A southern Utah basin defined by 67 towering sedimentary pipes, multi-hued sandstone formations, and exceptionally dark night skies.
Kodachrome Basin State Park sits at an elevation of 5,800 feet, roughly nine miles south of Cannonville along the rugged Cottonwood Canyon Road. This desert basin is renowned for its 67 towering sedimentary pipes, or clastic dikes, which rise like stone chimneys from multi-hued layers of Entrada sandstone. These geological columns, ranging from six feet to more than 170 feet tall, glow with deep reds, ochres, and creams. The park owes its name to a 1948 National Geographic Society expedition, whose members were so captivated by the vibrant colors that they named the area Kodachrome Flat, after Kodak's newly developed color film. When the area was designated a state park in 1962, Kodak granted official permission to use the trademarked name, cementing the park's status as a photographer's sanctuary.
The origins of these mysterious sand pipes are rooted in ancient geological forces. Geologists believe the columns formed during the Jurassic period when soft sediment filled fissures within the Carmel Formation, possibly as fossilized geysers or springs. Over eons, minerals cemented this sediment into a resilient rock that resisted erosion while the surrounding softer sandstone washed away, leaving the columns standing solitary against the sky. Famous formations like Chimney Rock, Ballerina Spire, and the Sentinel dominate the landscape. For decades, Shakespeare Arch was another celebrated landmark, discovered accidentally in 1976 by a park ranger searching for a coyote den. However, the fragile arch collapsed in late April 2019, and today, the Sentinel Trail leads hikers past the Sentinel pipe to the quiet pile of rubble where the arch once stood.
Exploring the park reveals a network of well-maintained trails and unique recreational features. The Angel's Palace Trail climbs to a mesa top, offering panoramic views over the basin's colorful spires. The Panorama Trail can be explored on foot or on horseback with guides from Red Canyon Trail Rides, winding past massive formations and deep coves. Beyond hiking, the park features a challenging 18-hole disc golf course where the baskets are lit at night, including a dramatic canyon-crossing throw on the fifth hole, and a 3D archery course with 13 animal targets. Overnight visitors can choose from three developed campgrounds (Basin, Arch, and Bryce View) or opt for a glamping experience. The park offers simple camper-style bunkhouses and the cozy, one-room Entrada Santa Fe Hut, a rustic adobe-style cabin built on-site that provides a quiet retreat under some of the darkest night skies in southern Utah.
Rent a disc at the visitor center to play the park's unique 18-hole disc golf course, which features baskets that are lit at night. For lodging, book the cozy Entrada Santa Fe Hut well in advance to enjoy a comfortable bed and private gas fire pit beneath a brilliant canopy of stars.