- Kodachrome Basin State Park has dramatic sandstone towers, hiking trails and fewer people than Bryce Canyon National Park.
- The park is open all year round, but the best weather occurs in the spring and fall.
- Kodachrome is easily accessible from the airports of St. George and Las Vegas, allowing travelers to include it in a southern Utah roadtrip.
Utah is a state of natural beauty that’s second only to California in terms of number. While the “Mighty Five”—Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion—are all visually impressive in their own right (to say the least), they’re not the only parks you should check out during a Utah road trip. A 2,240-acre park is located just a few miles away. Bryce Canyon This is a park that has fewer visitors, but offers the same experience. Kodachrome Basin State Park only saw a few hundred visitors from July 2024 to July 2025. 180,000 visitorsBryce Canyon is getting a makeover nearly 2.5 million visitors annually.
Brandon Baugh, park manager, says that “Kodachrome has 67 monolithic cones of varying size, shape and color. There are 15 miles hiking trails ranging from 0.5 mile to nine mile in length.” Travel + Leisure. The park has sandstone spires or sedimentary tubes, which range in height from 6 to 160 feet, instead of the hoodoos you see at Bryce Canyon. There are several theories about how they were formed—some believe the area was once filled with geysers and hot springs—but one thing’s for sure: They’re incredibly photogenic.
The park’s name is derived from this. Kodachrome is the name of a Kodak film that’s known for its rich, vibrant colors. In 1948, a National Geographic Society group visited the park to take photos for their magazine. They allegedly gave the park the nickname “Kodachrome”. “Kodachrome Flat,” After the landscape’s palette of contrast colors. Kodak later granted legal permission for the name change.
Kodachrome Basin State Park is located in Cannonville and continues to attract both amateurs and professionals. The $10 day-use charge per vehicle allows you to access the breathtaking vistas, hiking trails and other attractions.
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What to do
Baugh recommends a few trails to hike in Kodachrome Basin State Park.PanoramaWith all its loops,, makes for a wonderful day hike. He says that it is also one our two bike paths. The route covers three to six miles on the west side of the park—passing by Big Bear Spire, Ballerina Spire, Secret Passage, and Cool Cave—and it’s described as easy to moderate. “Angels’ Palace Baugh says that the view is spectacular from about 150 feet above. This 1.5-mile trail is a popular route for hiking only (no bikes or horses allowed). It’s also a great place to watch the sunset. Mountain bikers have access to the Panorama Trail as well the Big Bear Geyser Trail or the Grand Parade Loop.
Baugh also says the park offers “63 campsites in three campgrounds and four Santa Fe Cottages.” So, you can stay over night. Two campgrounds are available year-round and have amenities such as modern rain showers and firewood. There is also a dump station and dog waste stations. It’s a place you will want to visit make reservations The state tourism board advises that sites can fill up fast.
You can also enjoy another of the park’s most popular activities, stargazing. Kodachrome Basin State Park will be designated as an National Park in 2021. International Dark Sky ParkWhen the weather is clear, you will be able to see the Milky Way as well as other constellations.
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When is the best time to visit?
“Baugh says that spring and fall have the most comfortable temperatures, but they’re also the busiest times of year. Both seasons are known for their wide range of temperatures—think warmer days and cooler nights—so pack accordingly (with lots of layers).
Kodachrome Basin State Park remains open all year round, so do not discount less busy seasons. You’ll have to be careful in the summer. “July and August are hotter months, with highs typically staying in the mid to upper ‘90s, very rarely hitting 100,” he says. The summer also brings rainstorms, lightning and flash floods. Even though temperatures can fall below zero at night in the winter, you still get to enjoy beautiful winter scenery.
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How to get there
While Bryce Canyon Airport (BCE) is technically the closest airport to Kodachrome Basin State Park, most travelers will fly in and out of either St. George Regional Airport (SGU)—served by United, American, and Delta—or Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Plan on a 3- to 4.5-hour drive from SGU and LAS. You can also explore other nearby attractions, such as the Anasazi State Park MuseumBryce Canyon and the Canyons Escalante Petrified Forest State Park.
