Discover Cedar City

Cedar City combines historic architecture, museums, trails, and water activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cedar City, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: culture and history, outdoor activities, or water-based activities. The offerings also vary in terms of their stated times and distances.

Architecture and Theater History

The area of the Cedar City Historic District between Shakespeare Lane and 200 South, and between 100 West and 300 West, was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Its historic buildings represent a wide range of architectural styles from the 1880s to the mid-1960s. This highlights a long period of architectural development. The Utah Shakespeare Festival has a different historical starting point: young theater professor Fred C. Adams founded it in 1961.

Art and History in the Museums

The Southern Utah Museum of Art on the Southern Utah University campus in Cedar City displays works by regional artists. The Garth & Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History at Southern Utah University has a different focus. It is dedicated to the study and collection of natural history; interactive exhibits illustrate humanity’s connection with the natural world. The two fields of interest are therefore distinct: regional art on one hand, and natural science and the relationship between people and nature on the other.

The Frontier Homestead State Park Museum brings the early history of Cedar City and Southern Utah to life through interactive displays and exhibits. During the summer season, the museum offers hands-on activities, including gold panning, lasso practice, and pioneer-style laundry. Here, a look at early regional history combines with seasonal activities for visitors to try.

Outdoor Trails

Cedar Canyon Park has a 3.5-mile paved, scenic walking path along the banks of Coal Creek, leading into Cedar Canyon. Cedar City’s multi-use trail network is open to pedestrians, hikers, runners, and cyclists. If you want to plan a route with a specified distance, the length of the park trail is provided; the citywide trail network appeals to different groups through its range of uses.

Water Activities and Seasonality

Paddleboard and kayak rentals are available at Lake at the Hills from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you’re planning a visit specifically for paddling, choose a date within this period and check the latest information for your visit date in advance.

The family-friendly Cedar City Aquatic Center at the southern end of Cedar City offers a splash pad, a lap pool, a lazy river, a waterslide, and a hot tub. In addition to seasonal rentals at the lake, there are other specifically named water activities to choose from within the city.

Regional Air Travel

Cedar City Regional Airport is a commercial aviation facility serving the air travel needs of Cedar City and Iron County, Utah.

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