Current News
Cedar Breaks Prepares for Winter Recreation Season
Cedar Breaks Road (Hwy 148) Closed for the Season
Cedar City Ranks In The Top 20 Cities for Outdoorsmen In Outdoor Life Magazine
Cedar City Receives A Top Ranking From Where To Retire Magazine
GPS RangerT Launched at Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah
NBC Today Show Rates Cedar City in their Top Eight Fall Foliage Destinations
New Interconnect System at Brian Head
New Interagency Pass Program Will Help Public Enjoy Enhanced Recreation Sites on Public Lands
Utah Shakespearean Festival Awarded Top 100 Designation
Cedar Breaks Prepares for Winter Recreation Season
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah. As another season of spectacular fall colors draws to a close, operations at Cedar Breaks are gearing up for the transition to winter recreation. We have winterized the park's utility systems and buildings. The visitor center, restrooms, and campground will remain closed until next spring.
All overlooks, hiking trails and the main park road will remain open for visitors to drive through the park free of charge until closed by the first major storm, normally in late November or early December. As soon as the road closes to vehicular traffic and the snow deepens, the park will remain open throughout the winter for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling on designated trails. Call the park at (435) 586-9451 for additional information.
Cedar Breaks Road Closed for the Season
The section of Utah Highway 148 through Cedar Breaks National Monument that connects Utah Highways 14 and 143 has been closed for the winter. According to park Superintendent Paul Roelandt, the storm that hit southern Utah over the weekend brought high winds and snow that caused heavy drifting across the Cedar Breaks Scenic Drive, making the road impassable. “We have reached that time of year when expected heavy snow accumulations and constant drifting of snow across the road have made it unsafe to keep the road open,” Roelandt said.
The portion of Highway 143 through Cedar Breaks National Monument connecting Panguitch with Brian Head and Parowan will remain open throughout the winter, except during and immediately after heavy snowstorms and during periods of blowing snow. For current road conditions please call UDOT Travel Information Service at 1-800-492-2400.
Although the park road is now closed, Cedar Breaks provides many opportunities for winter recreation as more snow accumulates. When sufficient snow falls, trails will be marked for use by snowshoers and skiers from the north park boundary along the north rim of the breaks, and along the Alpine Pond Trail in the park. The park’s snowmobile route will also be marked, but remains closed until sufficient snow covers the unplowed road and enables the snowmobile route to be groomed through the park. Snowmobilers are reminded that snowmobiles must remain on the marked route within Cedar Breaks in order to protect park resources such as plants and wildlife, and to help provide a high quality, safe visitor experience for all park users.
Questions regarding current conditions for winter recreational activities may be directed to the park’s administrative headquarters at (435) 586-9451.
Cear City Ranks In The Top 20 Cities for Outdoorsmen In Outdoor Life Magazine
Outdoor Life recently named Cedar City as one of the top 20 places to live for the avid outdoorsman. From a list of 200 cities, Cedar City came in at #15.
Outdoor Life evaluated towns across the country using such criteria as hunting, fishing, access to public lands and local economy.
They began by compiling a list of every town with a population center of more than 4,000 people. They evaluated the growth rate, unemployment rate, commute time, crime rate, housing prices and more. Towns were then graded on their appeal from a sporting perspective.
When the totals came in, they combined all the factors and placed the locations in order. Cedar City scored well. On a scale of 1-10, Cedar City sported a nine in public land access and gun laws, eight in "trophy" hunting potential and a seven in huntable species.
To view the entire report, click here. http://www.outdoorlife.com/article.jsp?ID=1000057228
Cedar City Receives A Top Ranking From Where To Retire Magazine
For the second time in a year, Where To Retire Magazine has recognized Cedar City as being one of their best picks for retirees. In their recent February “Best Choices” issue, the Magazine recognizes Cedar City as one of their “Five Best Budget Towns To Retire”.
The magazine, which is geared towards helping people with their retirement decisions, profiled five towns that give residents the most bang for their retirement buck. The towns were selected based upon the myriad of perks and amenities offered at a lower cost than many communities. Where To Retire editors chose the following top five locations as the picks for best budget towns, including Crossville, TN, Columbia, SC; Mount Dora, FL, Sussex County, DE and Cedar City, Utah.
According to the Where To Retire editor, Mary Lu Abbott, these budget locations offers retirees outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, cultural events and a well rounded lifestyle with costs of living below the national average. According to Abbott, Cedar City was selected because “it’s a haven for lovers of the arts and outdoors with access to an array of national parks as well as the Utah Shakespearean Festival at Southern Utah University.”
“We received the call a few months ago that we were in the running for the Best Choices Issue”, said Maria Twitchell, director of the Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Bureau & Visitor Center, “I think it’s great to be recognized again by this well known publication”.
Where To Retire magazine was created as a means in helping readers find the ideal place to retire. Now published six times a year, the magazine covers the best retirement regions, towns and master planned communities across the globe and has a national circulation of 220,000. Cedar City was spotlighted in a 10 page feature in their 2006 January/February edition and was selected as one the magazine’s “Top 8 Ski Towns” back in 2004.
Innovative Hand Held Video Tour Launched at Cedar Breaks National Monument
GPS Ranger™ Launched at Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah
CEDAR CITY, UT (July 2007)—Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bar Z Adventures, a leading provider of hand-held Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, announced today the introduction of the GPS Ranger to visitors at the National Park Service site in Utah. Cedar Break National Monument represents the first dedicated scenic and historic application of the GPS Ranger—a hand-held multimedia driving and walking touring device.
The GPS Ranger utilizes groundbreaking technology to automatically deliver compelling audio and vivid video to visitors at any location in the world! Its application at Cedar Breaks is a perfect demonstration of how this type of technology can be used to enhance the experience of each individual visitor and their understanding of the park.
Paul Roelandt, Superintendent of Cedar Breaks National Monument, was the driving force behind implementing this new technology at Cedar Breaks. “We are a park rich in history, spectacular vistas and geologic wonders. The GPS Ranger tour provides each visitor the opportunity to carry detailed and site specific information about the park in the palm of their hand. It offers a unique way for our visitors to experience the park. The format can easily be tailored to fit the amount of time they have and to learn about the topics they are most interested in.”
Cedar Breaks National Monument joins The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta and Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi in providing the GPS Ranger™ to national park visitors. The GPS Ranger is simple—it delivers the park ranger message based on satellite recognition of GPS coordinates. In effect, visitors to the site can have their own personal “ranger” guide them through a tour of the park.
“Unlike other electronic solutions for the tourism industry, the GPS Ranger™ uses GPS to trigger rich multimedia content when the user comes within range of a point of interest. Audio, video, text and pictures are integrated to tell the stories that have woven the fabric of America,” said Lee Little, founder of BarZ Adventures and inventor of the GPS Ranger™ system.
Here is how the device works: Visitors touring Cedar Breaks while holding a GPS Ranger™ will automatically see and hear meaningful and compelling content as they walk or drive around the park. The story of the geologic processes that created the multi-colored amphitheater unfolds as visitors absorb its beauty. As visitors travel along the rim of the Cedar Breaks amphitheater or drive past its lush meadows, a Cedar Breaks park ranger reveals the history, the wildlife, the plant life, and the challenges that make the national monument a magnet for summer and winter visitors. A visitor may also view the entire program on demand, regardless of location, by scrolling the touch screen of the GPS Ranger for content files. To view a sample of the video tour visit http://www.gpsranger.com/Demos/CedarBreaks/index.html
"As we look for new and better ways to fulfill our mission of enhancing the visitor experience at Cedar Breaks National Monument, we are very excited to offer the GPS Ranger," said Lyman Hafen, executive director of Zion Natural History Association. "We believe this partnership with BarZ Adventures puts us on the cutting edge and will make a wonderful difference in the way visitors perceive and respond to this remarkable place."
The GPS Ranger™ is now available for a rental fee of $9.95 at the Cedar Breaks National Monument Visitor Center. The visitor center is open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm throughout the summer and fall, and is operated by the Zion Natural History Association (ZNHA), a not-for-profit partner of the National Park Service. The mission of ZNHA is to connect people to parks by making educational products and services available to visitors.
BarZ Adventures expects to introduce the GPS Ranger™ to many more of America’s treasures. Beyond US national parks, the GPS Ranger™ will be offered to zoos, cruise lines, and other selected regional markets.
About BarZ Adventures
Bar Z Adventures LP is an Austin, Texas-based company combining experts in the fields of computer delivery systems, documentary film production, and interpretive and educational content development planning. Bar Z Adventures has designed the patent pending GPS Ranger™ with public lands and their visitors in mind – its sole mission is to help enhance the visitor experience at high visitation tourist locations using modern technology. Bar Z Adventures captures the pioneering spirit that is represented in our nation’s history and, through unique technology, brings that history to visitors throughout the public lands of the United States. . . and the World. For more information on the company or its products log onto www.barzadventures.com, www.gpsranger.com or call (512) 732-0135.
About Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument was designated a national monument in 1933 by President Franklin Roosevelt. It is one of 388 National Park Service locations in the nation. For more information visit http://www.nps.gov/cebr or call 435-586-9451.
NBC Today Show Rates Cedar City As One of Their “Eight Great & Unusual Fall Foliage Destinations”.
Travel Editor Peter Greenberg recently revealed his list of “Eight Great and Unusual Destinations for Fall Color Viewing” on the NBC Today Show listing southern Utah’s Cedar City in the mix. Greenberg recommends leaf peepers to move away from popular destinations like New England to discover new places for fabulous fall foliage.
Greenberg recommends Cedar City as a surprising location for fall color viewing, stating “ Places like Cedar City offer one of the most dramatic fall foliage backdrops in the country. Cedar Breaks National Monument contains cliff faces eroded into the west side of the Markagunt Plateau. Alpine Ponds Trail takes you through trees, meadows, flowers and wildlife for spectacular foliage viewing.” Greenberg also adds “You can also drive along the access road, UT 148, which circles the cliff’s edge. Kolob Canyon is located in Zion National Park. It offers breathtaking canyon views (some say it rivals the Grand Canyon in terms of the gorgeous colors and layers).
To see the full report plus the video from the Today Show, go to this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20997833/. Other destinations included in the report were: Aspen Colorado; Michigan’s, Upper Peninsula; Montana; Leavenworth, Washington; Wine Country, California, South Carolina, & the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Big News at Brian Head Resort
Brian Head Resort has long been a hidden gem nestled in the southern Utah mountains. It is a relaxed, friendly place close to the sleepy little towns of Parowan and Cedar City close by just off the mountain. Brian Head is surrounded by majestic views of red rock spires and warm-hued canyons and is set in the heart of the Grand Circle of National Parks. Just a short 3 hour drive from Las Vegas you are in a different world. There have not been many big changes in the past 20 years, and this summer, without disrupting the serenity of Brian Head, a transformation is in progress, so after years of careful planning, the resort is poised for dramatic expansion.
We have always enjoyed our two separate mountains, Giants Steps and Navajo Mountain, where people from the region and surrounding desert climates escape to ski, bike, hike and relax.
This summer Brian Head Resort is installing a new interconnect lift and ski trail system that will join the two mountains. Skiers and snowboarders of all abilities will now be able to enjoy both mountains by skiing/riding instead of driving. The Interconnect System consists of two new lifts and a ski-over bridge. Lift #1 will cross over State Highway 143 to Navajo Mountain replacing the historic Chair Lift #1 that was removed from service in 1993. A new second chair lift, Lift #8 will start near the bottom of the new lift #1, and will transport skiers to mid-mountain of Giant Steps. Skiers will cross over Highway 143 via the skier bridge under Chair Lift #1. The Interconnect System will expand the Resort’s existing trail capacity by nearly 35% and will allow skiers and snowboarders to circulate freely between Navajo and Giant Steps Mountains. The Interconnect System will also dramatically increase accessibility by creating expanded lift access to the entire Resort.
The entire interconnect project including expanded snowmaking on many of the new runs is on schedule to be completed by the start of the 2007/2008 ski season.
New Interagency Pass Program Will Help Public Enjoy Enhanced Recreation Sites on Public Lands
Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and Under Secretary of Agriculture Mark Rey today announced a new interagency recreation pass that will benefit visitors to national public lands. The new pass, authorized by the Congress in 2004, combines the benefits of existing recreation passes from five federal agencies into one comprehensive pass, the “America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.”
The new pass covers recreation opportunities on public lands managed by four Department of the Interior agencies – the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation, and by the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.
Access to most public lands remains free. The pass applies to those locations that currently have entrance or standard amenity fees.
The new program replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and the Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass. Existing passes will remain valid until expired, lost or stolen.
Sales of the new pass will begin in January 2007 and will be available at federal recreation sites that charge entrance and standard amenity fees, through government internet sites, and through select third-party vendors.
“Our federal lands boast scenic vistas, breathtaking landscapes, and unique historic and cultural sites. This new interagency pass offers a cost-effective and easy option for those who plan to visit multiple federal recreation sites,” said Deputy Secretary Scarlett. “The family vacation to these destinations is an American tradition. Visitors can now travel from a site managed by the Department of the Interior to a site managed by the Department of Agriculture without getting a different pass.
A sightseer in Utah, for instance, can view the majestic rock formations of Bryce and Zion National Parks and then explore Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area on the Ashley National Forest using only one pass.”
“The interagency pass is a great New Year’s gift both to the public lands and to their visitors,” said Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment, who oversees the Forest Service.
“Annual interagency pass revenue will benefit public lands by providing funds for maintenance, new visitor services, and programs.”
The officials noted that 100 percent of the revenue derived from passes sold at federal recreation sites will directly benefit the selling agency and no less than 80 percent of the revenue will remain at the site where the pass was sold.
The new pass program was created by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which Congress authorized in December 2004.
The four different passes in the new interagency program are:
1) a new annual interagency pass costing $80--For visitors to multiple federal sites, the pass offers unlimited coverage of entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for a specific period of time, typically a year, beginning from the date of first use.
2) a $10 lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens 62 or over;
3) a free lifetime access pass for citizens with permanent disabilities; and
4) a new, free annual volunteer pass for volunteers acquiring 500 hours of service on a cumulative basis.
The new interagency pass is good at vehicle-based entry sites for all occupants in a single, non-commercial vehicle. At walk-up sites, the pass is good for the pass holder and three adults (total of four adults). There is no charge for children under 16. This represents a particularly cost-effective opportunity for families traveling to federal recreation sites. For comparison purposes, Parks Canada offers a family/group annual pass for about $140.
Some specific examples of projects funded with fee revenues include: rehabilitating the Yellowstone National Park Canyon Visitor Center and creating new exhibits at Yellowstone National Park, enhancing boat launch facilities on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, building an accessible boardwalk at Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Wyoming, and improving the museum at Desoto National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa.
The new passes – which feature award-winning landscape photographs of federal lands – are part of a new interagency “Share the Experience” Annual Federal Lands Photo Contest. The contest, sponsored by the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and Casio, encourages visitors to submit photos of federal lands for a chance to have their image chosen for the next year’s annual pass.
The passes will be durable, plasticized, and designed with technology that will enable future improvements to the program.
For more information, please contact DOI’s U.S. Geological Survey at
http://store.usgs.gov/pass or phone 1-888-275-8747
Option 1. The annual pass will be available for sale through the USGS
store and through the government’s federal lands recreation web portal at www.recreation.gov in January 2007.
Editors Note: The America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass can also be purchased at Grand Canyon National Park entrance stations, the Grand Canyon Association sales outlets within the park, and at the National Geographic Visitor Center in Tusayan, Ariz., near the park’s south entrance.
For additional information on the Grand Canyon National Park’s Fee Management program or purchasing the America the Beautiful pass at Grand Canyon National Park, please contact Paul Cox, Chief Branch of Fee Management at 928-638-7954 or Jim O’Sickey, Fee Manager at 928-638-7951.
Utah Destinations Awarded Top 100 Designation
The American Bus Association has recognized two Utah annual events as “Top 100 Events in North America for the year 2008.” Kanab’s Western Legends Round Up and Cedar City’s Utah Shakespearean Festival were chosen by the ABA’s Selection Committee, which evaluated hundreds of events and “selected the best ones to experience via motorcoach next year.”
Western Legends is a signature event in Kanab. A film location for over 100 classic Western movies, the town dubbed “Little Hollywood” is known for Old West heritage. Western Legends celebrates this way of life with cowboy poetry, music, vendors and demonstrations every August.
Cowboy Ted Hallisey, executive director of the Kane County Office of Tourism & Film Commission, feels that beyond the event itself, it’s the setting that makes Western Legends unique. “We are within an hour drive of Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Lake Powell – with Kanab serving as a spoke in the wheel. This is a great destination for tour groups,” he said. “We are honored that ABA chose us as one of the top 100 destinations.”
The Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival is in its 46th season on the campus of Southern Utah University. "For years bus groups have been discovering the Utah Shakespearean Festival as a great experience. It is wonderful that the American Bus Association is helping us get the word out even more," said festival marketing director Kami Terry. "From classic Shakespeare to contemporary theatre and even musicals, the festival has something to offer every group. Play orientations, play discussions, backstage tours, and a free pre-show Greenshow complete the experience."
Maria Twitchell, director of the Cedar City & Brian Head Tourism Bureau, sees the honor as beneficial to the entire region. "It's fantastic to have a Cedar City event honored by the American Bus Association. It not only reflects the quality and excellence of the festival, but also acknowledges Cedar City, "Festival City USA,” as an outstanding destination for groups and tours."
The American Bus Association officially released the 2008 Top 100 Events list in the September/October issue of Destinations Magazine, which is now celebrating its 25th year of publication. For more information on the ABA’s Top 100 list, visit www.buses.org. For more information about Utah travel, contact the Utah Office of Tourism at (801) 538-1900 or visit www.utah.travel.