Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
50.00 ft (15.24 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
2.00 mi (3.22 km)
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Chessman Loop is a fun and easy way to walk through beautiful forest to see the hoodoos and spires of Cedar Breaks National Monument in the distance. Located next to the overlook by the same name, the highly elevated walk overlaps a bit with the nearby Alpine Pond Loop. These two trails might not give you the stunning sights of Spectra Point, but they are much safer, especially in bad weather, because they are off of the canyon rim. The charming trail has a great feel to it and gives you much more opportunities to see Cedar Breaks than the nearby Alpine Pond Loop.

Keep an eye out for many wildflowers and the occasional bristlecone pine. Also keep an eye out for deer, porcupine, and plentiful mushrooms that grow thanks to the higher-than-normal precipitation the area gets. The elevation gain is minimal thanks to the elevation of the trailhead at 10,500 feet. The heavily wooded trail stays nicely shaded in the early and late parts of the day. The weather changes quickly here so be careful.

The upper loop is nothing spectacular; consider a there-and-back on the lower trail.

Logistics + Planning

Current Weather: Powered by Dark Sky

Clear throughout the day.
Sat
54°F
33°
Clear throughout the day.
Sun
60°F
42°
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
Mon
62°F
46°
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
Tue
62°F
44°
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
Wed
61°F
43°
Mostly cloudy throughout the day.
Thu
61°F
45°
Mostly cloudy throughout the day.
Fri
64°F
41°

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

General Day Use Fee

Pros

Short and easy. Great views of Cedar Breaks hoodoos.

Cons

The upper loop isn't spectacular.

Trailhead Elevation

10,490.00 ft (3,197.35 m)

Features

Bird watching
Wildlife
Big vistas
Old-growth forest
Wildflowers
Geologically significant

Location

Nearby Adventures

Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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