: which means you’re paying a lot for mediocre accommodations.  In Brian Head, on the other hand, summer is low season…so hotel prices are at rock bottom.  I stayed in the lovely Best Western Premier Hotel & Spa for $70/night in July ~ & it was 100% pet-friendly!  They even let me bring Dylan into the upstairs bar to get some work done while waiting for my room.

Why Cedar Breaks is a Great Alternative to Bryce Canyon

Here are some photos of Cedar Breaks National Monument….Dylan included ; )

Forest meets red rocks & hoodoos…

There are multiple, amazing viewpoints along Hwy 148, which runs right along Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Most all of the paths in & around Cedar Breaks are pet-friendly, & many of them are wide & paved ~ making for easy walking.

Some say that the colors at Cedar Breaks are more vivid than at Bryce Canyon, particularly at sunset.

The highest point at Cedar Breaks, right past the Visitor’s Center: Point Supreme.

The campgrounds at Cedar Breaks are a beautiful spot for a picnic, & back up to a huge meadow with long, long views.

Dylan was too afraid to go out to the main viewpoint area, so he happily stayed behind at the fence!

Why Cedar Breaks is a Great Alternative to Bryce Canyon

Essentially, the main reason you’ll want to visit Bryce over Cedar Breaks is, 1) If you’ve got plenty of time on your hands & don’t mind extra drive time; or 2) If you’re planning to do a lot of hiking and/or other adventures, as Bryce is larger & offers more hiking options.  But there are still great hikes at Cedar Breaks, which you can find here ~ & ATV’ing is also massively popular in & around Brian Head in the summer! 

Bottom Line: If you’re someone who just wants to spend an hour or two admiring the view & walking a trail or two, then Cedar Breaks is your best option.

xoxo Noelia & Dylan

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