Cedar City is known as Festival City USA and is located at 5,840 feet above sea level where the spectacular Markagunt Plateau bumps into the Great Basin. This unique setting among mountains and high desert makes Cedar City an ideal location for year-round outdoor activities; from cycling, running and hiking in the summer to every winter sport imaginable.
For nearly a century, Cedar City has welcomed travelers from around the world who come to see the area’s amazing national parks and monuments. The city has grown up hosting visitors, and a unique culture of volunteerism and community involvement has become part of who we are as residents.
Utah Summer Games are held in Cedar City every year and goes through the whole month of June. Thousands of participants come from all over the state to compete in over 30 different sports. The opening ceremonies of the games always consist of a band and show followed by one of the best firework displays in Utah.
Learn more about the summer games
Utah Shakespeare Festival is the biggest event held in Cedar City. The festival starts at the end of June and usually goes through October. More than a hundred thousand people come from all over the country to see the plays that are put on each year.
Cedar City Half Marathon is a scenic downhill race that takes runners down the canyon of Highway 14. This event continues to grow each year, so make sure to sign up early.
Learn more about the half marathon
Cedar Ridge Golf Course is a nice 18-hole regulation course located at the base of Cedar Mountain. The course is home to SUU men’s and women’s golf teams as well as the golf teams from Cedar and Canyon View High Schools.
Cedar City Aquatic Center has it all. Located at the top of Leigh Hill the Aquatic Center boasts a basketball court, swimming pools, game rooms, ice skating rink and more.
Learn more about the aquatic center
Rock Climbing Wall at Southern Utah University is open to both students and the public. Here you can test your level of climbing and learn from professionals.
Learn more about the SUU rock wall
Parowan Gap is a short drive north of Cedar City and well worth your time. Several centuries ago Native Americans traveling through the area stopped and pecked designs onto the smooth face of large boulders located on the east side of the Parowan Gap.
Learn more about the Parowan Gap
SUU Swimming Pool has two large pools where you can learn to kayak, get certified in scuba diving or just go for a swim.
Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres has two theatres in Cedar City. One at the north end of town and one at the south end of town.
Brian Head Ski Resort is only 29 miles north of Cedar City which is great for students to get to early morning classes and still allow them to hit the slopes in the afternoon. Brian Head features 71 ski runs and over 650 acres of available terrain.
Sand Hollow Reservoir is a man-made reservoir located in Hurricane Utah, about 45 miles south of Cedar City. The reservoir is over 1,300 acres allowing for some great boating, fishing, or just swimming. Living in Cedar City has some amazing perks and having Sand Hollow so close is one of them.
There is so much elevation change in so little distance that there are days you can Ski at Brian Head for half day and then drive to the Lake and boat for the second half of the day.
Quail Creek Reservoir is a scenic park in the St George area just 45 minutes south of Cedar City. Quail Creek State Park boasts some of the warmest waters in the state and a mild winter climate luring boaters and anglers year-round. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie and other species.
Learn more about Quail Creek Reservoir
Navajo Lake recreation area is located atop Cedar Mountain, approximately 25 miles east of Cedar City. This pristine lake was originally known to the Paiute Indians as “Pa-Cu-Ay”, meaning “Cloud Lake”. Early pioneer settlers gave it its present name after a confrontation took place near the lake between the settlers and some traveling members of the Navajo tribe.
Cedar Bowling Center is located at the north end of town and offers league bowling as well as cosmic bowling every Friday & Saturday from 9pm – Midnight. They also have an arcade, air hockey, party room, big screen TVs, snack bar and great food.
Learn more about the bowling alley
Frontier Homestead State Park Museum located in Cedar City is a great place to relive the pioneer and early industrial history of Cedar City, Iron County, and southwest Utah through an extensive horse-drawn wagon collection, historic buildings, Paiute native camp, sawmill and replica blast furnace. Enjoy many hands-on activities and interpretive programs throughout the year, including children’s history camps and Christmas at the Homestead.
“C” Overlook and Trail is located just a half mile southeast of Cedar City. The “C Overlook” is located at the top of the trail and includes a parking and viewing area, benches, multiple informational signs, and the large white painted “C” on the mountain side. The overlook affords panoramic views of the region’s majestic mountain ranges, sage-studded valleys and quaint, rustic communities below.
The “C Trail” is rapidly becoming one of the region’s most popular hiking and biking areas. The trail covers an elevation change of 2,200 feet and winds 4.2 miles to the large white painted “C” on the mountainside.