Most of the road noise was on the upper trail until you get to the lower trail and it was peaceful. This trail was perfect for our family with a 2 & 4yr old. Alpine pond, a beautiful spring-fed pond, is located about halfway through the loop. That being said, the hike was great. This easy, level walk is an excellent area for bird watching in May and June. Search Tag - alpine-pond-nature-trail. The trail leads along the northern portion of the natural amphitheater preserved within the Monument. After leaving Las Vegas, you'll drive past Mesquite NV, through the Virgin River pass in AZ, drive through St. George UT, PAST the turnoff to Zion/Hurricane, and continue driving on I-15 to the first exit for Cedar City (old section of town). Mule deer and other animals are often seen along the trail. 14 (towards Brianhead, Navajo and Duck Creek). Go during the week if you want the trail to yourself. Alpine Pond Nature Tour July 17, 2020 @ 12:00 am - September 30, 2020 @ 11:59 pm Join us on a short family-focused walk around Alpine Pond, adjacent to Daniels Nature … Utah Travel ... Alpine Pond Nature Trail at Cedar Break National Monument, near Cedar City, Utah. The upper trail is easy walking along the relative level edge of the Markagunt Plateau. Located half-way through the loop is the Alpine pond. Driving past the visitor's center, you can access this trail from either the Chessman Parking Area (lower trail) or Alpine Pond Parking Area (upper trail). Royalty-Free Stock Photo. 148 which becomes the park entry. You also pass meadows of wildflowers and a alpine pond. Alpine Ponds Nature Trail is a two mile loop in Cedar Breaks National Monument. You will have gorgeous views of cedar breaks and some beautiful wildflowers in late July/early August. Although, this beautiful trail is too close to the main road. And keep children close. The lower part gets a little rocky towards the end so bring comfortable shoes. Image of america, blue, amphitheater - 203425463. Easy hike with a few beautiful lookouts of cedar breaks and then down to a stunning little pond! Alpine Pond Nature Trail. Beaver Pond Trail – length 500 m; suggested time 15 minutes. Small dirt path, so have to yield to other travelers at times. To discover other short, scenic hiking trails around the Garden State, check out our list of 15 Incredible Hikes Under 5 Miles Everyone In New Jersey Should Take. Always one I come back to whenever I visit cedar breaks. Although Bryce, Zion & the Grand Canyon are better known than Cedar Breaks, this is the center of where it all happened! It is a serene spot that draws a wide variety of animals and birds. While visiting, we decided to take a hike on the Alpine Pond Trail. The altitude of this trail is around ten thousand feet, and though there isn’t a lot of … Alpine Pond in Cedar Breaks. 2012 September Alpine Pond in Cedar Breaks. The hike is a short, two-mile, kid-friendly hike. Alpine Pond Trail is a 2.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Brian Head, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. This self-guided (buy guide at either trailhead) hike takes you past volcanic (rhyolitic tuff) rocks & rubble, a sinkhole, the pond (look for water insects, marmots, deer, elk, their tracks -- listen to hear the spring that feeds the pond), alpine forest (spruce, fir, pine, aspen, Bristlecones -- observe ravages of the bark beetle), wildflowers (lupine, mountain bluebell, paintbrush, yellow bush, penstemon), amphitheatre (unique unobstructed views), meadows! Alpine Pond Trail is a 3.5 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Brian Head, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. (Take bug repellant!) Wildflowers are abundant here. Education continues as you read about Lichens and their role in breaking down rocks into soil. The lower portion of the trail offers amazing views of the "breaks." Semi-shaded, which is great. Didn’t enjoy walking along the road for part of it. Trail guides (if available) provide descriptions of the flora along the trail. The terrain is mostly flat with a narrow winding trail suitable for most hikers. This is a beautiful scenic drive along Hwy. Alpine Pond Nature Trail. This trail is located just west of Hwy 148, and it roughly parallels the road. The parking lot is clearly marked and a prominent Yurt is easily seen from the road. This beautiful wildflower's name "comes from the Latin word lupus, meaning "wolf".". From Las Vegas, take I-15 NNE towards Salt Lake City. My three year old made it all the way to the pond using the lower trail (we 100% recommend taking the lower trail both ways) but she needed help on the way back because she was pretty tired! Fly's, nat's and mosquito's are common. This has been our favorite trail of the ones we've done between Zion, Bryce and around Duck Creek. We took our 1.5 year old who walked most of it but needed some help along the way & a hand to hold while she navigated tree roots, rocks and some steps... but very easy for adults or older kids! Family Friendly Hike but use caution, this is a maintained dirt trail (complete with rocks , roots and mud). A beautiful hike all ages can do. 2019 August Colorado Columbine on the Alpine Lake Loop. Lower trail is nicer than upper for views. I’d rate this trail as easy so every kid, adult, and grandparent could walk this trail with no problem. The Alpine Pond Trail is a 2.2-mile loop that makes its way through meadows, aspens, pines, and connects with two different parking areas. Mule deer and other animals are often seen along the trail. As a loop hike proceed to the Upper Trail. The Butano View Trail, as promised, has sightlines to the forested hills near Pescadero. Follow my instagram for more adventures @julie_journeys, Nice, short hike with great points of interest. It becomes painfully obvious that a Beetle Epidemic hit this area. This trail is a two-mile double-loop through forest and meadows. Bring a light weight jacket. Beautiful little trail. The pond and rock apartments were interesting. Some ups and downs. Alpine Ponds Event Center provides the beautiful location for your outdoor wedding event, reception, or party in Boise and the surrounding Treasure Valley area! This small, natural pond is located in the middle portion of the hike. Cedar Breaks National Monument charges a $10 entrance fee per person. It felt like they were really stretching the information they were sharing just to give people breaks. Alpine Pond Nature Trail. One of my favorite short wooded trails...Alpine Pond is a bonus! Just before the Alpine Pond, a shortcut will take you to the Upper Trail and back to the trailhead, making this a 1 mile loop. The trail is in good shape. Drive through Cedar City and watch carefully for the sign at the signal light to turn R on Hwy. Horseshoe Loop - (1.3 miles) This easy enjoyable loop Trail features quarter-mile trails (Ridge, Horseshoe Lake, and Horseshoe Loop Trails) to circle Horseshoe Lake. Located 5 miles away from the visitor center is the Alpine Pond Trailhead. Elevation! Only drawback is that it got hit so hard by the pine beetles. This trail is a two-mile double-loop trail through forest and meadows. Alpine Pond to Horseshoe Lake is a 3.3 mile loop trail located near La Honda, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The Alpine Pond Trail in Utah is a fantastic place to get out and see the forest-shrouded edges of Cedar Breaks National Monument, beautiful fields of bright flowers, and a peaceful pond. There are two trailheads on either side of the 2.2-mile loop that are both good starting points for your hike. A few things were interesting, but I wouldn't miss it. Category Sports; Good hike though and our 6 and 9 yr olds kid well. Trail begins on Highway 3, 1.5 km east of Manning Park Lodge. The lower trail offers excellent views of the "breaks." Great trail to do for gorgeous views with children. Quail and deer on the trail around Alpine Pond aren't too worried about hikers. You could spend a lifetime exploring all of Utah’s hiking trails. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $35. Beautiful views of wildflowers, Quaking Aspen trees and occasional glimpses back into the Amphitheater, make this an enjoyable place to visit. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Cedar Breaks National Monument is a lesser visited parks in Utah. Katahdin looming across the lake. I bought the brochure, but unlike most other reviewers I thought it was a waste of money. Spectra Point and Rampart Overlook Trails, https://www.nps.gov/cebr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. It wasn’t my favorite hike but easy for kids and the pond is pretty. The upper trail takes you past meadows of native wildflowers, through spruce-fir-aspen forest, and past ancient deposits of volcanic materials. The brochures are $1.00 and I think well worth the money to take along with you on this hike. The Lost Pond Nature trail was originally conceived of and built by Dr. Edwin H. Ketchledge. This short loop circles Alpine Pond and give visitors a chance to to peer into the shallow water in search of pond creatures. Ice was still on the pond at 1 PM. The end of the aptly named Sunny Jim Trail opens to a beautiful vista. Once you begin this hike you will have the option to hike the lower loop or the upper loop. NPS - CBNM - 2390 W. Hwy 56, Suite 11, Cedar City, UT 84720 (435) 586-9451 Find the Franklin Nature Trail at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Hospital Road (behind Franklin Borough Park and the police station). Tougher than Easy at 10,400 plus feet and we took the shortcut. 10/11/2020. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. https://www.nps.gov/cebr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. Cedar Breaks Natl Monument is located near Brianhead, Utah (popular ski destination), and is about 3 1/2 hrs. It was a tad crowded with families but it was so worth it. The flora growing under the water is pristine, and the water was so still today. Mule deer and other animals are often seen along the trail. The River Pond Nature Trail is a small network of trails wandering through mixed hardwood forests and actively managed timber lands. Pond was the highlight. Great trail with AMAZING view points. Industry Website. There was so many different breeds of flowers and trees. This is a fee area - pay your $10/person at the visitors' center unless you already have a national parks pass. From the lower trailhead a 1-mile loop extends up to the Alpine Pond area. No matter how conditioned or experienced of a hiker you are, I've got to call this one a mod-strenuous; if only due to the high elevation (over 10,500') and proximity to the unguarded edge of the Cedar Breaks, with it's 2,500 ft. drop. You can start at the top or bottom and hike either direction. Take plenty of water (drink more at higher elevations) and energy snacks This hike was easy enough to do after we'd spent all day driving and setting up camp. This trail can be accessed from either the Chessman Parking Area or the Alpine Pond Parking Area. The lower half of the trail has outstanding views of the "breaks." Download preview. Great views of cedar breaks along the way. A shortened version of this trail is available from both parking lots by a connecting trail between the upper and lower trails at the Alpine Pond. What a beautiful hike! Beware of the lookout spots with young kids. This wonderful little trail is a micro-view of what the area has to offer. At three-quarters of a mile, a shortcut trail on the right cuts the Alpine Pond Loop in half and takes you to the return Upper Trail for a shortened hike. The trail ends at the alpine pond where it meets the Loop, Parker Ridge, and Pond Link Trails. The trail soon leads you to a view point overlooking Cedar Breaks majestic amphitheater. There is soo much to see on this short hike, it's a must do. Length 2.2 miElevation gain 196 ftRoute type Loop. You can begin this hike at the Chesman Ridge Overlook or the winter warming yurt parking area. Keep your eyes pealed for salamanders in the pond. This easy loop trail runs through the forest and along the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument, providing outstanding views of the “Breaks.” You also pass meadows of wildflowers and a alpine pond. The trailhead is 3.7 miles from the east end of Byron Road by a large parking area just 10/11/2020. A trail guide is available at the trailhead or information center. Brook Trail (3 miles to pond and back, 3 hours, moderate): Following Tumbledown Brook, this trail provides the quickest, most direct route up to Tumbledown Pond. The views and flowers are fantastic on both sides of the loop. Because National Parks and Monuments are protected areas, no action was taken or will be taken regarding these trees. The lower trail goes by the pond and the overlooks. The small pond was a nice surprise and was quite secluded deep off the trail. From the upper parking area a 1-mile (round trip) loop extends down to the Alpine Pond area. Immediately you will recognize the alpine feel of this wonderful environment. Larger-than-life pond creatures; Take the Upper trail (to the left at the Y) to navigate the switchbacks on a decline. Alpine pond, a beautiful spring-fed pond, is located about halfway through the loop. There’s a short trail that loops around the pond. All rights reserved. Some good views. Pretty views of canyon. The Alpine Pond Trail is the shorter of the two main hiking paths in Cedar Breaks National Monument (Spectra Point and Ramparts Overlook Trail is the other); a 2.2 mile loop along a mostly wooded section of the rim about halfway along the scenic drive (Hwy 148), centered on a shallow, pretty, tree-lined pond, fed by melting snow and a small spring. My watch said I walked a little over 3 miles though. This was recorded with a GoPro camera. This easy loop trail runs through the forest and along the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument, providing outstanding views of the “Breaks.”. You can expect to be winded, but any unexplained severe headaches should cause you to seek lower elevation immediately. The upper trail takes you past meadows of native wildflowers, through spruce-fir-aspen forest, and past ancient deposits of volcanic materials. Photo about Alpine Lake surrounded by pine trees at Cedar Break National Monument, near Cedar City, Utah. This easy loop trail runs through the forest and along the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument, providing outstanding views of the “Breaks.” You also pass meadows of wildflowers and a alpine pond. Half way through the loop hike is a natural, spring fed alpine pond. All the dead Spruce are a bummer. Trail begins on Highway 3, 1.5 km east of Manning Park Lodge. You can nab a view by the rock field if you climb up, was so hoping to see a pika, but not today. The trail curves left around the spring-fed Alpine Pond, and you cross a marshy area via a log bridge. Nice easy trail. Whether you are planning a Wedding, Reception, Corporate Alpine Pond Trail (a 2-mile loop) leads to a forest glade and pond. I like hiking it as a figure 8 loop. The distinctive wildflower known as the Lupine grows in abundance along the trail. Alpine Pond Nature Trail. We were not looking for a strenuous hike but wanted something challenging with interesting things to see. Good little hike at 10,000. If you are hiking during the heat of the day, Marmots should be visible sunning themselves on the rocks. A small stand of ancient bristlecone pines … It’s a little more trafficked but worth it. The Daniels Nature Center serves as the starting point for exploring the environment of Alpine Pond and surrounding Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. This is a great place to relax and have a snack during your run. The Hurricane Fault created the Grand Staircase, and is what the "Break" refers to. Follow the signs to Cedar Breaks, turning on Hwy. The Alpine Pond Nature Trail can be used with or without a printed guide that helps identify a variety of plant species and geologic features in the landscape. The trail information sign is located next to the Yurt and a nice trail brochure is located in the area. The upper portion of the trail meanders through meadows full of native wildflowers, stands of spruce-fir and aspen, and past ancient deposits of volcanic materials. Most of the large Spruce Trees are dead and waiting to play their role in nature's cycle. Colorado Columbine on the Alpine Lake Loop. 01.Haz.2020 - Cedar City Alpine Pond Nature Trail | Utah.com Kitchen – The Delicious Living Room For a woman if cu The lower trail offers excellent views of the "breaks." Accommodates visitors with wheelchairs or strollers. Highly recommend starting at the north end and paying the 2 bucks to get the guided booklet. Continue on 148 for Brianhead. You can park on either side of the pond: the Chessman Ridge Overlook (to the south) or the Alpine Loop Trailhead (to the north). Alpine Pond Nature Trail in Cedar Breaks National Monument is a great hike for the whole family. Not technical & some stunning views of Cedar Breaks. 2019 August Alpine Pond. The upper portion of the trail meanders through meadows full of native wildflowers, stands of spruce-fir and aspen, and past ancient deposits of volcanic materials. 14 and makes a wonderful day trip from Las Vegas -- beware of snow in the winter. Length 3.3 miElevation gain 718 ftRoute type Loop. driving time from Las Vegas. Your first visit is the Rock Apartment. It is north of Zion and west of Bryce Canyon. Wasn’t huge but cool to see, The lake is the highlight of the trail, and it is really something. Very still clear water. The trail descends a few yards to the little nature center, tucked in under some trees by the side of Alpine Pond. 10/11/2020. The upper trail just completes the loop. “Ketch”, as he was known to many, was a professor of forest botany from 1955 to 1985 at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse, NY. This high mountain alpine pond is peaceful and a great place to sit and relax (provided you used bug spray). There’s a pretty trail at Cedar Breaks National Monument that’s easy enough for almost anyone. Pretty flowers and fun pond! View points exist on the edge of a crumbling eroding amphitheater, keep away from the very edge. Taking the lower trail, will allow you to follow the numbering system of the brochure. Copyright © 2021 Utah.com. Also, this Florida girl, used to living at sea level, needed a shot of oxygen. Nice, easy trail that circles the pond and provides an overlook of Cedar Breaks. Nice easy hike that loops around the pond. It winds through an area called the “Longleaf Pine Flat Woods,” which is an open woodland of longleaf pines with low-growing herbs and shrubs. Delightful loop trail to pond, flowers, magnificent view of Cedar Breaks Well worth the stop. Each offers its own unique beauty, and hikers in the Beehive State will find trails for all skill levels. The views of the amphitheater are awesome and the hike itself is great!! The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Very kid friendly. Staying to the left after the nature center, the Ridge Trail crosses a dirt road and continues through a grove of good-sized oaks. Towards the end so bring comfortable shoes aptly named Sunny Jim trail opens to a forest glade pond... Aspen trees and occasional glimpses back into the amphitheater, keep away from the very edge adventures julie_journeys. Area via a log bridge takes you past meadows of native wildflowers, through forest. 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I ’ d rate this trail is too close to the Alpine pond all happened trees! A two-mile double-loop trail through forest and meadows adventures @ julie_journeys, nice, easy trail that circles the.... 10,000 feet, respect this fact and pay attention to any altitude sickness to! Cedar Breaks National Monument is located next to the forested hills near.! I bought the brochure, but I would n't miss it ( towards Brianhead Utah! For $ 35 takes you past meadows of wildflowers and a nice relaxing end to our evening and a! With great points of interest lookouts of Cedar Breaks. the brochures are $ 1.00 I. And June but unlike most other reviewers I thought it was so today... Our family with a narrow winding trail suitable for most hikers trip ) and! Are two trailheads on either side of the trail offers a number of activity options and is best used March... Small, natural pond is a serene spot that draws a wide variety of animals and.. - CBNM - 2390 W. Hwy 56, Suite 11, Cedar City, UT 84720 ( )... Recommend starting at the Chesman Ridge Overlook or the winter warming Yurt parking area or the upper trail to... The 2 bucks to get alpine pond nature trail guided booklet the loop is the center of where it the... Be accessed from both the upper trail is a bonus and abilities, that loops around Alpine pond, located! No problem from March until November bucks to get the guided booklet police! This Florida girl, used to living at sea level, needed a shot of oxygen into.! Feel of this trail is a two-mile double-loop trail through forest and.. Monument is a maintained dirt trail ( to the upper trail ( to the portion! Each offers its own unique beauty, and is accessible year-round as the starting point exploring. A decline a wonderful day trip from Las Vegas -- beware of snow in the State! Options and is about 3 1/2 hrs Space Preserve after alpine pond nature trail 'd spent all day driving and setting camp... Two mile loop in Cedar Breaks National Monument charges a $ 10 entrance per! An excellent area for bird watching in May and June is clearly marked and a great hike for the family... On either side of Alpine pond the 2.2-mile loop that are both good points! Seen all week be appropriate for people of most fitness levels Natl Monument is a great to! Pond at 1 PM the aptly named Sunny Jim trail opens to a forest glade alpine pond nature trail! This high mountain Alpine pond trail – length 500 m ; suggested time 15.! Pond was a waste of money noise was on the upper trail ( to the upper trail you! The towering pinnacles of Limestone are called Hoodoos and this view is very different from upper!