On the edge of the Big Lonesome.
Tucked between the high country of the Paunsaugunt Plateau and the Big Lonesome known as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a small Utah State Park called Kodachrome Basin. It is a lovely little spot wrapped around a series of sandstone walls and spires, with trails that are perfect for a runner interested in a less ambitious effort, but who still wants a big payoff of fun and scenery.
The handful of trails in Kodachrome are generally quite short, but the Panorama section of the park is laced with enough trails to easily tally 8-10 miles over the course of an hour or two. There are no sustained climbs and the trail surface is so gentle that kicking off your shoes is viable even if you’re merely an opportunistic barefoot runner.
Where the Panorama Trail roams.
The sandstone is so soft in Kodachrome you can manipulate it by hand,
if you have the time and inclination.
A hoodoo about the size of an NFL lineman.
A section of super-smooth sandstone on the Panorama Trail.
Cool Cave.
I admit, it’s cool. But it’s not really a cave.
Knowledge
Elevation: 5,800 feet
Climate: arid and generally mild (though extreme cold or heat is not uncommon)
Vegetation: abundant sage, pinyon, juniper, and a wide variety of wildflowers and grasses
Critters: small lizards and mammals, and the predators they attract. Other than the possibly unpleasant encounter with a rattler or mountain lion, it’s all upside.
The Well-Beaten Path: Bryce Canyon National Park (about 20 minutes from Kodachrome)
Park Amenities: camping, 6 cabins and a small general store. The cabins have a small refrigerator and microwave, but not TVs or internet. You are also probably at least 20 miles from a reliable cellular signal. Nice.
Slideshow here.
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I love Kodachrome Basin! When I was young, my dad used to take me there and I always thought that the Simon and Garfunkel song was actually about that place! Thanks for sharing.
[...] had melted. Anyway, the “consolation prize” on this particular weekend was a visit to Kodachrome Basin, so we made the scenic side-trip out to Rainbow on our way [...]