Hike Utah’s Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park is a short 30-minute drive east of Bryce Canyon National Park. It offers a variety of hiking trails in landscapes boasting a variety of colors, rock formations and wildflowers.
If you stop in the visitor’s center to grab a souvenir, I caution you: Paul Simon’s song, Kodachrome, may end up stuck in your head. It’s often playing on loop, which I’m sure drives the park rangers looney. 😉
Here’s a rundown on the hiking trails you can explore in Kodachrome Basin State Park.
NOTE: Summers in Utah can be extremely hot. Especially in this type of terrain. Be sure you have plenty of water with you (2 liters per person). Wear sunscreen and a hat to provide some shade.
Angel’s Palace Loop Trail
I’ve hiked this trail several times. It’s a quick hike, but offers some great views of the landscapes below and above. There is really only one steep part of the trail on your way to the plateau. Once you reach the plateau, follow the loop trail around to different viewpoints.
Some of the best viewpoints are also associated with steep cliffs or narrow trail sections. If you’ve got young kids with you, I would encourage you to keep them close to you. Once you finish the loop across the plateau, follow the trail back down the way you came up.
DISTANCE: 1.5 mile loop
TIME: 30-60 minutes
CATEGORY: easy/moderate
Panorama Loop Trail
The Panorama Loop Trail in Kodachrome Basin State Park offers some great variety and little offshoots to some fun areas. Overall, the trail is pretty flat, so it’s great for the whole family to enjoy. There are some sandy areas of the trail, but we didn’t have any issues with that.
Along the way you can stop at Indian Cave for a quick water break in the shade. Next up is Ballerina Spire, followed by Hat Shop. Each are interesting rock formations. But while hiking, it’s always fun to see what things you can see in the rocks. We saw a garden gnome head with his tall pointy hat and big nose.
Secret Passage is one of the offshoot trails. It takes you to a little alcove with a short (maybe 50 yards) slot canyon. We had some fun playing around in that area before resuming our hike.
The farthest point on the trail is Cool Cave. We didn’t make it all the way there, as that would’ve made it about a 6-mile hike and our kids weren’t in the mood. But it’s on my list to explore on a future trip.
You can also see Mammoth Geyser on your way back from Cool Cave. But I will point out that it’s a rock formation, not an actual geyser like what you’ll find in Yellowstone National Park.
DISTANCE: 3 to 6 mile loop
TIME: 1-3 hours (depending on the time you spend in the “extras”)
CATEGORY: easy/moderate
Grand Parade Trail
While Angel’s Palace Trail takes you up to a plateau, Grand Parade Trail takes you across the basin floor. Hikers may encounter horses or cyclists on parts of the trail.
Along the way, you’ll see some wildflowers, desert cacti and maybe a lizard or two. There are some box canyons you can explore along the trail. It’s an easy trail, making it perfect for families.
DISTANCE: 1.5 mile loop
TIME: 1 hour
CATEGORY: Easy
Nature Trail
Nature Trail is a paved .5 mile loop. Along the way, numbers help people learn about the plants, rocks and wildlife of Kodachrome Basin State Park. There are also benches along the way if you need to take a break.
Since the trail is paved, it’s doable with wheelchairs or strollers, and givers visitors a taste of what the other trails have to offer when it comes to exploring the area.
DISTANCE: 0.5-mile loop
TIME: 30 minutes
CATEGORY: Easy
Eagle’s View Trail
This trail is currently closed (as of June 2020). Check in at the park entrance to see if it’s reopened.
Eagle’s View Trail is listed as strenuous for a reason. It rises 500 feet in the first .25 miles of the half-mile trail. So to say it’s uphill is an understatement. But once you make it to the top, you’ll marvel at the view it offers of Kodachrome Basin State Park.
DISTANCE: 1 mile roundtrip
TIME: 1 hour
CATEGORY: Strenuous
Shakespeare Arch/Sentinel Trail
We were disappointed to learn that Shakespeare Arch is no longer an arch. It collapsed in early 2019. But that doesn’t mean the trail isn’t worth taking.
The trail is a loop, but the difficulty level varies. The first 0.5 miles out to Shakespeare Arch is easy, but if you continue past the arch, it becomes moderate to difficult as you cross slickrock and other more challenging features.
The trail does offer some great views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which surrounds the state park.
DISTANCE: 1.7-mile loop
TIME: 1-3 hours (depending on if you make the full loop or just hike to the arch and back)
CATEGORY: Easy to Shakespeare Arch; Moderate to Difficult thereafter.
The Details:
Address: 8 miles south of Cannonville, Utah
Cost: $10 per vehicle ($5 for Utah seniors). Campgrounds are an additional fee, ranging from $25-$35 for single sites. There are also bunkhouses at $85 per night (up to six people).
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/kodachrome-basin/
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