Cedar Breaks National Monument Highpoint Trip Report
unnamed (10,661 feet)
Date: May 31, 2012
Author: Fred Lobdell
From the intersection of UT 148 and UT 143 within the monument grounds,
go east on 143 about a quarter mile. Just east of the road crest there is a gravel pullout
on the road's south side. Park here.
There are hills both north and south of the highway. The one on the south side
shows a spot elevation (10,661 feet) that is two feet higher than that on the north hill (10,659).
Assuming that these are taken at the absolute summits of each hill,
then the south hill is the National Monument HP.
But given the uncertainties involved in both the accuracy and location of these spot elevations,
I recommend that both hills be climbed.
The south hill is a steeper and rougher bushwhack than the north, with considerable blowdown
to contend with on its north-facing slope. At the top, nestled among a small pile of rocks,
I was surprised to find a small blue-covered notebook in a jar.
The register was placed by Dennis Dean in September 2011, and I was the second person to sign it.
For the north hill you can walk a grassy slope much of the way to the summit,
and at the top I found a pointy rock that appeared to be the highest thing around.
Taken together, these two hills can be climbed with a hike of a little more than a half mile
and perhaps 150 to 200 feet of elevation gain.