Visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park

KODACHROME – GIVE US THOSE NICE BRIGHT COLORS

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away
(Paul Simon)

VISITING KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK

When you visit Bryce Canyon National Park, the adventure doesn’t need to end there.  Within fairly short drive times, you can reach several other destinations to explore.  Read along as we talk about visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park. This state park is a great consideration as part of your visit in the area.

GETTING TO THE PARK

We drove to the park from the Cannonville KOA where our Airstream would await our return. From the town of Cannonville, we drove east on Kodachrome Road. In just under 15 minutes, we arrived at a fork in the road.  If we drove straight, we would be taken down a dirt road.  Several cars ahead of us were debating which way to go.  Our choice was to turn left, continuing on a paved road, which was the direction to the Kodachrome Basin State Park official entrance in this area.  At the gate, we paid an entry fee of $10.

NUMEROUS HIKING OPTIONS

Following a very long hike in Bryce Canyon on the Fairyland Loop the prior day, we selected two shorter hikes at Kodachrome.  We hiked the Grand Parade Trail and Angel’s Palace Trail.  More info and photos coming in separate blog posts.  

Other popular trails in the park include the Panorama, Sentinel and Shakespeare Arch full loop trails.  Among these, you’ll find a variety of trails with various lengths and difficulty levels.

HOW DID KODACHROME BASIN GET ITS NAME?

It is an unusual name, isn’t it?  Which came first – the name of the park, or the famous Kodak brand film?  Well, in 1948, the National Geographic Society and the Explorers Club of New York organized an expedition.  Their mission was to explore one of the least known wild areas in the United States.  This last frontier in Utah was known as Escalante Land.

The expedition included local guides from several nearby towns including Cannonville, Tropic, Henrieville, and Panguitch.  When they arrived at a place known by the locals as “Thorley Pasture,” the NGS explorers were surprised by the unique and dramatic landscape they discovered here.

“It was a beautiful and fantastic country…we renamed it ‘Kodachrome Flat’ because of the astonishing variety of contrasting colors in the formations.” (Jack Breed, National Geographic Magazine 1949)

In the 1960s, the area was set aside as a State Reserve.  And at this time, the name was officially changed, with consent form the Kodak Film Corporation, to Kodachrome Basin which reflected the unique geology found here.

As you might gather from the name of this state park, you would be advised to travel here with a camera in your possession.  

DON’T BUST THE CRUST!

The soil here is cryptobiotic.  It’s dark, bumpy and it just looks different. In fact, it’s more than just dirt.  The soil is actually alive – made up of cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses, microfungi and bacteria.  This miniature community of organisms absorbs water, prevents erosion by wind and water, provides nitrogen and helps seeds find a safe place to germinate.

Because the soil is so special, it’s especially important to stay on the trails.  This way, you can do your part to not bust the crust.  Walking on the cryptobiotic soil will crush the tiny organisms and damage their ability to absorb water, withstand wind and hold soil particles together.  It can take decades to recover.

ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC SPOTS IN UTAH

Kodachrome Basin Start Park is one of the most scenic spots in Utah.  This geological wonderland sparks the imagination and overwhelms the senses.  Sixty-seven monolithic stone spires are found in or near the park and more than 180 million years of geologic time are revealed in the multi-colored rock surfaces.

A VARIETY OF TREASURES FOR VISITORS

Today the park features more than 12 miles of recreational trails, a 27-site campground with modern restrooms, two group-use areas and a visitor center.  Travelers from all over the world come to hike, camp, photograph and marvel at the natural beauty of Kodachrome Basin.

VISITOR CENTER

We stopped at the visitor’s center on the way out. There were a few postcards and clothing items for sale. They had a decent book selection considering this is a smallish center. We were hoping for more information on the park itself; it felt somewhat sparse.

TOP TIPS FOR VISITING KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK

• Plan a half day minimum
• Stop at the Visitor Center to get current conditions and advise for your visit
• Identify which hike(s) will suit your difficulty level and time available
• Bring your camera and take lots of pictures

MORE TO SEE AND DO

We scratched the surface when we ventured out for visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park. A future visit can let us explore even more hiking trails, and who knows, even set up camp in the park.

Oh yeah, and we did bring the trusty Nikon camera!