Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park
4.5
About
Kodachrome Basin is a spectacle of towering sandstone chimneys, changing in color and shadow with the day's mood- from red-tinged spires against a blue sky, to soft evening light settling over the desert. This color and contrast inspired prompted the National Geographic Society in 1949, with consent from the Kodak Film Corp., to name the park Kodachrome Nearly 70 monolithic spires, ranging from six to 170 feet in height, jut up from the valley floor or protrude from the sandstone. These natural towers stand like stone sentries overlooking the park and create a backdrop that is sure to delight the senses and spark imagination. The redrock and semi-desert climate make this state park attractive to visitors all year.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Kodachrome Basin State Park and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
5 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
557 reviews
Excellent
307
Very good
187
Average
53
Poor
9
Terrible
1
The Places Where We Go Podcast
Simi Valley, CA974 contributions
Jun 2020
We stayed in Cannonville during part of our trip to Utah. A good destination between Bryce Canyon National Park to one side, and Kodachrome Basin State Park on the other side. We drove about 20 minutes from the KOA campground to the state park entrance. At the gate, we paid an entry fee of $10.
Following a very long hike in Bryce Canyon the prior day, we selected two shorter hikes at Kodachrome.
The first trail was the Grand Parade. This was a very easy 1.5 mile stroll on the floor of Kodachrome Basin. The trail passed through two box canyons. We enjoyed looking at the terrain which was so different than that of Bryce NPS the prior day. There were lots of cocoa colored hills with erosion onto the trail floor. This hike is completely level. It was enjoyable for a taste of Kodachrome scenery. The trail markers were plentiful and accurate.
We drove a minute or two to get to the next parking lot. This would be the spot to reach the trailhead for Angel’s Palace Trail. In the complementary guide given us upon arrival, this hike is described as easy to moderate, 1.5 miles in length and an excellent trail for photographers. We would say this is more of a moderate hike as there are a few inclines that may be challenging a bit for some. There are some great views and panoramas to be seen for sure. Midway up the trail, the trail markers became a bit of an issue. Some were toppled over. In some areas there were trail paths without markers. We thought this was a loop, but we had difficulty finding a looping path so once we went a little bit beyond the highest point on the hills, the best choice seemed to be to retrace our steps.
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 more sparse to me than we expected.
A nice additional park to add for those visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.
Following a very long hike in Bryce Canyon the prior day, we selected two shorter hikes at Kodachrome.
The first trail was the Grand Parade. This was a very easy 1.5 mile stroll on the floor of Kodachrome Basin. The trail passed through two box canyons. We enjoyed looking at the terrain which was so different than that of Bryce NPS the prior day. There were lots of cocoa colored hills with erosion onto the trail floor. This hike is completely level. It was enjoyable for a taste of Kodachrome scenery. The trail markers were plentiful and accurate.
We drove a minute or two to get to the next parking lot. This would be the spot to reach the trailhead for Angel’s Palace Trail. In the complementary guide given us upon arrival, this hike is described as easy to moderate, 1.5 miles in length and an excellent trail for photographers. We would say this is more of a moderate hike as there are a few inclines that may be challenging a bit for some. There are some great views and panoramas to be seen for sure. Midway up the trail, the trail markers became a bit of an issue. Some were toppled over. In some areas there were trail paths without markers. We thought this was a loop, but we had difficulty finding a looping path so once we went a little bit beyond the highest point on the hills, the best choice seemed to be to retrace our steps.
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 more sparse to me than we expected.
A nice additional park to add for those visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.
Written 30 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
francois m
1 contribution
Jul 2022
we stayed 4 nights at the Basin campground (tent) and wouldn't trade the experience for any hotel ! Campsites are spacy, with trees, and they offer all the privacy one can wish. The washrooms are clean, modern, have tropical showers and are designed with taste. All (down to the water faucets in various locations of the campground) is made with love for the detail. And the visitor center staff really goes out of its way to offer the necessities (even coffee), considering the relatively remote location. Coming to the campground after a day's hike in Bryce NP feels like coming home. The relatively small size of the campground makes the stay a special experience. Of course, the trails of Kodachrome Basin SP are diverse and very pleasant, too.
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terri N
Redlands, CA86 contributions
Mar 2021
This was a lovely state park without the crowds of Bryce Canyon. The drive to the park was beautiful (you can look up at the hoodoos in Bryce). The park itself had several trails of all abilities (easy, moderate, strenuous) plus plenty of pretty things to see from the car. There is a $10 fee which is reasonable (and helps to keep state parks funded).
Written 4 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jesse o
Jackson, WY6,518 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
We came in spring, I don’t know if popularity takes off in the summer but it wouldn’t surprise me. It is a relatively unknown, hidden gem for fans of the desert and geology. To camp or picnic here is a joy. And, a hiker can truly get into some splendid topography in solitude, unlike sine of the other well-known southern Utah attractions. But with so many other more famous draws to be found close by, I hope this site rewards you with its humble grandeur.
Written 17 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
granof03
Fort Wayne, IN346 contributions
Aug 2021
Beautiful state park. No crowds. Our grandchildren loved this state park. They were able to climb the red rock and explore per the ranger's instructions. Entrance fee was $10.00 and there is camping and horseback riding available. Nice trails and well maintained. We would go back if in the area again.
Written 14 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerCentralFLA
Clermont, FL1,776 contributions
Jun 2023
We visited Kodachrome Basin State Park on our recent trip to Tropic, UT. Kodachrome is only a little ways down Hwy 12 from Tropic. We spent some time hiking in the park. The park is quite beautiful. There are many unique and beautiful rock formations and every direction we looked there was a palette of colors in the mountains. The hike was a few miles, but it was not very difficult. There was not a significant amount of elevation gain and much of it was on pretty level trail. The area is definitely desert. There are not as many trees here as at Bryce Canyon up the road. However, there are plenty of small plants growing here. The real wow factor is the many colors and shapes of the rocks. I highly recommend a visit to Kodachrome Basin State Park.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon B
Chicago, IL52 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Kodachrome Basin State Park offers 360 degree views at every turn. The colored landscape of Red Sandstone is stunning. Trails and parking lots are well marked and maintained. The staff at the entrance station are friendly and helpful. There are good bathroom facilities and a small shop with some gear items along with light refreshments in this remote area outside of Cannonville, Utah. We visited in early May and the weather was agreeable for hiking in the high 60’s. If you are tired of the crowds at Bryce Canyon National Park, it is worth the 22 mile drive to see this less visited Park with epic scenery.
Written 10 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorna B.
Bechtelsville, PA884 contributions
Aug 2022
We stopped at this park during our recent weekend visiting Bryce Canyon National Park. It was definitely worth a side-trip—it was only 20 minutes east of Tropic but offers unique and stunning scenery. The park and the visitor center with restrooms were open until 9pm, making it easy to visit on a summer evening. We spent about an hour driving the scenic road through the mountains here; there are several spots to pull over and park in order to walk around a bit. We enjoyed the views here very much and took lots of great photos. It was good to see this place after seeing Red Canyon earlier that afternoon and before visiting Bryce Canyon National Park the next day (see separate reviews).
Written 15 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzy M
San Jose, CA172 contributions
May 2022
The Visitors Center mentioned to us that the Kodachrome Trail Rides just down the road had wide open times to book a horseback ride that morning. So we decided on the spur of the moment to take a two hour tour….having last ridden a horse 40 years ago! Hap was our genuine cowboy guide, picking out suitable mounts for us 72 yo newbies. We had a fun time, riding about 5 ½ miles along mostly horse only trails, stopping for photos of the beautiful spires and red rock formations. Hap’s wife, Emily, even took pictures of us riding back to the corral and emailed them to us, no extra charge!
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wander548404
Greensboro, NC10 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Wh had a great trail ride with Hap, who guided us through the area on sturdy horses and narrated the environment. Beautiful, uncrowded area with views of the back side of Bryce Canyon and the spectacular Kodachrome scenery. Emily, Hap’s partner emailed photos of us on the horses and Hap took several photos for us on my phone.
Written 1 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Have been there in the summer..looking to return in February. How was the road conditions and diving during this time? Thanks
Written 20 June 2021
Road conditions and driving to Kodachrome from 12 were fine in early June 2021. Cottonwood Canyon Road South from 12 to park is paved. We had driven north on Cottonwood Canyon from Kanab area. This is unpaved. That would require at least an SUV. We hit rocks on road. Even after dry winter, one significant water crossing just south of park road. We did fine, but saw a regular sedan just turn around and give up. No experience with area in Feb.
Written 21 June 2021
Looking for good view car camping tent site recommendations for Kodachrome Basin State Park, UT in July 2019. Thanks!
Written 23 June 2019
I would have a look at Basin Campground and Oasis Group Campground at the top of the park. They have more of the mountain/canyon views. The other two campgrounds near the park entrance to the east has some hoodoos in the area. Not sure if they are very near those camp grounds though. You may need to do a small hike.
Written 25 June 2019
Are the pipes easily visible from the roads or must one hike?
Written 28 July 2018
You can see several different pipes from your car. We drove the roads in the park and took pictures. That day it was very hot, so we barely even got out.
Written 29 July 2018
We will be driving along Hwy 12 in October from Capitol Reef to Zion. We were at Bryce many years ago. Should we either take a short side trip to Kodachrome Basin or one to Bryce?
Written 18 February 2016
I would have to recommend Bryce if you only have time for one of the two parks. The scenery at Bryce is of a unique nature and on a scale that is hard to match. Bryce is also well suited to driving through in that there is one main park road with numerous lookouts and parking lots,and then you come to the end. Its one way, so you drive out the same way. You can make as many stops as time permits and each one is spectacular. There are numerous hiking trails or you can just sight see from the lookouts. Unless you spent one or two days at Bryce on your previous visit, there will be no shortage of new sights to see. We spent 12 hours,stayed for a ranger talk at 9PM and then stayed to see the stars come out as well! We did not want to leave. In October all the summer crowds will have thinned out as well. Enjoy.
Written 14 October 2016
941sunflower
Chardon, Ohio
Does anyone know if the room has a hair dryer?
I was hoping I could get one to borrow in our room.
We will be flying in and have limited space.
Thanks
Written 12 September 2015
Hi, I stayed one night last April. It is a camp - not a motel. Tents and RV's. Electric outlet in public facilities only. Scenery pays for everything.
Written 13 September 2015
Hi,
I have no idea, we were there only for a few hours, but did not see any dogs. This is a Utah State Park, maybe their website has that info.
Leo
Written 8 May 2015
Showing results 1-6 of 6
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Airport exclusive: extra 20% off beauty
Sponsored by Armani Beauty, YLS & Lancôme
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing