Kodachrome Basin is a sweet little state park that sees much less traffic than nearby national parks and has a mysterious past. We decided to dip into Kodachrome Basin while driving back from Escalante National Monument to our campground in Bryce Canyon National Park. To explore some of the areas, we did the Angel’s Palace hike, which is a well-marked 1.5 mile trail. Kodachrome is well-known for its monolithic sandstone spires, around which the origin is hotly debated in the science community. Consider taking a brief detour into Kodachrome Basin State Park on your next visit to the area.
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Angel’s Palace Hike
To explore Kodachrome, we decided to hike the Angel’s Palace hike. This 1.5 mile round trip hike is relatively easy. There is a short climb through a colorful rock valley onto a butte known as Angel’s Palace. On top of the butte, there are three loops that take you to gorgeous views of the Kodachrome Basin and near the spires. They way they stick out of the ground is otherworldly. Marked with arrows to guide you, the loops make the trail a little confusing. But don’t worry to much about getting lost around the top of the butte because it is a small area. Head around in a large circle until you arrive back at the start of where you climbed the butte.
While on the hike, be sure to walk out onto the overlooks. It is a dramatic view with drop-offs on both sides can be a little nerve-wracking if you’re scared of heights. I loved it! The hike took us a little over an hour with a lot of stops to take pictures and take in the beauty of the butte and spires. We saw maybe two other people on the trail the entire time… but it was the hottest part of the day in summer, which may have deterred some people
There are more hikes in Kodachrome Basin State Park ranging from .5 miles to 6 miles round trip. I was curious to see Shakespeare Arch, the only natural arch in the park, but after hiking to Zebra Slot in Escalante National Monument and Angel’s Palace we felt satisfied with our day. But check out the Kodachrome Basin State Park Map for more information.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars, would go again, but at a cooler time of year
- Intensity: Casual clothes, walking shoes
- Location: Southern Utah
- Cost: $8 per vehicle
- Restrooms: At the entrance building and again in the parking lot across from the Angel’s Palace Trailhead
- Timing: 1 – 2 hours
- Distance: 1.5 miles on the Angel’s Palace Trail
Highlights:
- Very few crowds
- Beautiful views of the Kodachrome formations and surrounding valley
Lowlights:
- Very hot with little shade
What are the spires in Kodachrome?
There are 67 sandstone columns in Kodachrome Basin, thought to be the only ones like them in the world. They stand between 2 and 52 meters high. The origins of the columns/pipes/spires are still undecided in the scientific community, but a few main theories exist.
- The area once has geysers and hot springs like in Yellowstone National Park, which filled with sediment and solidified. Millions of years later the land surrounding the solidified sediment eroded and the spires remained. However, when scientists took a closer look, the flow of the sandstone sediment does not have the chaotic flow that would be evident if a geyer/hot springs filled up.
- While other theories suggest the spires are a result of tectonic activity and liquefied sediment pushed toward the surface. The argument against this theory is the amount of pressure and liquefaction needed to have the sediment pushed toward the surface. Seismic waves could have provided the pressure.
Check out scientific sources for the technical terms and in-depth descriptions.
Where does the Kodachrome name come from?
In 1948, the National Geographic Society explored and photographed the area for their September 1949 issue and named the area Kodachrome after the new brand of film they used from Kodak. In 1962, the area was designated as a state park, but the name changed to Chimney Rock State Park fearing the legal ramifications from Kodak. A few years later, Kodak granted permission to use the name and the state park was renamed Kodachrome Basin State Park. When Kodak was discontinuing the product, they asked a National Geographic photographer to shoot the final roll of Kodachrome film.
Pack this For a Hike in Kodachrome!
Well-Maintained Touches of Kodachrome
One thing I noticed at Kodachrome was how well-maintained the park was! Starting with the entrance, the ranger was incredibly helpful and allowed us to use the restroom before deciding whether to go into the park. When we finally decided and paid the $8 for our vehicle, the ranger gave us a 2 dollar bill back as our change. How cute to make an effort to give out 2-dollar bills, which you don’t see too often anymore, as change. On the Angel’s Palace hike, it is evident that the trail is well-cared for with many sign-posts with arrows to point out the trail. The park was quiet when we visited and I imagined the ranger lovingly taking care of all these small details in the absence of guests… but I could be making it up.
Getting There
We drove to Kodachrome Basin using googlemaps. There are signs from HWY 12 leading you to the state park entrance. It took us a good hour to 1.5 hours to get from Escalante to Kodachrome because is about 20 minutes off of HWY 12. It took about a half hour from Kodachrome Basin to get back to our camp at Bryce Canyon National Park. Check out more detailed instructions to get to Kodachrome on the State Park website.
Overall Thoughts: Kodachrome and Angel’s Palace
After hiking in the midday heat at Escalante, we nearly skipped Kodachrome State Park, but I am glad we stopped. The park is so quiet in comparison to the nearby National Parks. Angel’s Palace was an unexpected, but fun little trail, which would be great for families. Though we didn’t totally plan it, the combination of a wild experience in Escalante and the absurd spires in Kodachrome made for a great day exploring the quiet areas of southern Utah. It makes you wonder how many areas are just as picturesque without a state park, national monument, or national park designation. Here’s what we did in the area:
- Escalante National Monument
- Bryce Canyon Hikes and Camping
What state parks have you been to that were a surprising little delight? There are SOOOO many state parks out there that I feel like I take them for granted in terms of how much it takes to maintain the services. It makes me want to explore more of them.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
