Destination Cedar City

William Shakespeare would find himself at home in Cedar City, Utah, home of Utah's extravagant Shakespearean Festival! Each summer, visitors come from all corners to participate in this spectacular event, and to tour scenic Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Other folks come to experience excellent Utah mountain biking at Brian Head resort's fat tire festival. In the winter, Brian Head transforms into one of Utah's great ski resorts, with excellent powder and runs!

Southern Utah University adds an additional, exciting dimension to this vibrant community.

Cedar City
Cedar City is the gateway to Bryce, Zion & Cedar Breaks, Shakespeare Festival, and skiing. The sophisticated small town has is a splendid location in the peaceful foothills of scenic southwestern Utah.

Cedar Breaks National Monument
An amazing concentration of limestone formations created by uplift and erosion in a three-mile wide amphitheatre setting. Open late-May - mid-November. Visitors Center is open every day throughout the season. Address: 2390 W Hwy. 56 (Administration Office) 435-586-9451 or 435-586-0787 at the monument. Iron Mission State Park
Displays of early development in Iron County, including pioneer artifacts, restored wagons, carriages, and 19th century forms of transport. Open everyday. (Except Sundays during the winter.) Address: 635 N. Main, Cedar City 84720. 435-586-9290

Kolob Canyons - Zion National Park
Only 20 miles from Cedar City, experience the lesser known Kolob Canyon entrance to Zion National Park. In addition to the major rock formations, visitors see evidence of volcanic eruptions. Open all year. Visitors Center is open every day but major holidays. Address: I-15 exit #40, 3752 E Kolob Canyons Rd, New Harmony 84757 435-586-9548

Three Peaks Recreation Area
Head west on Hwy. U-56 from Cedar City to Lund Hwy; head north for about five miles to Mid-Valley Rd., then west for about two miles. Two pavilions are available for groups (stop by the Iron County Visitor Center for reservation form); there are nice areas for family picnics. You'll find miles and miles of mountain bike and ATV trails, and unique rock formations that are fun to explore. Open year-round. Throughout the year, several 4x4 rock crawling competitions are held here. Call the Bureau of Land Management for more info: 435-586-2401

Navajo Lake Area
Navajo Lake is on Cedar Mountain about 22 miles east of Cedar City via Hwy. 14. It is located at a high elevation where deep snow falls throughout the winter. Snowmobiling is popular in this area. Summer activities run from late May thru mid Oct. Stop at the Zion Overlook; hike the Bristlecone Pine Trail (1/2 mile) or Cascade Falls (1 mile); mountain bike the Navajo Lake Loop trail (12 miles); fish at Navajo Lake, Duck Creek and Aspen Mirror Lake; and explore Mammoth Cave. For more info contact Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln. in Cedar City; 435-865-3200.

Brian Head - Ski, Board, Bike
Located just east of Cedar City via all-weather highways, this area gets over 400 inches of snowfall annually. Brian Head Resort has 500 skiable acres, 53 runs, a 1,707 ft. vertical drop, plenty of backcountry and a lift-assisted tubing park. Brian Head has also become a renowned destination for mountain biking, offering great trails through mountain forests. You'll also find great snowmobiling terrain nearby, along with excellent hiking trails, campgrounds and fishing waters. Skiing usually runs from late November - mid-April. Biking trails can be ridden from late June or early July through October. Resort info: 435-677-2035; Lodging information: 435-677-2810.

Pinewoods Resort
Though this multi-activity resort is a destination unto itself, its prime location also allows visitors to easily venture into nearby Zion or Bryce national parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Brian Head, or even catch a show at Cedar City's Shakespearean Festival.

Hiking
The Cedar City area offers great hiking trails. Nearby trails in Zion National Park are listed here. Other trails, including those on Cedar Mountain around Brian Head and Navajo Lake are listed here.

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University is a vibrant, growing institution which has drawn attention through its hosting of the popular Utah Shakespearean Festival and the appealing Utah Summer Games. A comprehensive regional university with over 6,000 students, SUU offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees through five academic colleges.

Utah Shakespearean Festival (June- October)
Tony Award-winning plays from Shakespeare to contemporary productions with matinee and evening performances, backstage tours, Greenshow, and Royal Feaste. June - September (summer season), and September - October (fall season). Address: 351 W. Center, Cedar City, Utah 435-586-7878, 1-800 PLAYTIX, Fax: 435-586-1971

Canyon Country Western Arts Festival (March)
Interact with poets, quilters, leather workers, pottery makers and other western artists. Also enjoy open-mike cowboy poetry, western music, the western heritage awards and a major western music concert. 435-586-4484

Utah Summer Games (June)
Providing an "Olympic-style" experience for Utah athletes of all ages & skill levels in 40 different sports. The highlight of the Games is the Opening Ceremonies, complete with an athlete's march, torch run, grand fireworks and entertainment. 435-865-8421

American Children's Christmas Festival
Runs Thanksgiving night to the first Saturday in December. Storybook Cavalcade parade featuring floats and characters from children's books and fairy tales, major musical and dance productions, Christmas Village, Santaland, A Celebration of Trees and other holiday activities. Held at the Cedar City Heritage Center. Contact Cedar City Corporation at 435-586-2950.

UROC World Championship Supercrawl (October)
Watch as the world's best off-roaders tackle the most extreme 4x4 obstacles in the world. Held at the Three Peaks Recreation Area west of Cedar City. 435-864-2415

Oktoberfest (September)
Festivities include an arts and crafts festival and entertainment. There is no charge to take part in the celebration, only to purchase the authentic German food.

The Utah Neil Simon Festival (Mid July thru mid-August)
The Neil Simon Festival is the world's first professional theatre company dedicated to honoring and preserving the works of America's preeminent comic playwright, Neil Simon. The festival is housed in the beautiful Heritage Center Theatre in downtown Cedar City. The growing theatre company, with its slogan "Come Laugh With Us!" has already gained a reputation for excellence. The festival runs from mid-July to mid-August every year. For more information call 866-35-SIMON or visit www.simonfest.org

Great American Stampede (September 10 & 11)
Western themed activities, professional rodeo action, and major country music head-liner concert after the rodeo on Saturday.

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