Spectra Point Trail

Spectra Point Trail is one of the small handful of hikes within Cedar Breaks National Monument. This stunning rim trail takes you out to an outcropping on the southern end of the park. The views to the east and the north are quite spectacular, and so is the giant bristlecone pine that sits near the point. This is the oldest and largest tree in the park, and it is thought to be around 1,700 years old! Iron oxide gives the hills their reds and yellows, while manganese oxide adds tones of purple to the layers of sandstone. It's a beautiful array of colors from the stone to the flowers to the sky.

See the hoodoos of Cedar Breaks in all their glory and come early or late for their shadows to be cast across the canyon. You can get great views of Cedar City to the northwest as well as another 270 degrees of views on almost all sides. There are a plethora of wildflowers along the rim of the trail in summer, including Indian paintbrush, lupine, larkspur, bluebells, and little sunflower. The trail is relatively short, but it does continue to Rampart Viewpoint another mile down from Spectra Point. There is not much elevation gain other than a few hills. There is a historic cabin along the way. With only a few other hiking choices nearby, this is a must for anyone visiting the park.

Please be very careful when hiking here. There are sudden and frequent storms here even on otherwise clear days. The very steep incline of the mountain face at Brian Head, which makes it such a great ski resort, is dangerous during summer rainstorms, when the trail is covered in slippery mud. Flanked by cliffs at least 400 feet high, the risk for falls increases measurably. Should the weather conditions deteriorate, bushwhack south to the road and walk back on the asphalt rather than the steep open-faced trail of mud.