From the intersection of Center Street and South Canyon Road (Rt. 143) in Parowan, Utah, drive south on Rt. 143. The trailhead to the pinnacles of Mount Messiaen is 8.8 miles down the road on the left. The turn onto this dirt road is not marked and not easily seen. Rt. 143 is a winding road, one lane in each direction. Shortly before the trailhead, the road curves sharply to the left, after which the northern peaks become visible, and then curves right. Due to the cover of the trees, the peaks are not readily seen from this stretch of the road. Follow the trail (a logging road) as it jigs left, then right. The cliffs are immediately to the left of the trail and the plaque is located to the right of the trail amidst some trees. The plaque is embedded onto the southern face of a small boulder about 40 yards northeast of where the dirt road quietly begins off of Rt. 143. It is orientated so that if you are reading the plaque, you are facing the white sandstone pinnacles, which extend from about 37°45’15” N to 37°44’30” N along the meridian at 112°50’10” W. From the trailhead, the entrance to Cedar Breaks is a further 7.1 miles south from Parowan. At 11.2 miles is Sunset View, the dramatic lookout at Cedar Breaks where Messiaen experienced the Gift of Awe honored in the fourth movement of Des Canyons.