What is the difference between a National Monument and a National Park?

A National Park is declared by an act of Congress, while a National Monument is declared by the President.

Why are all the trees dying?

As you drive up to the Monument, you will notice all the dead Engelmann Spruce trees. This is because of the Spruce Bark Beetle. The beetle is an endemic species to the Plateau. This is a natural process that the trees go through. Because it was a Spruce Bark Beetle, the other trees (Subalpine Firs, Bristlecone Pines, et cetera) were not affected by the beetle and will slowly replace the Engelmann Spruce. To learn more about this topic, visit our Why Are the Trees Dying brochure and site discussing the Spruce Bark Beetle.

Why is it called Cedar Breaks?

Cedar refers to the juniper trees that were mistaken for cedars that grow on the slopes below the park. Breaks describes the eroded badlands where the edge of the plateau breaks away to a lower area.  

Why is there a fee?

The funds collected for entry have been, and will continue to be, used for maintenance, repair projects, public service programs, signs, and natural and historical resource preservation. To learn more about why fees were implented, visit our fee site discussing this issue.