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Cedar Breaks: Highways 143 and 148, Markagunt Plateau, Utah
Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Utah Zion, Bryce and Southwest Utah

Cedar Breaks: Highways 143 and 148

UT 143, UT 148 · Parowan → Highway 14

Sweeping24 mi45 min4,900 ft climbHigh point ≈ 10,600 ftOne way
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The drive

This drive climbs from the town of Parowan, near I-15, up Parowan Canyon on Highway 143 to Brian Head, then follows Highway 148 along the rim of Cedar Breaks National Monument. The canyon climb comes first and it is steep, about 4,900 feet in all. The high point is 10,600 feet.

At the monument the road runs beside a rim that the park describes as sitting above 10,000 feet. The drive ends at Highway 14, where you can turn for Cedar City or Duck Creek. It's mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch around miles 10 to 12.

It's a high-country road with a short season. Highway 148 through the monument closes for winter.

Along the way

  1. Parowan
  2. Brian Head
  3. Cedar Breaks rim
  4. Highway 14
Elevation
4,900 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 10,600 ft
ParowanHighway 14
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
ParowanHighway 14
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Highway 148 through Cedar Breaks usually closes to vehicles from about mid-November to mid-May, depending on snow, and Highway 143 can close for days in heavy storms.
  • Stopping at the monument requires an entrance fee.
  • The road is above 10,000 feet at the monument, so expect cold, wind and weather changes even in summer.

UT-148 through Cedar Breaks closes by snow from about mid-November to late May. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Cedar Breaks National Monument: Current Conditions.

Questions about this drive

Is the road through Cedar Breaks open in winter?

No. Highway 148 through Cedar Breaks usually closes to vehicles from about mid-November to mid-May, depending on snowpack. Highway 143 stays open most of the year but can close during storms.

How long does the Highway 143 and 148 drive take?

Parowan to Highway 14 is 23.9 miles and takes about 45 minutes. It climbs about 4,900 feet to a high point of 10,600 feet.

Is there a fee to drive through Cedar Breaks?

The monument charges an entrance fee for visitors who stop. Check the park's fees page for the current amount.

Which way is this drive?

It runs south from Parowan up Parowan Canyon to Brian Head and Cedar Breaks, then ends at Highway 14.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

Map of Cedar Breaks: Highways 143 and 148, from Parowan to Highway 14