Kodachrome Basin State Park — Attraction in Bryce Canyon City

SO BEAUTIFUL AND SO DANGEROUS. My buddy and I decided to visit Kodachrome Basin after going to Grosvenor Arch. It was around 7 pm after a day of driving and mucking about. The entrance fee was $10 per car, which isn't bad. There are no discounts for military vets or seniors (only for Utah residents). The park is beautiful, and the facilities (restrooms, a laundry, restaurant and store) for campers looked amazing. Aside from the in camping areas, we saw no one else in the park. Seeing a 'pin' in the map for Shakespeare's Arch, we decided to see if we could get there before dark. (I'm mobility impaired - not in a wheelchair -and can't navigate rough terrain.) At the trailhead was a sign with some information on it. There was a large, close-up picture of the arch. It stated that the trail was a 1.7 mile loop that started off easy, then became "moderate to strenuous." That didn't sound bad; we could go see the arch and then turn around. We saw a trail marker with a helpful little arrow pointing us onward... to the "moderate to strenuous" part of the trail. This was the ONLY marker. There was no indication of another route. I should have known better. The trail was steep , rutted, washed out in places, full of large rocks and confusing. People had gone off the path in many places, creating unauthorized sub-paths that led us astray a few times. In other parks there will be stones across such paths to guide you. Not so here. Also, due to the rough terrain, it wasn't always possible to see the next trail marker (when there was one). It was becoming dark and more treacherous to be out on this path. There's no cell signal out there - if you became lost or injured, there'd be no way to call for help. As previously stated, we saw no one else, so the chance of rescue by yelling was nil. We pressed on. Somewhere around 1/3 of the way around the loop, we came across two signs (see pictures), seeming to indicate that the arch was nearby. However, since they were laying on the ground, it was difficult to tell where the arch might be - if the signs hadn't been dragged there by some trickster. There was no way to be sure, as the sign for the arch had clearly never been in the ground at all. My partner looked all around the area. The only place where the arch could be was up a steep, rocky 'clearing' at the base of a cliff. This was not somewhere I would have gone under most circumstances, though I would have tried it in order to see the arch. By this time, I'd certainly earned that much. We never found the arch. Yes, there was a picture at the trailhead and it proved to be utterly useless. It was a close-up of the arch and didn't actually give enough visual cues to locate the feature. It could have been 5 feet, 12 feet, 30 feet off the ground, or across the plain and off the path entirely. Not knowing how much more strenuous trail remained, and with the light failing, we had to turn around and go back the way we'd come, since it was familiar territory. To sum things up, if you're an experienced hiker, or are looking for a nice place to camp, Kodachrome Basin might be just the place for you. If you like to take pictures, it is a must-see. However, I would argue that if you're a casual hiker, have any mobility issues, or get easily lost, some places in this park may not be right for you. And make certain you have water and other supplies (like bandages) just in case. You can't rely on other people to come by and assist you; there may not be...

This place is one of the greatest parks I've ever been to. There's lots of beautiful, panoramic views from the campsites, we particularly liked the view from our spot in Bryce View Campground.

BUT there are some additional touches the team at the park have put in place that really take it to the next level.

The showers - you have to try the showers. I don't care if you are just going up for a lunch picnic. Take a towel and plan to have the best showing experiences, you've ever had at a state park, maybe anywhere. Hot water? Scalding if you want. Water pressure? Plenty for both the rain shower head AND the hand held - yes, they're dual shower heads and they are not kidding around. They are slate walls with oxidized... Doesn't matter. Just go. If I lived within 30 minutes of the place I'd get a season pass just to use the showers as often as I could cuz I won't have anything that nice in my home anytime soon.

The disc golf course - what the actual?! The course at Kodachrome is .... Insane. I've played lots of courses but this thing is next level. When I went by the visitor's center to ask about their design process - after regaining my wits and my ability to walk and form words, they said they like a "challenge." When I told my buddy who had done the course with me what they said, his response was; "A challenge?! Did you tell them we saw 6 dead bodies out there?!" The scenery is stunning. The holes are clever and killer, literally. If you make it through the whole thing - I barely did, you will have scaled steep ridges and transversed deep ravines. You will have shot multiple 700+ ft holes and overshot putts off mountainsides. You will love and hate this course and it's brilliant sadistic designer(s).

Also, they have some pretty good hikes and rocks and stuff like that. One monolith they call a The Geoduck that's well... Let's just say ocean mollusks isn't what most people will think of first when they see it.

Kodachrome, I'm going to design a tee-shirt for you that says "I (barley) survived Kodachrome's disc golf course." For you to sell in...

The Kodachrome Nature trail is located just south of Cannonville, Utah in the Kodachrome Basin State Park. The wide hard packed dirt trail is rated ADA accessible. Beginning near the Oasis Group Site the trail follows a somewhat secluded path through a pinyon and juniper forest with a healthy growth of sagebrush, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, buffaloberry and more. Kodachrome Basin State Park is 9 miles south of Cannonville, Utah. To get there simply enter the park's name in your driving app and follow the directions. Maps and current information can be obtained from the Visitor Center as well as cold drinks and souvenirs. The trail forks and begins a loop a short distance from the trailhead. Interpretive signs line the trail providing a wealth of facts about various plants and their importance to wildlife and their traditional use by people. The colorfulness of the geology for which the park is named presents a pleasing backdrop to the scene. Spires, that are so common in the area, add to the wonderment. And some suggestively to the amusement. Families with small children are sure to enjoy the easiness of the Kodachrome Nature trail and the opportunities that it presents to learn about the various plants and animals to be observed in the desert ecosystem of Kodachrome Basin State Park. I myself always like learning and relearning about the plants and am often surprised how additional facts can be presented about the same plant read about on a previous nature trail. Those wishing to take advantage of the campgrounds or bunkhouse should probably make reservations in advance to ensure not being turned away upon arrival. The park also offers showers...