There are so many outdoor activities near Cedar City year-round. It’s a fairly unknown city to most but it’s definitely worth a visit if you are an outdoors lover. Keep reading for the best things to do in Cedar City!
Why go to Cedar City?
Cedar City is located in the Southwest corner of Utah, about 1 hour North of St. George. It is much less populated and definitely much less known, which is one of the reasons why I loved visiting!
There are so many things to do in Cedar City year-round. Cedar City is located close to some of the best mountains and outdoor landmarks. It is 1 hour to Zion National Park, 1.5 hours to Bryce National Park, and 1.5 hours to Kanab.
If you live in the area, you can get to some beautiful trails in less than 15 minutes. There are plenty of Cedar City hikes to choose from, as well as fun weekend adventures.
When should I go to Cedar City, Utah?
Most people will know Cedar City because of skiing nearby at Brian Head Resort. The winter scene is fun here, with active skiers and college kids from Southern Utah University. There are a lot of winter hikes nearby and restaurants stay open with the influx of tourism. Even though the other seasons are far less known, I would recommend Cedar City year-round for anyone interested in the outdoors.
Winter
In the winter, skiing is the primary activity here. Brian Head Resort is a really nice place to go skiing – it’s much cheaper than the big resorts like Park City and will be a little less crowded as well.
You can also go winter hiking at nearby parks like Bryce Canyon National Park which will be FAR less crowded in the winter vs. summer. Don’t forget to check the weather and bring microspikes if needed.
Spring
In the Spring, the weather gets a lot warmer but Cedar City is also in a location where it only gets ~5 days a month of rain.
Parks like Zion National Park are a lot better during this time. It will also be fun to explore the more local.
Finally, Spring brings some better biking weather. There are so many biking trails around Cedar City and I loved having my bike here.
Summer
The Shakespeare Festival is Cedar City’s most famous activity in the summer. Running from June to October, this festival is worth visiting even if you are not an avid Shakespeare fan.
Hiking and biking continue to be great options in the summer as well but the weather can be hot. The temperature is typically in the high 80s / low 90s in the summer.
Fall
Fall is amazing for beautiful fall foliage colors. In Cedar City, fall foliage colors typically happen in mid to late September. The Brian Head Tourism Bureau offers a weekly Fall Color Report starting September 1st.
Packing for Cedar City Hikes
If I haven’t convinced you already, one of the coolest things to do in Cedar City year-round is going on a hike. Cedar City is a great hub for the greats like Bryce and Zion but there are also many Cedar City hikes that are worthwhile. While there are outdoor stores in Cedar City, the selection isn’t as wide as you may think. It is best to buy your Cedar City hiking packing list before.
Hiking Boots / Shoes
Having the right shoes is super important. Whether you like lighter shoes like I do or a sturdier hiking boot, Hoka One One and Salomon are my go-to products. I would say that sneakers are ok for Cedar City hiking trails and you don’t necessarily need hiking boots – although they may give you more grip on rocks.
Sun Protection
Sun protection is super important out in Cedar City – especially in the summer! Here are some of my favorites
Food!
Level Foods has been my new go-to bar. I found that their bars have been better on my stomach. They are Gluten free, Dairy free, Non-GMO.
Water Storage
I personally prefer using an MSR Drom Bag because I’m fairly lazy to take water bottles out of my bag, but both options are great. Make sure to bring plenty of water on the Cedar City hiking trails because there is no fill up!
Gear for your Dog
Finally don’t forget to keep your dog safe. A lot of Cedar City hiking trails are dog friendly which is amazing 🙂 Bring plenty of water for them and put dog boots on for their paws in the summer.
5 Best Cedar City Hikes
1. Red Hollow – Cedar City
Why you should hike it: 10 minutes from the city center and great scenery of red rocks
Total Length: 3.3 miles
Dog Friendly: Yes
Hiking Tips: A great option for a go-to daily hiking routine
We hiked at Red Hollow every morning in Cedar City. It was an easy choice because of how close it is to town and how beautiful it is. Plus with it being dog friendly, it’s one of the best local Cedar City hikes!
2. Cedar Canyon Trail – Cedar City
Why you should hike it: Super easy, relaxing trail for the entire family that leads to a man-made waterfall
Total Length: 2.7 miles
Dog Friendly: Yes
Hiking Tips: Paved asphalt trail which means this Cedar City hike is wheelchair accessible!
This is a very easy trail for the dogs and the entire family. It’s fairly flat and paved. A great option for morning or post-work walks. It also leads to a man-made waterfall which is nice for a more exciting walk versus a walk around the neighborhood.
3. Spectra Point and Rampart Overlook Trails – Cedar Breaks National Monument
Why you should hike it: Dramatic cliffs and red rocks. Absolutely stunning.
Total Length: 3.7 miles
Dog Friendly: No
Hiking Tips: There is a $10 entrance fee to enter Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument is only 30 minutes from Cedar City and is across the road from Brian Head. There are a ton of beautiful hikes out here – but unfortunately they are not dog friendly.
If that is not a blocker for you, Cedar Breaks is a great choice for hiking near Cedar City as you will get more grand views of the red rock landscape with a minimal drive.
4. Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail – Zion National Park
Why you should hike it: Beautiful views of contrasting red and white rocks
Total Length: 0.9 miles
Dog Friendly: No
Hiking Tips: There is no shade on this trail either but luckily the hike is short
One of the best things to do in Cedar City is to.. get out! Cedar City is the perfect gateway to Zion National Park.
5. Spring Creek Canyon – Spring Creek Canyon Wilderness
Why you should hike it: Beautiful cliff hiking and views of St. George town
Total Length: 2.7
Dog Friendly: Yes
Hiking Tips: There are a few turns as you make your way up. Make sure you follow your maps to stay on the right trail!
6. Parowan Gap – North of Cedar City
Why you should hike it: A short walk leads you to numerous dinosaur tracks
Total Length: < 1 mile
Dog Friendly: Yes
Hiking Tips: The dinosaur tracks can be hard to find but they have staked out some track signs to help you out!
Just 30 minutes north of Cedar City is Parowan Gap. This makes for a fun half-day trip if you are looking to get out of the city but also don’t want to drive too far. There are fun dinosaur tracks that kids will love.
Other Things to do in Cedar City
Restaurants
The restaurant options in Cedar City aren’t the best, but they aren’t the worst either. There are some good standouts to try.
Bunnisa’s Thai: $
Good cheap Thai option. They have everything you could ask for – Pad Thai, a variety of curries, thai iced tea.
Erawan Thai: $
Another option for Thai. In my mind they are very very similar so it would just depend on which location is closer to you.
Bristlecone: $
The best spot for coffee in Cedar City. They also have a yoga studio here.
Tacos El Jefe: $
Surprisingly good and fairly authentic tacos right in Utah! The carne asada tacos are good. Otherwise I like the Camarones a la Diabla combo too. Be warned though, it is fairly spicy!
Mandarin: $
The only good Chinese restaurant in Cedar City. It’s surprisingly pretty good and not that “American-ized.” We ate here a couple times!
The French Spot: $$
A small footprint with some great French food options. From crepes to quiches, The French Spot makes for a good lunch option. Although it is casual, it is a little bit more pricey.
Centro Pizzeria: $$
Probably the most popular restaurant in Cedar City. They serve reasonably price better-than-Dominos pizza, and have a pretty big space in downtown Cedar City.
Explore Downtown
There is also so much to do downtown! Downtown Cedar City has fun coffee shops, antique stores and more. These are some cute stores to stop in:
- Main Street Books: Cedar City’s only independent bookstore. They have all sorts of new and used books here.
- Artisans Gallery: Going to a local art shop is one of the best things to do in Cedar City
- Frontier Homestead Museum: A bit more north of downtown is also the Frontier Homestead. There are a lot of fun hands-on activities that are great for the entire family.
What are your favorite things to do in Cedar City?
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