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What
to See and Do
| Hotels
| Camping
Parowan
calls itself the Mother Town of Southern Utah. It was the
first Mormon settlement in the area (1851), established
to foster mining, and provided a base for development of
other communities in the region. It's located north of
Cedar City, just off Interstate 15 in southwestern
Utah.
In
recent years, the people of Parowan have established a
Heritage Foundation to focus on the town's history, and
one of its projects is the Parowan Heritage Park, now
being planned and constructed with historic buildings
brought to the site. There are a number of beautiful
historic homes in the town, as well.
Brian
Head is a powder skiing favorite, and the small town
has become a destination resort that also operates as a
recreation and cultural center during summer months. It's
the northern gateway to Cedar Breaks, providing lodge and
B&B accommodations, plus several good places to eat.
There's fishing nearby at Panguitch Lake, Navajo Lake,
and the Yankee Meadow Reservoir.
What
to See & Do
The
Rock Church stands in the middle of the Parowan
town square. Completed in 1867, this building has been a
church, town council hall, school, and social hall. In
the 1940s, the church was restored by the Daughters of
Utah Pioneers, who now operate a historical museum in the
building. The Jesse N. Smith Home is located
across the square from the church. It was built out of
red adobe in 1857&endash;58, and the Smith family lived
here until 1880. It remained empty for many years and was
restored to become another museum. Tours through the
mansion can be arranged by phoning (435) 477-8728.
Parowan
Gap, a natural pass, is located 12 miles northwest of
Parowan. Indians passing through the Gap left messages on
the boulders here, and the petroglyphs feature drawings
of snakes, lizards, mouse-men, mountain sheep, and bear
claws. There's an information display at the Gap with the
story of the Indian migrations.
Brian
Head is both a mountain and a resort town. From the
11,207-foot peak, you can see the red rock pinnacles of
Cedar
Breaks National
Monument
and the surrounding Dixie National Forest. Brian Head is
a powder skiing favorite, and the small town has become a
destination resort that also operates as a recreation and
cultural center during summer months. It's the northern
gateway to Cedar Breaks, providing lodge and B & B
accommodations, plus several good places to eat. There's
fishing nearby at Panguitch Lake, Navajo Lake, and the
Yankee Meadow Reservoir. For accommodations, see page
164.
Between
the two towns lies Parowan Canyon. Highway 143
leads south from Parowan, passing through this scenic
canyon. Five miles up the canyon is the Vermillion Castle
picnic area and campground (called Five-Mile by locals).
Here one sees high, red cliff formations. Beyond the
castle area is the Yankee Meadow Reservoir mentioned
above. An alternate (4WD) route to the reservoir is
through Second Left-Hand Canyon, which leaves the highway
just beyond the Vermillion Castle turnoff. Beyond the
reservoir is Paragonah Canyon and the nearby Reed Creek
Reservoir. A stand of ancient bristlecone pines can be
seen by taking forest backroads along the north rim of
Cedar Breaks, starting at Brian Head.
In
Parowan
Swiss
Village Inn
P.O. Box 967, Parowan UT 84761
(435) 477-3391
Swiss decor marks this Best Western motel. It has 28
units, a heated pool, and in winter, an enclosed
whirlpool. There is also a restaurant here ($).
Jedediah's
Inn and Restaurant
625 W. 200 South, Parowan UT 84761
(435) 477-3326
As the name implies, this motor inn has a restaurant
attached, and there is also a lounge. There are 40 units
available, with cable TV, movies, and phones. It is open
year-round ($).
Parowan
Camping
Foothills
RV Park is open all year and has 79 RV sites with
full hookups, as well as 40 tent sites, water, showers,
toilets, laundry, and dump station (435-477-3535). Pit
Stop Campground has 20 RV and 34 tent sites, year-round
(435-477-9990).
In
Brian Head
Cedar
Breaks Lodge
223 Hunter Ridge Rd., Box 190248, Brian Head UT
84719
1-888-AT-CEDAR
This large hotel (170 rooms) has many amenities,
including sauna and steam room, indoor swimming pool and
fitness center, and full-service spa. The hotel offers
studio rooms including kitchenettes,and also "Parlor"
bedrooms with whirlpool tubs, a king or two queen beds,
and a sitting room with a sofa sleeper. Larger suites
provide two-bedrtoom accommodatons, plus units sleeping
up to ten adults. Three restaurants offer a wide range of
food and ambiance.
Copper
Chase Condominium Hotel
150 Ridge Road, P.O. Box 190218, Brian Head UT
84719
(435) 677-2890 or 800-468-4898
The Copper Chase is one of several facilities in town
with condominium units; this one has 65 available of
varying sizes, all with kitchens (fully furnished with
appliances and utensils) and some with hot tubs. Also
available to guests are a covered heated pool, whirlpool,
and weight room.
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