Cedar BreaksNational MonumentUtah |
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Cedar Breaks National Monument can be found just east of Cedar City, Utah. It is lesser known than its close and similar neighbor, Bryce Canyon which is 40 miles further east. While these two National Park units are very similar both in geological and physiological terms, there are definitely some differences that must be noted.
Both are located in the transition zone between the Basin and Range and the Colorado Plateau. Both locations feature remarkable erosion of Tertiary Claron formation which has led to spectacular vistas of pink, orange, and white cliffs and amphitheatres. Cedar Breaks National Monument is shaped like a large coliseum with an amphitheatre that is more than 2,000 feet deep and 3 miles across. Carving this huge bowl took millions of years of erosion and uplift. In contrast to Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks is located at a much higher elevation than its neighbor, at nearly 11,000 feet. Because of this, the landforms in this area have also been shaped by glacial and periglacial erosion processes. Many of the formations in Cedar Breaks National Monument show evidence of the transitional zone that is its geologic setting.
The General park map handed out at the visitor center is not available online.
View the park's map to create your own personal maps and images right here.
For information about topographic maps, geologic maps, and geologic data sets, please see the geologic maps page.
A geology photo album has not been prepared for this park.
For information on other photo collections featuring National Park geology, please see the Image Sources page.
Books on the geology of Utah can be found here.
Please visit the Geology Books and Media webpage for additional sources such as text books, theme books, CD ROMs, and technical reports.
Parks and Plates: The Geology of Our National Parks, Monuments & Seashores.
Lillie, Robert J., 2005.
W.W. Norton and Company.
ISBN 0-393-92407-6
9" x 10.75", paperback, 550 pages, full color throughout
The spectacular geology in our national parks provides the answers to many questions about the Earth. The answers can be appreciated through plate tectonics, an exciting way to understand the ongoing natural processes that sculpt our landscape. Parks and Plates is a visual and scientific voyage of discovery!
Ordering from your National Park Cooperative Associations' bookstores helps to support programs in the parks. Please visit the bookstore locator for park books and much more.
For information about permits that are required for conducting geologic research activities in National Parks, see the Permits Information page.
The NPS maintains a searchable data base of research needs that have been identified by parks.
A bibliography of geologic references is being prepared for each park through the Geologic Resources Evaluation Program (GRE). Please see the GRE website for more information and contacts.
NPS Geology and Soils Partners
Association of American State Geologists
Geological
Society of America
Natural
Resource Conservation Service - Soils 
U.S.
Geological Survey
Currently, we do not have a listing for any park-specific geology education programs or activities.
General information about the park's education and intrepretive programs is available on the park's education webpage.
For resources and information on teaching geology using National Park examples, see the Students & Teachers pages.