Get to Know Cedar City

A gateway to Utah's scenic national parks and recreation areas, Cedar City blends history, high culture and heavenly views for unforgettable and active vacations. Cut through perfect powder snow, off-road on dusty mountain bikes then end your day with a spa soak—Cedar City makes it all possible so hop on your bike or strap on your shoes and see where the wilderness takes you.

Cool and Dry With a Chance of Blizzards

The weather can be as show stopping as the cliffs and canyons in Zion National Park. Cedar City sits on the edge of a high desert plateau at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet. It tends to be cool and dry, with heavy snowfalls in winter. Caught between mountains to the east and desert in the west, Cedar City gets average summer high temperatures in the 90s and average winter lows around 17 degrees. Pack accordingly, since you'll want to spend your days outdoors in every kind of summer and winter sport. You'll seldom get rained out, but you might get snowed on. The summer sun and glare off the snow mean dark glasses and sunscreen are essential year-round accessories.

Do This

Zion National Park and Kolob Canyons are great places for biking, hiking, climbing, horseback riding and fishing. Nearby Brian Head Ski Resort has Utah's best cross-country and downhill skiing in winter and snowboard-ready slopes for teens. The Tony-Award winning Utah Shakespearean Festival in late summer and early fall attracts international fans to the Southern Utah University campus. Elizabethan-themed "greenshows" before the performances are free, so bring your own picnic and blanket.

While your trusty fleece serves you well outdoors, head downtown to stock up on some more fashionable offerings. Downtown Cedar City is a charming stretch of historic buildings turned into art galleries, quirky boutiques, antique shops, coffeehouses, and an old-fashioned soda fountain. Explore the universe on Monday nights at Southern Utah University's dark-sky observatory—free and open to the public.

Flyways and Highways

Get to Cedar City by car to get going on your day trips. Take Interstate 15 from Las Vegas to the south and Salt Lake City to the north. Cedar City Regional Airport has connecting flights to Salt Lake City International Airport and you can arrive by bus at the Cedar City Greyhound station. Amtrak doesn't stop in Cedar City; the rail station is in Salt Lake City, 250 miles north of town. You can rent a car—or a van if you've got the whole clan plus gear—in town or at the Cedar City Airport.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Cedar City.