Cedar Breaks National Monument is the strongest natural sight near Cedar City: a vast eroded amphitheatre of red, orange, and cream cliffs set above 10,000 feet. The rim roads and overlooks are usually open from late spring into autumn, when meadows bloom and the air is much cooler than the desert below.
It is often described as a quieter cousin of Bryce Canyon, but the altitude gives it its own mood. Short trails lead through subalpine forest and past bristlecone pines, and the night skies can be excellent.