NAME: Rattlesnake, #3051
LENGTH: 5.0 Miles
DIFFICULTY: More difficult
HIKING TIME: 4 Hours
TRAJLHEAD LOCATION:
From Cedar City take U-14 east to junction of State Road #148. Travel north on State Road #148 to junction of State Road #143. Follow #143 north, to the north end of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Trailhead is just outside the park boundary at an elevation of 10,460 feet.
DESCRIPTION:
The Rattlesnake trail follows Cedar Breaks boundary fence west, across a large alpine meadow and into a stand of spruce and fir. It continues along fence line before entering a small meadow, and to the edge of a rim looking into a beautiful view of the formation in Cedar Breaks and Ashdown Gorge. The trail starts a quick descent through a sidehill of mixed conifer and into a grass and aspen drainage. The trail crosses a large west facing bare slope then enters a thick stand of mature spruce and fir. The trail is easy to find through the thick timber. The trail leaves the thick timber and goes past a good stand of fir and ponderosa pine before entering Stud Flat. Stud Flat is a long grassy flat with a good view of all surrounding topography. Trail follows rock conifer stand and down to Rattlesnake Creek. Trail follows creek down hill past large ponderosa pine, pinyon, juniper and fir. Trail meets with High Mountain Trail, #052 before crossing creek and working around a grassy hillside can begin to see the rock channel of Ashdown Gorge. Trail then works down to private land, across a creek to a road in Ashdown. The trail follows road until it meets with Potato Hollow Trail #050.
PERTINENT USGS MAP(S): Brian Head, Flanigan Arch