Kodachrome Basin State Park: Angel’s Palace Trail

The Angel’s Palace Trail in Kodachrome Basin State Park is absolutely not to be missed! It offers incredible scenery, hoodoos and excellent red rock traversing. The main trail is pretty easy and only has one spot that made me slightly nervous, but it wasn’t that bad. However, some of the viewpoints have steep drop offs, but you can stay back from those. Keep an eye on the little ones on this one.

Quick Details:

Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: DR3 quick climb, but it’s not too rough. Wide trail over hard rock.
Elevation Gain: 150 feet.
Restroom: Yes. Flush toilets across the street.
Dogs? Yes, must be leashed.
Other Info: Fee area. $8.00 day use fee. Also, you are in the desert so be sure to dress appropriately and carry plenty of water.

To Get Here:

Follow the main park road to the Oasis Group Site. Cross the main road and start your hike.

The Trail:

The trail head is on the east side of the park towards the NE corner.

Trail head sign.

Pretty quickly you cross a little stream.

Little bit of water in this stream. Not sure if that is normal, or just because of the weather right now.

It starts looking like a box canyon.

Except you can climb up out of this one.

Initial climb.

Trail split directs you to the left. we were a little surprised when we came down the trail to the right.

Looking back out.

Another direction sign.

Little scramble up the slick rock.

Another trail marker. I’m thinking for this particular trail they should just switch to these. With the really blustery day today we found a couple of the other markers were blown down.

Another stretch up the slick rock.

Already getting an amazing view.

The trail across the slick rock is a little harder to see, but it is there.

A pipe across the way.

The canyon we came up.

Helpful sign pointing us the right way.

Fun slick rock.

Amazing view! Wow!

I dub this spire The Sunning Pug.

By the by, this is the only rough section.

Looking back towards the main basin.

Panoramic.

Dead tree.

Yup. Still looks like a pug sunning itself. In fact kind of looks like Mickey (our Boston/French Bulldog mix).

Amazing view!

Not so much a pug from this angle.

We ran into a guy here who was trying to figure out how to get down. We directed him to the way we came up. He tried that way but didn’t go far enough. He warned us the view point was a doozey. I could see it and agreed I probably couldn’t do it.  He thanked us for the directions and went on his way. On the way out we noticed the sign pointing to the trailhead had blown over so we tried to put it back up as best we could. This trail is kind of wonky with a lot of loops so I can see why he had trouble figuring out where to go.

Short little spur trail out to a viewpoint. This is like a miniature Angels Landing. Just a thin ridge of rock 150 feet up. Yea… not for me. But Landis doesn’t mind heights so he took my camera out.

The tall pipe we saw on the Grand Parade Trail.

Beautiful view!

End of the ridge.

Looking back towards the main basin to the north.

Panoramic view. Not quite 360, but more than 180.

Looking down from the end. Oi. Even just the picture kind of makes me dizzy.

And here's the view you get without going out on the ridge. So, if you’re like me, uncomfortable with heights, you can still enjoy the views.

The pipe we saw in Box Canyon.

Better view.

Continuing along the slick rock to the the figure 8 section of trail.

The big pipe again.

Neat rocks.

More signs to help keep you on the trail up here.

Looking down a thin canyon.

Looking down again.

That pipe looks so bizarre from here in this lighting. It’s white, but right now it looks like it is metal!

Another thin ridge.

Great viewpoint as well.

Pretty cliffs.

A little closer.

Another great view.

Beautiful!

A look down into the box canyon we missed.

Another pipe.

I got a little confused as to which way we needed to go until I spotted the trail marker. Phew, they are helpful.

Back on track now.

After the figure 8 loop, you return the the trail you came up to the top of the cliffs.

Cool rocks.

Faint trail across the slick rock.

Looking down the canyon we came up.

From the bottom of it.

Cryptobiotic crust. General reminder to stay on the trail to avoid harming this fragile ecosystem.

Pretty forest.

Little bit of water in the stream.

That was an awesome trail! Incredible views without a lot of work. The trail can be a little confusing at times, but if you keep your eyes open you should see the signs to help you along. A little more populated than the other trails, but not too bad at all. Highly recommended! 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, I was a little surprised at how gradually it rose to the top. The trail is thin in some places but generally easy going. DR3.

Dogs are allowed! please clean up after your furry friends.