Cedar City Utah Geology

Cedar City is located in the heart of Utah's red rock country. Close by are several national parks and monuments including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. The geology of this area is unique and majestic. Many features here are not seen any other place in the world.

Millions of years ago, the area around Cedar City, Utah was covered by a vast ocean. Over time, the ocean waters receded and the remaining sandstone was carved by the wind and water into fantastic rock formations of all sizes and shapes. The area is so unbelievable that you will have to see it to believe it.

Cedar City is a small community with a low cost of living and down home friendly people. Despite its small size, Cedar City has a major university – Southern Utah University – and it is home to the Tony Award Winning Utah Shakespearean Festival.

Geology is a favorite college topic due to the easily accessible examples found in the surrounding area. The area around Cedar City is most noted for hoodoos – pillar-like rock formations of various shapes and sizes. Within twenty miles of downtown, you will be awe struck by the magnificence of the rock temples, spires and domes at Cedar Breaks National Monument. In the Cedar Breaks amphitheater they literally crowd together to form magnificent castle-like scenes. Hoodoos are found in Cedar Breaks, Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. The limestone hoodoos of Cedar Breaks and Bryce Canyon appear similar, but the sandstone hoodoos in Zion National Park look like fossilized sand dunes. All of these amazing geological sights are within easy driving distance from Cedar City.