Cedar Breaks and the Markagunt Plateau
The Markagunt Plateau makes up some of the highest country in southern Utah. The very name “Markagunt” is a Paiute word meaning “High Land of Trees.” As this name would imply, the Markagunt Plateau is a high elevation area, with Brian Head Peak reaching up to 11,306 feet above sea level. Lower reaches of the Markagunt are a juniper-pinyon woodland. As you climb to about 7,500 Feet Above Sea level, the forest type changes to more of an alpine forest with larger fir, spruce and quaking aspen. Bristlecone pine are found at Cedar Breaks, which are an extremely old and slow growing pine, able to withstand long droughts as well as extremely cold weather.
Some areas, such as Cedar Breaks National Monument, have weathered to become very similar in appearance to Bryce Canyon National Park, with red hoodoos and steep drop offs. The entire Markagunt Plateau is riddled with ancient volcanic activity. Near Duck Creek, you can see several miles of lava rock extending across the plateau.
There are several hiking trails and horseback riding trails all over the Markagunt. However, the large amounts of snow make the area most suitable for such activities in the summer and fall. The spring is plenty warm for such outdoor activities; but it is quite usual for snow drifts to remain and block trails and some roads well into June.
The primary access to the Markagunt Plateau is Utah Highway 14, which begins in Cedar City Utah and takes you to Long Valley Junction at Utah Highway 89, from which junction you may descend southward for Kanab and the Zion National Park or Grand Canyon National Park areas or you may head northward for Bryce Canyon National Park. It is Highway 14 that makes for a beautiful drive from Rising K Ranch to Bryce Canyon National Park. Many of our horseback riding guests at Rising K Ranch come from Zion National Park and ride with us before driving north on Utah Highway 14 to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Rather than being managed by the National Park Service,the Markagunt Plateau is largely made up of Dixie National Forest. This makes the area less restricted as far as access to hunting, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and just bringing your dogs and guns in general to go be free in the beauty of America!
