Kodachrome Basin State Park sits just 20 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon National Park and adjacent to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This location makes it an ideal detour for travelers exploring Highway 89 in southern Utah. The park is accessible via a paved road off Scenic Byway 12.

A friend once told me, “Kodachrome is one of the weirdest places I’ve ever seen.” Her face registered dislike with a wrinkled nose and screwed up lip. To this day, I’ll never understand what she didn’t like about it. The incredible quiet? The extraordinary sandstone spires? The exquisitely dark skies with the brilliant Milky Way stretching from one end of the sky to the other?

Origins of the Park’s Name

The park received its distinctive name in 1949 when a National Geographic expedition visited the area. The seventy red-tinged monolithic spires set against a deep blue sky with dusty green pinyon and bristlecone pine trees spread across acres of red ground create a stunning palette. This photogenic quality inspired the National Geographic Society to get permission from the Kodak Film Corporation to name the park after Kodak’s Kodachrome film, famous for its rich color reproduction.

Landscape and Geology

Kodachrome Basin’s most notable features are its 67 stone spires, called sedimentary pipes or chimneys. These monolithic structures rise from the basin floor, some reaching heights of over 170 feet. Geologists believe these pipes formed when ancient springs or geysers filled with sediment, which hardened over time. As the surrounding softer material eroded away, these harder columns remained.

The park’s landscape showcases layers of sandstone, siltstone, and limestone in colors ranging from white and tan to deep red. These layers tell a story of the area’s past as an ancient lake bed and floodplain from 180 million years ago.

Wildlife

The park hosts diverse desert wildlife adapted to the arid conditions. Visitors might spot mule deer, foxes, rabbits, and a variety of rodents. Birdwatchers can find canyon wrens, ravens, and occasionally golden eagles soaring overhead. During morning and evening hours, wildlife activity increases, offering better viewing opportunities.

Reptiles like western whiptail lizards and occasionally rattlesnakes can be seen during warmer months. The park’s plant life includes pinyon pines, junipers, sagebrush, and various desert wildflowers that bloom spectacularly in spring.

Quiet and Solitude

Unlike its famous neighbor, Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin offers a tranquil experience away from crowds. Hiking the half-mile Nature Trail during the day, the only sounds you might hear are birds and your own footsteps crunching along the compact surface. Lizards scurry across the smooth swirls of slickrock, while ravens glide overhead before settling on nearby hills. The twisted trunk of a bristlecone pine might summon you to pause and acknowledge it as an elder of the park, one of the oldest living things there.

The park’s relative obscurity makes it perfect for visitors seeking peace and quiet among stunning rock formations. Early mornings and weekdays provide the most solitude, allowing you to connect with nature without distraction.

International Dark Sky Park

Kodachrome Basin earned the prestigious International Dark Sky Park designation due to its exceptional stargazing conditions. When the sun goes down, this park transforms into an astrophotographer’s paradise. The park’s remote location and minimal light pollution create ideal conditions for observing the night sky. On clear nights, the Milky Way appears dramatically bright, stretching from one end of the sky to the other.

The Nature Trail becomes the perfect place to capture the Milky Way and star trails with a landscape of stone spires and bristlecone pines without wandering far from your campsite. The park offers ranger-led stargazing programs during the summer months. These educational sessions help visitors identify constellations, planets, and other celestial objects visible in the pristine dark skies.

Campground

You will most certainly want to camp here, where each site sits in its own little alcove of trees near restrooms with hot showers. The park features a well-maintained campground with 31 sites, including both standard and RV sites with electrical hookups. Each site provides a fire pit, picnic table, and access to modern restrooms. Ten additional sites are available at the Basin Campground for a more primitive camping experience.

When you’re ready to relax for the night, cozy up to your campfire under the starlight, listen to the coyotes, and get swept away by the magic of the West at night. 

Hiking Trails

Kodachrome Basin offers several hiking trails ranging from easy strolls to moderate day hikes:

• Angel’s Palace Trail (1.5 miles): Offers panoramic views of the basin from elevated viewpoints.
• Panorama Trail (6 miles): The park’s most comprehensive trail, showcasing unique features like Cool Cave and Secret Passage.
• Shakespeare Arch-Sentinel Trail (1.7 miles): While the arch collapsed in 2019, the trail still offers excellent views of the Sentinel Spire.
• Grand Parade Trail (1.5 miles): An accessible, mostly flat trail perfect for families and casual hikers.

These trails wind through diverse terrain, providing up-close views of the park’s geological wonders and opportunities to spot wildlife. Most trails are best hiked in the morning or evening hours to avoid summer heat.

For visitors with limited time, the short Nature Trail near the visitor center provides a quick introduction to the park’s distinctive features and plant life.

For more information about Kodachrome Basin State Park, visit: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/kodachrome-basin/