Cannonville, Utah - Kodachrome Basin State Park 8/27 - 9/1 2020 Travel Tour

  From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 
Tim and Linda Bunyan

From Bryce Canyon National Park we head south a bit to stay at Kodachrome Basin.  It is a state park near Cannonville, Utah west entrance to the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (ReserveAmerica.com) $35.00/day, full hookup is situated 5,800 feet, 20 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon National Park.  Kodachrome Basin is one of the state's most photogenic parks.   Kodachrome Basin is a spectacle of towering sandstone chimneys.

It is named for its vibrant color in 1962 the area was named after a color reversal film introduced by Eastman Kodak.  Kodachrome Basin was named with Kodak's permission.

This 'user-friendly' state park is dense with geologic features and highly accessible.  We spent every day on a great hiking trail directly from camp; we hiked 4 of the 6 trails.  

The geologic interest of the park is sandstone spires and columns called sand pipes, believed to be found nowhere else on earth.  Each rock layer reveals times of upheaval and times of relative peace of more than 180 million years ago.

On the trail, we met a mountain biking family, from nearby St. George, Utah that frequents the park often in preparation for their high school mountain bike team competition.  The Cycling League state championships are held throughout the school year.   

Indian Cave along the Panorama Trail is 3 miles of  hiking trail.

Spires and pinnacles remain; created from Millions of years gone by.

Hat Rock, named feature on this Trail.

The contrasting landscape up close through Secret Passage.  Geologic located on the Colorado Plateau an uplifted region that covers much of the four corners area of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado The formations range from the middle Jurassic Period  (180 million years ago) to the Cretaceous Period (95 million years ago).

                                                                         Ballerina Spire

Shapes and faces of the pinnacles.

Lookout with magnificent views.

In the far distance, see the pink rock of Bryce Canyon National Park.

The special charm of this trail is being surrounded by sedimentary pipes and geological features.

From every angle.

The park has a new, full-service laundromat.  One-hour horseback rides are $40.00 per person.....we need the exercise, so we chose to hike on foot.

State Park full-service laundromat

State Park cowboy!

He is riding to catch up with the Horse Trail group.

The Angel's Palace Trail 1.5 miles, easy/moderate.  We hiked out onto the ledge of this rock wall formation for wide views of the semi-distant Paunsaugunt Plateau (the rim of Bryce Canyon).

A photographer's paradise.

Tim repairs the trail marker by arranging the support rocks.  Trail markers are a needed feature on this rocky trail.

There, see below, within the valley floor of Utah juniper, big sage, and Morman tea bush 

is our campsite.

Overtime the Entrada sandstone eroded, exposing the staggering array of chromatism displayed on the sandstone surface.  Colors are remarkable: red, white, brown, and yellow layers of sediment shift and transform with the movement of the sun and shadows

 of the valley.

We spoke with other RV campers.  They come from close proximity and over the course of their lifetime to visit and recreate at this popular State Park.

              Yellow Wildflower in Kodachroma Basin State Park Utah.

Now on our way north about 100 miles to Capitol Reef National Park.