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If you’re looking for a hidden gem in Utah, Kodachrome Basin State Park fits the bill. This small state park is overshadowed by nearby Bryce Canyon National Park, but it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area.
History
One of the best parks in the Utah State Park system, Kodachrome Basin was named after Kodachrome color film during a 1948 National Geographic Society expedition to the area. It was designated a state park in 1962.
Admission
Admission is US$10 per vehicle (as of September 2024) and it’s open daily.
Camping and Lodging
There are three campgrounds. The Basin Campground charges US$35 per night for basic sites and US$45 a night for full hook-up sites. The Bryce View Campground costs US$35 for basic sites, and the Arch Campground costs US$45 for full hook-up sites. Simple bunkhouses sleeping 6 with no running water cost US$95 per night and you must bring your own bedding. The Entrada Santa Fe Hut sleeps 2 and costs US$75 per night. All prices are current as of September 2024.
Angel’s Palace Trail
The park has several canyons and five trails to explore. We only had a few hours to spend there and did two of the trails. The first trail we did was the Angel’s Palace Trail, which is the most popular trail in the park.
It’s a 1 ½ mile loop that winds up a narrow path and gives spectacular views of the park. The trail is easy to moderate.
The first part of the trail heads up 150 feet above the basin floor, where there are nice views of red and gray rocks as well as the rest of the park
From most of the trail, there are incredible views of the green spaces filling the park between the rocks.
Some extremely narrow parts of the trail can take you to even more viewpoints, but they’re not for the faint of heart. The rock around the edges is fragile and it’s a straight drop to the bottom if you loose your footing.
The last part of the trail explores a small box canyon with some interesting rock formations.
Kodachrome Nature Trail
We also did the very short Kodachrome Nature Trail, which is an ADA accessible loop that runs for ½ mile.
There are some interpretive panels along the trail explaining the park’s geology and some of the wildlife that can be found there. After the Angel’s Palace Trail, it was kind of anticlimactic.
Next Time
I would like to return to Kodachrome Basin one day for another full day of exploration. Time limited us to only the two trails, and I know there’s much more to see.
