Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome State Park Trip Day 1 and 2

This spring we decided to head on down to Bryce Canyon and do a little exploring along Highway 12. As is becoming the norm, this will be mostly a stub article with mostly drive by photos (DBP) from the passenger seat.Some actual view points as well. The main trails we did will be separate articles.

Day One: The drive down.

If you want to skip the trip down and get to Kodachrome Basin State Park, Click Here.

Of course the day we decided to head south was super windy! Here you can see all the dust kicked up obscuring downtown (DBP).

You can’t even see the mountains at times (DBP).

Here you can see the dust being picked up by the wind (DBP).

The first of 5 higher passes you have to climb (DBP). When weather is fine they aren’t really anything to worry about but when it is snowy they can be a little scary.

After the first pass we hit Meadow we went on a wild goose chase looking for some lava tubes and ultimately found the roads to be a little too rough for our car.

The 2nd major pass. Just before Cove Fort (DBP),

Then you pass through Beaver (DBP).

I think I missed one of the passes, but here is another one (DBP). Point is there are 4 passes over 6000 feet that can become a problem during bad weather.

After the turn off for UT20 (DBP).

The last major summit (DBP). This one is more of a doozey. Higher up, windier road.

I have seen deer crossing, cow crossing, even duck crossing, but this is the first elk crossing sign I have seen (DBP).

Nearing the bottom of the other side (DBP).

Neat rock formation (DBP).

After the US89 interchange you start to see the colors of Bryce (DBP).

Downtown Panguitch (DBP) Almost there!

And now that we have finally reached HW12 you can really start seeing the beautiful red rock (DBP).

Scenic Byway 12  sign (DBP).

Entering Red Canyon (DBP). We explored that a little bit more on the way home.

The blasted tunnels (DBP). They appear to be doing some work on them. It looks like they are replacing the shotcreek. Which is a concrete mixture lining the tunnels.

 

Oh, one last high pass (DBP). But this one kind of snuck up on me as it seemed fairly flat for a while. But, again this time of year if the weather is cold and wet it could be snowy this high up.

However, as I saw the way down the other side is a little more intense (DBP).

Nearing the bottom (DBP).

We made it to our basecamp for this trip, Tropic (DBP).

About the only nice thing I have to say about our room was they have USB plugs on both sides of the bed, I’d like to see this become the norm sooner rather than later.

Day 2: Kodachrome Basin State Park!

After settling in for the night last night I was reviewing what the weather should look like today. It was supposed to be windy and a little chillier. Since Bryce is higher in elevation and more exposed I thought we would probably enjoy Kodachrome more today.

To get here from Tropic, Utah continue east on HW12 to Cannonville. Follow the signs and turn right on Main St/Kodachrome Dr. Follow that for about 7 miles to the Kodachrome basin State Park turn off. If the road goes from paved to dirt, you went too far.

Heading east on HW 12 (DBP). One of the cool things about Tropic is you can see Bryce Canyon from the bottom of it. I thought that was pretty cool.

Cool formations along HW12 (DBP).

After a quick stop in the Cannonville Visitor Center we continued down Kodachrome Rd.

Cool rocks on this road too (DBP).

The Paria River, not much in it at the moment.

The worst part of the road (DBP). It’s really not very bad.

I didn’t know it at the moment, but this is looking into the park (DBP).

End of the pavement (DBP). Continuing forward will take you into Cottonwood Canyon, which I was hoping to explore a little but between the weather and some other things just did not happen this trip.

Into the park (DBP)!

I can already see why they chose the name (DBP).

National Geographic Society explorers explored and photographed the area in 1948. They named the area Kodachrome Flats after the then new film that they used produced by Kodak. When it became a state park in 1962 and the Kodachrome Film had gained popularity, they were worried about a lawsuit so they named the park Chimney Rock State Park. A few years later they got Kodak's permission to rename it Kodachome Basin State Park.

I kind of wish I had bought the tshirt they had in the visitor that had a tongue in cheek comic about renaming the park again to Digital Image Processing State Park.I thought that was cute.

Anyway, after paying the $8.00 day use fee and exploring the visitor center/gift shop we continued into the park.

Some of the rock formations (DBP).

The first pull out had too many trees to really take in the views.

Getting into the park proper (DBP).

The 2nd pull out offers a great view of one of the many Sedimentary Pipes.

They still are not 100% certain how these spires were formed. There are currently 3 theories. 1. is that the earthquake prone area created cracks that sediment laden water filled and it re-cemented. The 2nd that ancient springs, similar to Yellowstone National Park becoming choked with sediment and re-cementing. Both theories saying the softer sandstone eroded away and the harder cement staying behind. The 3rd and newest theory suggests that the pipes were formed from water saturated pockets buried under layers of sediment, and pressure forced it upwards where it cemented and again, the surrounding rock eroded away. Fascinating stuff.

Closer look.

A short walk out from the pull out offered a view of some other neat formations.

Main wall. We will get a little closer to that on the Panorama Trail.

I liked this super tall and skinny arch.

You can see Bryce Canyon across the way as well.

Panoramic of the main basin.

Looking up towards the end.

Looking at the big Sedimentary Pipe again.

Next was the main trail parking area. Some nice views.

The first trail I had planned was the shorter, inner loop of the Panorama Trail. .

Continuing down the main park road we found another pipe that was uhm… rather phallic (DBP).

Nearing the end of the main park road (DBP).

This pipe looks particularly fragile.

Looking back towards the main park.

Looking back at the uh erm.. particularly phallic pipe.

The main basin cliffs. The Eagle’s View Trail is closed at the moment. It is only a half mile round trip but climbs 500 ft and is rated as strenuous. I probably would not have been interested even if it was open.

*little girls snickers*

After driving to the end of the main road we decided that it was lunch time. So we went to the main picnic area and had our lunch. The Nature Trail is right here and at only a half mile it was tempting, but we had other plans.

After recharging with a good lunch we felt up to doing more within the park. We couldn’t decide between the Grand Parade Trail and Angel’s Palace. They are both only 1.5 miles one stayed low, one climbed. We ultimately decided to do the Grand Parade Trail.

I took a ton of pictures of this main pipe (DBP) but every time I looked at it is looked different.

After our amazing adventure on the Grand Parade Trail we decided to hit the visitor center again. While there I inquired if the Angel’s Palace trail had steep drop offs. He said yes. But then added, but they can be avoided. I clarified, so I can do it, but stay away from the edge? Like, the trail doesn’t force me to hike along a drop off? He said yes. We still had some energy left so we decided we could do another mile and a half.

Looking at the main basin again.

After Angels Palace we decided we probably had enough hiking for the day.

Neat slick rock beneath another pipe.

Looking back I wish I had added the half mile Nature Trail, I mean it’s a half mile! and viewing the area from above on the Angels Palace trail looks like it might have been pretty. Oh well, next time.

Another formation from the parking lot.

From here we decided we probably walked enough and should head back to the room.

I had planned on seeing Shakespeare Arch, the Sentinel and maybe Chimney Rock, amongst other things, but the car was acting a little off and we decided we’d rather not risk going down a dirt road out in the desert.

Cliffs (DBP).

There is a pull out just south of the visitor center that we missed on the way in. I had hoped we could see Shakespeare Arch, but I will settle for another pipe, possibly the Sentinel?

A little closer.

Heading back a view into the park (DBP).

The road is not that bad (DBP).

More desert scenery (DBP)

Pretty cliffs (DBP).

Old cabin (DBP).

Cool rock formation on HW12 (DBP).

After a long day of hiking (my   Fitbit clocked us at about 11 mils today, whoa)  we decided to grab a quick bite and then just relax for a while before deciding on dinner. Then we decided to have an early night to get a jump on the following day.

I’m going to go ahead and split it here. Up next: Day 3 and 4: Bryce Canyon!