Cedar Breaks is about 209 miles and three hours 50 minutes from downtown Provo, and Brian Head about 201 miles and three and a half hours, by an OpenStreetMap routing estimate (OSRM, no traffic) from Center Street and University Avenue. The route is I-15 south almost all the way, then State Route 143 from Parowan up the mountain, through the town of Brian Head, to the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument at more than 10,000 feet.
In July, the meadows on that rim bloom, and the park holds a festival for it. In winter, Brian Head is a ski weekend, which our Brian Head ski guide covers. This page is the summer version: a long day or one night, the flowers, the rim, and the lifts that run for mountain bikers and hikers instead of skiers.
Why it is worth almost four hours
Cedar Breaks is an amphitheater of eroded rock below a high meadow rim, with hoodoos and colored cliffs that recall Bryce. You drive along the rim on SR-148, stop at the overlooks, and walk short trails through meadows and forest. The cost is the drive, a $25 car pass and a willingness to deal with thin air and afternoon storms. It is one stop on our statewide summer list.
What makes it a summer trip: the rim is above 10,000 feet, far cooler than the valley in July. Brian Head sells its summer the same way, with the line "Escape the Heat at 10,000 feet."
What it costs
| Pass | Price (NPS) |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle, 7 days | $25 |
| Motorcycle, 7 days | $20 |
| Per person, on foot or bike | $15 (15 and under free) |
| Cedar Breaks annual | $45 |
America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Brian Head's summer activities are sold separately by the resort, as individual activity, all-day activity or downhill biking tickets.
The wildflower festival
The 2026 Wildflower Festival ran July 3 to 11. The Park Service schedule:
- Ranger-led wildflower walks: daily at 10:30 a.m., plus 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Usually under a mile; trailhead varies. Free, but you register in person at the Cedar Breaks Visitor Center desk.
- Ranger talks: daily at 1:30 p.m. at Point Supreme Overlook.
- Booths: Fridays and Saturdays on the visitor center plaza at Point Supreme.
- Wildflower bingo: pick up a sheet at the visitor center; a full card earns a festival sticker.
- "Blooms of the Breaks" art contest: entries emailed July 1 to 31, in youth and general categories.
The 2027 dates were not posted when we checked. Expect early-to-mid July, and watch the park's site in spring.
If you cannot go during the festival, July is still the month to aim for. Sign-up for the walks is in person only, so get to the visitor center early in the day.
The rim: overlooks and short trails
SR-148 runs along the rim with three main overlooks the Park Service names: Point Supreme, by the visitor center; Sunset View; and Chessman Ridge. North View Overlook is on SR-143 at the north end.
Two trails suit a wildflower day, with AllTrails figures:
| Trail | Length | Climb | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Pond Trail | 2.2-mile loop | About 200 ft | Easy; forest, meadows and a pond |
| Spectra Point and Ramparts Overlook (South Rim Trail) | 3.9 miles out and back | About 830 ft | Moderate; follows the rim edge |
At this altitude, a 3.9-mile walk feels longer than it would in Rock Canyon. Go in the morning: the Park Service warns that lightning storms are common and dangerous, especially in the afternoon, and tells hikers to check the forecast and be ready to turn back.
The Point Supreme Campground is open seasonally, weather permitting, from June to mid-September.
Brian Head in summer
Brian Head's resort says it sits at 10,000 feet and runs a summer season with lifts open for sightseers and bikers. In 2026:
- Summer operations began Friday, June 12, with daily lift access from June 26 to August 30.
- Scenic lift rides on the Giant Steps Express, with a view down to Cedar Breaks.
- Vista Trail: ride Giant Steps up, then hike the 3-mile trail down through aspens.
- Mountain biking: what the resort describes as more than 100 miles of downhill singletrack, lift-served, with bike rentals at the base and a free kids' mountain bike pass offered.
- Disc golf: 18 holes, starting from the top of the lift.
- Adventure Zone, Thursday through Sunday in peak summer: the Peak Shot bungee trampoline, a climbing wall, a 300-foot mini zip line, and "Avalanche" summer tubing.
Prices were posted on ticket pages we did not read in full, so they are not listed here. If you ski, the resort's 2026-27 winter season opens November 6; see our ski guide for that.
How the day works from Utah Valley
The long day trip:
- 6:30 a.m. Leave Provo. I-15 south, with a fuel stop at Scipio or Beaver.
- 10:15 a.m. Up SR-143 from Parowan, through Brian Head, to Cedar Breaks. Sign up for a ranger walk if it is festival week, or walk Alpine Pond.
- 12:30 p.m. Lunch at the Point Supreme picnic area or in Brian Head.
- 1:30 p.m. Brian Head lift ride and the Vista Trail, or the Adventure Zone with kids. Watch the sky; the Park Service says afternoon lightning is common up here.
- 4:00 p.m. Down to I-15 and home around 8.
The overnight is the better trip. Sleep in Brian Head, Parowan or Cedar City, catch the rim at sunset and again in the morning, and you can do both trails without racing the clouds. Cedar City is also where our Zion and St. George guide suggests breaking the drive, and Bryce is a reasonable add from here; see our Bryce Canyon guide.
Closer wildflowers: if four hours each way is too much, Utah Valley's own high meadows bloom in mid-summer too; our Wasatch wildflower hikes guide and the Alpine Loop guide cover the ones within an hour.
What is open now, and what closes
From the Park Service's current conditions page, updated October 17, 2026:
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| SR-148 through the monument | Open (closes mid-November to mid-May on average) |
| SR-143 at the north end | Open (open almost year-round) |
| Overlooks and trails | Open; expect mud |
| Visitor center, park store, Human History Museum | Closed for the season (mid-October to late May) |
| Restrooms | Flush toilets closed; vault toilets at Point Supreme Picnic Area, not serviced in the off season |
| Point Supreme Campground | Closed (June to mid-September) |
| Point Supreme Picnic Area | Open, first come, first served |
Once SR-148 closes for snow, Point Supreme, Sunset View and Chessman Ridge can only be reached on snowmobile, skis or snowshoes, and North View on SR-143 becomes the only overlook you can drive to. Brian Head's summer lifts ended August 30, and the ski season starts November 6, so late October is the quiet gap between the two seasons.
More options at every drive length are in our day trips from Provo guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Cedar Breaks from Provo?
How much does Cedar Breaks cost?
When are the wildflowers best at Cedar Breaks?
Is Cedar Breaks open in October?
When does the road through Cedar Breaks close for winter?
What is open at Brian Head in summer?
Is this a day trip or an overnight?
What should we know about the altitude?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Fees and passes, National Park Service, Cedar Breaks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Current conditions (updated Oct. 17, 2026), National Park Service, Cedar Breaks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Operating hours and seasons, National Park Service, Cedar Breaks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- 2026 Wildflower Festival, National Park Service, Cedar Breaks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Summer activities, Brian Head Resort. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Brian Head Resort home (2026-27 opening day), Brian Head Resort. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Alpine Pond Trail, AllTrails. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Spectra Point and Rampart Overlook via South Rim Trail, AllTrails. Checked October 20, 2026.
- OSRM route service (OpenStreetMap data), driving estimates from Center St & University Ave, Provo, Project OSRM. Checked October 20, 2026.
