Sixty-seven ancient stone spires rise from a desert basin surrounded by Grand Staircase-Escalante, with dog-friendly trails and uncrowded solitude 30 minutes from Bryce Canyon.
Kodachrome Basin State Park covers 2,240 acres of canyon country in southern Utah, about nine miles south of Cannonville off Scenic Byway 12. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument surrounds the park on three sides. Bryce Canyon National Park is 30 minutes northwest.
The defining feature is the 67 sedimentary pipes scattered across the basin floor and protruding from sandstone walls. These monolithic spires range from six to 170 feet tall, with Chimney Rock being the tallest and most recognizable.
Geologists believe the pipes are remnants of ancient geysers and hot springs, solidified sediment left standing after millions of years of erosion wore away the softer surrounding Entrada sandstone. A 1948 National Geographic Society expedition photographed the area and named it after Kodak's Kodachrome color film. The name stuck, and the park became an official state park in 1962.
The trail system is compact and manageable in a single day. Angel's Palace Trail is the standout: a 1.5-mile loop that climbs onto a sandstone mesa with overlooks in every direction. Views stretch across the basin's spires, south toward the park entrance, and west to white sandstone ridges. The spur viewpoints are narrow with steep drop-offs, so keep children close.
Panorama Trail runs through the western side of the park as a 3-mile loop, passing Ballerina Spire, the Hat Shop (a cluster of capped hoodoos), and Secret Passage. An optional extension adds Cool Cave and Mammoth Spire for a 6-mile total.
Grand Parade Trail is a flat 1.5-mile walk through two box canyons, and the 0.5-mile Nature Trail near the campground is wheelchair accessible with interpretive panels on local plants, animals, and geology.
In the park's quieter southeast corner, the Shakespeare Arch and Sentinel Trail makes a 1.7-mile loop through open desert with views into Grand Staircase-Escalante. Shakespeare Arch collapsed in 2019, but the Sentinel spire and the surrounding landscape make the walk worthwhile.
Entry is $10 per vehicle, covering up to eight people. The Utah State Parks Annual Pass ($125 for residents) covers day-use admission. The park is open year-round from 6 AM to 10 PM with no holiday closures. The gate locks at 10 PM.
Three campgrounds offer roughly 50 individual sites plus group areas:
Basin Campground is the largest, with standard and full hook-up sites
Arch Campground has power and water hookups
Bryce View Campground is seasonal with no hookups
Two bunkhouse cabins ($95/night) have bunks, heating, AC, and a fridge but no running water. Bring your own bedding. Reservations can be made up to four months in advance through Reserve America, and peak-season sites fill quickly.
Dogs are welcome throughout the park, including on all trails, as long as they stay on a leash no longer than six feet. Waste stations are located throughout. This makes Kodachrome a strong alternative for visitors with dogs who cannot access unpaved trails at Bryce Canyon. Summer sandstone surfaces can burn paw pads, so plan early or late hikes and bring water for your dog.
Beyond hiking, the park offers guided horseback rides departing from the Panorama Trail area, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a 3D archery course with 13 targets near the Visitor Center. The remote location and minimal light pollution create excellent conditions for stargazing. On clear nights, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye.
Grosvenor Arch, an impressive double arch on BLM land, sits 10 miles southeast of the park and makes a worthwhile side trip.
At 5,800 feet, the basin is lower than Bryce Canyon's rim and correspondingly warmer. Summer daytime highs can exceed 100°F, though nights cool to the 50s. Spring and fall offer the best conditions, with moderate temperatures and occasional wildflower displays. Winter is quiet and occasionally snowy, and the park rarely feels crowded in any season.
The centerpiece of the park is its collection of 67 sedimentary pipes — monolithic stone spires that range from a few feet to 170 feet tall, scattered across the basin floor and embedded in sandstone walls. These formations are believed to be the solidified cores of ancient geysers and hot springs, left standing as the softer surrounding rock eroded away over millions of years. Chimney Rock is the tallest and most recognizable of the group.
The trail network puts the spires in reach quickly. Angel's Palace Trail climbs onto a sandstone mesa with wide views across the basin, while Panorama Trail threads past Ballerina Spire and the Hat Shop — a cluster of capped hoodoos — with an optional extension to Cool Cave and Mammoth Spire. Grand Parade Trail makes a flat walk through two box canyons, and the short Nature Trail is wheelchair accessible with interpretive panels on local geology and wildlife.
Beyond the trails, the park's remote location and minimal light pollution make it one of the better stargazing spots in the region. On clear nights, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye from the basin floor.
The park is open year-round, seven days a week, from 6 AM to 10 PM. An entry pass is required. Dogs are welcome throughout the park, including on all trails, provided they stay on a leash no longer than six feet; waste stations are located throughout the grounds. This makes Kodachrome a practical option for visitors traveling with dogs who cannot access unpaved trails at Bryce Canyon.
Three campgrounds offer roughly 50 individual sites at varying levels of hookup, plus two bunkhouse cabins with basic amenities. Reservations can be made through Reserve America up to four months in advance, and peak-season sites fill early. The park gate locks at 10 PM — plan your return accordingly. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument surrounds the park on three sides, and Bryce Canyon National Park is about 30 minutes northwest.
1,354 reviews
2 months ago
What a great park! Small but very cool. We did the Panorama Trail 👣. With side quests to Indian Cave, Ballerina Spire and Panorama Point. Then drove to the end of the park road, after taking showers. The showers in the park a clean, big, and very nice. Stopped for ice cream at the visitor center on the way out 😋. 10 out of 10 recommend a visit here.
6 months ago
This is a small state park with so many unique features. We loved our one day here with all the colored rocks, cliffs and spires. We just did an overview drive off the park, checked out the campground for a future visit, and hiked the panorama 3 mile trail. It was spectacular!
4 months ago
Yes, the bathrooms and showers are ridiculously nice, but the park overall just checks so many boxes that it should be on your list. The park offers a tremendous variety of geological features, hiking and biking trails, and superior services and amenities. It is also uniquely situated near two of the more popular destinations in the region: Bryce Canyon NP, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The park is worthy of a visit just for its own natural beauty, but is also a great base of operations for exploring nearby attractions.
3 months ago
Love, love, LOVE this state park! perhaps my favorite state park so far in Utah! the rangers in the front are so fun, friendly and full of great insight. not only does it have fun interactive maps and animal anatomy desks people can interact with, but they have fantastic local made ice cream and cute souvenirs. ( lots devoted to your dog companion too!) outside there is a monitor that shows multiple trails, view points and games that are around the park. it also has wifi and a fun outdoor hanging spot for adults and kids! not toention the park itself is so beautiful!!! Wish we had more time to explore it! We used UV lights to go scorpion hunting and you can see so many stars out here. the showers onsite are kept clean and there's laundry onsite too. It's great for campers and would happily stay here again! Ranger Valerie was incredibly helpful and fun! I can't wait to come back!
3 months ago
This place is epic. Several spots to take selfies for that special calendar you need in your professional office space. Tons of wildflowers, lizards, and giant Phallus shaped rocks. Please come. You won’t regret it 😉