Kodachrome Basin State Park – Hiking, Camping & Things to Do
- Arika Bauer
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
Kodachrome Basin State Park in southern Utah is one of the most colorful and unique landscapes in the state, known for its 67 sandstone spires, incredible hiking trails, and camping under starry skies. Located just 30 minutes from Bryce Canyon, this hidden gem is a must-visit on any Southern Utah road trip!
The unique landscape of Kodachrome Basin features 67 stunning stone spires called sedimentary pipes which are formed from multicolored sandstone that will take your breath away.
Kodachrome Basin State Park Info
WIth so many amazing places to explore in southern Utah, Kodachrome Basin State Park can get overlooked, but it’s a true hidden gem in the area. Here’s everything you need to know to plan a visit to this special southern Utah state park.
LOCATION
Kodachrome Basin State Park is about a 2 hour drive northeast from the Springdale entrance to Zion National Park. It’s also only half an hour east of Bryce Canyon National Park, so it’s a great addition to a road trip from Zion to Bryce.
ENTRANCE FEE
The day-use fee for Kodachrome Basin State Park is $10 per vehicle. Utah residents can also use Utah State Parks Annual Pass ($125) to get into the park.
Local tip: You can purchase your Kodachrome Basin State Park day pass online the day of your visit to save time when you get to the park.
HOURS
Kodachome Basin State Park is open daily from 8:00am-6:00pm.
The Best Time to Visit Kodachrome Basin State Park
You can visit Kodachrome Basin State Park all year-round, but the best time to visit is typically spring or fall for the most pleasant weather. Expect summer to be extremely hot, with chances of strong thunderstorms common that time of year. Winter can be gorgeous with light snow dusting the rocks, but it can also be freezing and heavy snow will make travel difficult.
Things to Do at Kodachrome Basin State Park
Hiking through the stunning sedimentary pipes is a must-do at Kodachrome Basin, but you’ll find plenty of other fun activities here, too, from horseback riding to disc golf and more!
Hiking
Hiking is a wonderful way to see Kodachrome Basin State Park, and you can choose from easy to moderate trails in the park. If you want a great easy hike that showcases the awesome landscape of Kodachrome Basin, take the 1.5-mile Angel’s Palace loop, which is a perfect family-friendly way to explore.
For a longer adventure, check out the Panorama Trail, which you can do as a single 3-mile loop or a double loop of almost 6 miles. This trail takes you to many of Kodachrome Basin’s signature spires as well as Panorama Point for a spectacular view of the landscape.
Camping
If you want to spend some quality time in Kodachrome Basin State Park, you can spend a few nights at one of the three campgrounds in the park. The largest campground is Basin Campground, which has 35 sites and is open from March through November. Bryce View Campground has 11 sites and Arch View Campground has 13 sites, and both are open year-round.
Some sites have full hook-ups for RVs, and Basin Campground has flush toilets and hot showers, while the other campgrounds have vault toilets. Nightly rates range from $35-$45,, and you can make Kodachrome Basin State Park campground reservations here.
Note: If you prefer to sleep inside, you can also book a night in one of the bunkhouses or the Santa Fe Cabin in Kodachrome Basin State Park.
Mountain Biking
Kodachrome Basin State Park is a haven for mountain bikers, too! Three of the trails in Kodachrome Basin - Panorama Trail, Big Bear Geyser Trail, and Grand Parade Loop - are open to mountain biking, so you can see the stunning landscape under pedal power.
Note: If you don’t have your own bike with you, Kodachrome Basin offers mountain bike rentals for $50/full day or $30/half day (helmets included). The park has 4 adult bikes and 4 children’s bikes available, so you can make it a family adventure.
Horseback Riding
Another way to ride around Kodachrome Basin State Park is on horseback! You can book a one or two hour horseback ride with Red Canyon Trail Rides to explore the desert landscape of sedimentary pipes and sandstone canyons. Rides start from the Panorama Trail, and the whole family can join (kids must be 6 years old for the one hour ride and 7 years old for the 2 hour ride).
Disc Golf
A unique activity in Kodachrome Basin State Park is an 18-hole disc golf course. The course begins and ends at the Visitor Center, where you can rent discs. The challenging course offers a good hiking workout with incredible views along the way. You can even play at night, thanks to light up baskets.
Note: You can also rent other games to play in Kodachrome Basin State Park, including giant jenga, bocce ball, ladder toss, and corn hole.
3D Archery
A new addition to Kodachrome Basin State Park is the 3D archery course, where you shoot at foam targets shaped like animals. There are 13 targets on the course, and you can bring your own bow or rent one for $10 from the visitor center.
Other Activities Near Kodachrome Basin State Park
There are a few other attractions near Kodachrome Basin State Park that are definitely worth checking out when you’re in the area.
Visit Grosvenor Arch
Grosvenor Arch is located just 10 miles south of the park and is an absolute must-see. This jaw-dropping double arch of yellow sandstone is in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and it is just a quarter mile hike along a paved trail to reach the arch.
Drive Through Cottonwood Canyon
After visiting Grosvenor Arch, you can continue on a scenic drive up Cottonwood Canyon along a dirt road that stretches 47 miles from Kodachrome Basin State Park to the town of Kanab. To make the most of this drive, I recommend taking a full day for exploring and hiking all along Cottonwood Canyon.
Check out my full guide to things to do in Kanab here!
Explore Willis Creek Slot Canyon
If you want to check out a cool slot canyon in southern Utah, Willis Creek is a perfect easy slot canyon just 25 mins away from Kodachrome Basin State Park. Willis Creek slot canyon heads through the White Cliffs with stunning walls of sandstone towering above, and you can choose your own adventure of how much you want to explore. The whole canyon is 4.8 miles round trip but the best narrows are in the first mile and a half or so.
Where to Stay Near Kodachrome Basin State Park
If you’re not camping in Kodachrome Basin State Park, here are a couple places to stay near the park that I highly recommend (and both are great for the whole family).
Clear Sky Resort
Clear Sky Resort is just 15 minutes from Kodachrome Basin State Park, and the location is super convenient for exploring Bryce Canyon as well. The amenities here are awesome, too, including lawn games and campfires complete with s’mores for the kiddos.
At Clear Sky, you stay in a glass dome where you can stargaze right from bed! The time I stayed here with my kids, we got super lucky to have dark skies with no moon or clouds, and it was a truly magical experience. Beyond the stargazing, the sky dome is extremely comfortable and cozy and fits a family of four perfectly.
Ofland Escalante
Though it’s a little farther away (about a 45 minute drive), Ofland Escalante is also an amazing place to stay when visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park. The location is ideal for exploring everything in the Escalante area, and you can choose from a variety of unique accommodation options including cabins, airstreams, and campsites for vans or tents.
If you’re traveling with kids, Ofland Escalante is extra cool since it has a drive-in movie theater with a concession stand, a great pool, an outdoor communal space, a food truck with soft-serve ice cream cones…the list goes on! It is truly such a great place to stay for families, and my kiddos were absolutely in heaven during our visit.
Additional Info & Tips for Visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park
Pets are allowed in Kodachrome Basin State Park, but must be on a leash (6 feet or less) at all times. They are not allowed in any park buildings though.
Rattlesnakes, scorpions, and poisonous spiders live in Kodachrome Basin, so keep an eye out and watch where you put your hands and feet, especially in crevices and hidden areas.
It’s a good idea to plan where you’ll eat when visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park, because the options nearby are somewhat limited, especially in the off season. You can get hot dogs, nachos, and ice cream at the visitor center in the park, and the nearby town of Tropic has a few options for dinner, including Showdowns which is a fun place to end the day. Otherwise, driving just under an hour to the town of Escalante will give you more choices.
For more fun activities in the area, check out my full guide to exploring Escalante, UT with kids.
Be sure to check out all the other awesome state parks in Southern Utah, too!
Frequently Asked Questions About Kodachrome Basin State Park
How much does it cost to get into Kodachrome Basin State Park?The day-use fee is $10 per vehicle. If you have a Utah State Parks Annual Pass, you can use it for entry.
Is Kodachrome Basin worth visiting?
Yes! Kodachrome Basin State Park is one of Southern Utah’s hidden gems. With 67 colorful stone spires, scenic hiking trails, campgrounds, biking, and even disc golf, it’s a unique stop just 30 minutes from Bryce Canyon.
Can you camp at Kodachrome Basin State Park?
Absolutely. The park has three campgrounds — Basin, Bryce View, and Arch View — plus bunkhouses and a cabin. Sites range from tent-only to full RV hook-ups, and reservations are recommended.
How far is Kodachrome Basin from Bryce Canyon?
Kodachrome Basin is only about 30 minutes east of Bryce Canyon National Park, making it an easy add-on to your Bryce itinerary. It’s also just two hours from Zion National Park.
What is Kodachrome Basin State Park known for?
The park is famous for its 67 sedimentary rock spires, also called sand pipes, which rise dramatically from the desert floor. The colorful sandstone formations inspired the name “Kodachrome,” after the iconic Kodak film.
Hope this inspires you to add a stop at Kodachrome Basin State Park when you’re visiting Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in southern Utah!
Happy Adventuring,
Arika
