Traces in Stone and Time
Parowan Gap is a three-mile-long pass through the Red Hills between Parowan Valley and northern Cedar Valley. At the Parowan Gap Dinosaur Track Site, a trail passes dinosaur tracks exposed as natural casts on fallen sandstone blocks of the Iron Springs Formation. Here, you can encounter not only the impressions themselves but also their distinctive form as natural casts.
The Parowan Gap Petroglyphs preserve a different kind of trace. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its significance as a cultural treasure. Petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks offer different perspectives: one centers on cultural heritage, the other on the visible forms of tracks in sandstone.
Plateau, High Desert, and Forest
Cedar Breaks National Monument lies in Iron County on the western edge of the Markagunt Plateau. The night sky can be observed there year-round. Highway 148 runs through the monument, connecting National Scenic Byway 143 with Highway 14. This road connection makes it possible to take a scenic loop through Cedar City, Cedar Breaks, Brian Head, and Parowan. In winter, roads may be closed to cars.
The landscapes also change across the Color Country OHV Trail System: the western loops pass through high-desert landscapes, while the eastern sections cross forested terrain. The system connects scenic areas of Iron County with trail systems in neighboring counties. The route may continue to expand as new sections are completed.
Cultural Sites and History
The Frontier Homestead State Park Museum presents the pioneer and early industrial history of Cedar City, Iron County, and southwestern Utah. Its offerings include a large collection of horse-drawn wagons, historic buildings, an exhibit on Indigenous heritage, a sawmill, and a replica blast furnace. Hands-on activities and interpretive programs also include Sheep-to-Shawl and Iron Mission Days; dates may change, so it’s worth checking the current event calendar.
Old Iron Town preserves the ruins of an ironworks, a surviving beehive-shaped charcoal kiln, and a nature trail. The Utah Shakespeare Festival offers another cultural highlight: founded in 1961, it welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year from across the country and around the world. Its program changes by season; check event dates when planning a visit.
Activities and Practical Information
Brian Head Resort covers more than 650 acres across the connected Giant Steps and Navajo mountains. Summer activities include mountain biking, a mini zipline, chairlift rides, disc golf, a batting cage, a bungee trampoline, a climbing wall, and Avalanche Tubing. Seasonal offerings and operations may change, so check the latest information as you plan.
Bike trails for all skill levels run throughout Iron County. Mountain biking and hiking trails are accessible from Rocky Peak Campground; conditions on site may vary. The Ironside Disc Golf Course has two baskets at every hole, creating two courses in one. For a camping trip, Three Peaks Campground offers 155 acres within the 6,000-acre Three Peaks Recreation Area. Its 17 sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis; availability may vary. There is also the Bulloch Pavilion, a day-use pavilion for groups, as well as a group campsite with its own pavilion.
The Festival City Farmers Market is another place to discover local offerings: it takes place year-round every Saturday at 100 West Center Street in Cedar City. Check seasonal details before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Cedar City, Parowan, Brian Head, Hanover County, Juab, Sanpete County, San Juan County, Emery.
For the broader travel overview: Utah.
