North Cedar City Tower Hill runs through the forested high ground north of Cedar City, Utah. The route climbs and drops through pine and juniper cover on a mix of rocky two-track and rutted dirt, gaining elevation gradually as it works toward the higher ground near Tower Hill. It is a good half-day run for a stock high-clearance 4x4 looking for a mix of climbing, loose rock, and forest scenery without needing a heavily modified rig.
Trail Summary
- Location: North of Cedar City, Iron County, Utah
- Distance: 16.57 miles
- Difficulty: Level 3 - Best suited for a high clearance 4x4
- Minimum Elevation: 5,580 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 6,692 ft
- Elevation Gain: 1,417 ft
- Travel Time: 2 hours 3 minutes recorded, 1 hour 25 minutes moving
Difficulty
Best suited for a high clearance 4x4
Stock vehicles with high ground clearance, 4WD capability, and off-road tires are recommended. Expect rock and undulated road surface with potential obstacles under 12 inches, such as ledges, drops, climbs, or shallow water crossings. Careful tire placement may be needed on the steeper, looser sections. The road narrows to one vehicle wide in places with occasional spots to pass.
Elevation
The route ranges from 5,580 feet at its lowest point to 6,692 feet at its highest, a spread of just over 1,100 feet. Total climbing over the run adds up to 1,417 feet, with 1,451 feet of descent, for a net elevation change of about 35 feet lower at the finish than the start. The climbing is spread out over the full distance rather than concentrated in one steep push, so grades stay moderate throughout.
Terrain
Expect mountain shelf roads and rocky two-track through pine and juniper forest. The trail alternates between gentle rolling sections and tighter, rockier stretches as it works its way toward the higher ground near Tower Hill. Surface conditions shift from packed dirt to loose rock depending on recent weather, and the road narrows in the wooded sections.
4WD Experience
A stock high-clearance 4x4 with all-terrain or mud-terrain tires handles this trail without issue in dry conditions. Low range comes in handy on a few of the steeper, looser climbs, but nothing on the route demands lockers or a lift. After rain or snowmelt, the rockier sections and any low spots can get greasy, so traction becomes more of a factor than clearance.
Travel Time
The recorded run took 2 hours 3 minutes total, including stops, with 1 hour 25 minutes of that spent moving at an average pace of roughly 5 mph. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle running the trail at a steady, unhurried pace should plan on 2 to 2.5 hours to allow for photo stops and careful tire placement on the rockier stretches.
Highlights
The trail's main draw is the forest cover and elevation gain, with views opening up at the higher points along the route. The mix of climbing and descending through the pine and juniper timber makes for a scenic, low-traffic drive close to Cedar City.
Trail GPS File
Map