Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

While you’re scratching off that summer bucket list, there’s one more thing you should squeeze in before school starts: hiking in Cedar City.

As you traverse the beautiful desert terrain and get your heart pumping on some steep mountainside climbs, you might feel as if you’ve stumbled into another world entirely. But if you’re just looking for some kid-friendly, easy-going trails to explore before your Utah Shakespeare Festival play starts, there’s plenty of that, too. There’s something for every age and skill level, so fill your backpack with some tasty trail mix, bring plenty of water, lather up the sunscreen and get ready to start exploring!

Here are a few places in or around Cedar City that offer great easy, moderate and challenging hiking options.

Alpine Pond Trail

When you’re looking for something easy, kid-friendly and picturesque for your summer hike, the Alpine Pond Trail in Cedar Breaks National Monument checks all of those boxes. This 2.2-mile loop should take less than an hour to complete unless you want to take your time bird watching and admiring the wildflowers. Be aware that no dogs are allowed on this trail and Cedar Breaks National Monument charges a fee to enter. However, the beautiful views are well worth the price of admission!

Kanarra Falls Trail

Some hikes are so popular that only a certain number of visitors are allowed per day. The Kanarra Falls Trail is one of them. With a natural pool and small waterfalls waiting at the top of the climb, it’s no wonder so many people are eager to give this one a try. This hike requires walking in a stream all the way up the canyon, climbing a 20-foot aluminum ladder and scaling a large boulder. Bringing your sturdy, waterproof hiking boots and hiking poles is a good idea, but bringing small children probably isn’t. If you hope to be one of the lucky daily hikers, you’ll need to purchase a ticket at kanarrafalls.com. Only 150 tickets are sold per day, so act fast!

Lichen It

A gentle, easy trail that meanders its way up the mountain, the Lichen It trail in Cedar City is 1.5 miles long. It’s popular for bikers, trail runners and dog walkers, and it’s a good one if you’re looking for a simple way to hit your daily cardio goals.

Thor’s Hideout Trail

Though you won’t find the hammer-wielding God of Thunder at the top, Thor’s Hideout Trail does give you a stunning view of Cedar City once you make your way through…