How to Explore the World’s Best Backyard
Posted: August 31, 2023 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 2 minutes
There are so many breathtaking places to experience the great outdoors and Southern Utah University is right in the middle of several National Parks, National Monuments, and other bucket-list stops. Going to SUU allows students premium access to all these geographic wonders. Along with lots of outdoor activities and educational recreation opportunities provided by the university, there are many other ways to explore the world’s best backyard.
Locations Within Three Hours of Cedar City
Not only is there a great scenic background in the city, but SUU is only a short distance away from lots of popular attractions. Brian Head Resort, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Zions National Park are all within an hour of the university.
A little further down the road, one may happen upon Bryce Canyon National Park, which is a ninety-minute drive from SUU. In the three-hour zone, students can travel to Las Vegas, Nevada; Great Basin National Park, Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Capitol Reef.
Locations Within Five Hours of Cedar City
Salt Lake City, Utah is only a mere three and a half hours from SUU. Directly to the southeast, travelers may come across Arches National Park, Colorado National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, and the world-famous Four Corners. Just beyond that is Flagstaff, Arizona- about five hours south of Cedar City.
Four hours northwest of Cedar City is the Great Salt Lake. Four hours in the opposite direction you can find Death Valley and the Mojave Desert.
Location Within a Day's Travel of Cedar City
Hoping to go out of state for spring break? Look no further than neighboring nature attractions!
The Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona is about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Cedar City.
Interstate National Parks within an eight-hour journey include Mesa Verde, Chaco Culture, Petrified Forest, Joshua Tree, and Sequoia. Rocky Mountain National Park is about a ten-hour drive. The three National Monuments across nearby state lines are Hovenweep, Dinosaur, and Canyon de Chelly.
Other destination locations that aren’t categorized as National Parks include Phoenix, Arizona; Sedona, Arizona; Disneyland, Hollywood, and Huntington Beach. Topping the list at a twelve-hour travel period is San Francisco, California.
Students are encouraged to get outside and adventure beyond their zip code to see what the world has to offer. Plus, be sure to explore the quirky roadside attractions on the way to your destination. After all, it’s not the destination that matters–it’s the journey. Visit SUU Outdoors to learn about upcoming trips, find equipment for any and all nature-based adventures, schedule a challenge course, and more!
Check out our University of the Parks layer in the Campus Map for an interactive look at places to explore near Cedar City!
Tags: Outdoor Recreation Cedar City Outdoors CurStu First Year Experience
