The roadside scenery just before the two RV Gypsies entered Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah.

Kodachrome Basin is a state park in Utah. It is situated 5,800 feet above sea level, 12 miles south of Utah Route 12, and 20 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon National Park, and is completely surrounded by Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (which can be seen from the Utah menu link below). The Park encompasses 2,240 acres.

Geology: Geologists believe Kodachrome Basin State Park was once similar to Yellowstone National Park with hot springs and geysers, which eventually filled up with sediment and solidified. Through time, the Entrada sandstone surrounding the solidified geysers eroded, leaving large sand pipes. Sixty-seven sand pipes ranging from two to 52 meters have been identified in the park.

The two RV Gypsies drove the Grand Parade area of the Kodachrome Basin and stopped at pull-offs to see the various Entrada sandstone formations as shown below.

Below: Without a doubt, the sand pipes are the main attraction at Kodachrome Basin State Park, with the largest spire, Chimney Rock, towering at 170 feet tall. Chimney Rock is the feature that brought national attention to this area back in the 1940's (according to an info plaque located next to the structure) Kodachrome Basin earned its name when National Geographic photographers came here in the late 1940's to test out a new type of color film.

Below: In the photo below, notice the people at the bottom of Chimney Rock and how small they appear.

Below: Lee Duquette photographed Chimney Rock with a wide angle camera lens which made it look totally different than the above photos.

Below: The view from the side of Chimney Rock. The pointed formation in the image below is called the Colossus of Cannonville. (Cannonville is 9 miles away). It is on the Bureau of Land Management land, and was the site of a spectacular climb a few years ago. The Colossus of Cannonville is on BLM land (climbing is now forbidden within Kodachrome).

The Colossus of Cannonville is a fine-grained formation of Entrada sandstone and Henrieville sandstone (the lighter layer).

This was the site of a radically difficult climb by Steve “Crusher” Bartlett, a solo climb. The climb was so difficult that he only averaged about 60 feet per day, as the grainy surface crumbled like hard sugar. Kodachrome Basin rangers stopped by to watch a part of the climb in total amazement. It took Mr. Bartlett six days to climb the 400 foot tower. He was the first person to stand on the summit. (No, the climb did not take place while the two RV Gypsies were here)

Below; Looking far into the distance to the right of Chimney Rock.

Next, the two RV Gypsies embarked on a popular hike, the easy 1/4-mile trail to Shakespeare Arch, the only large natural arch within the park.

Below: The photo of the two RV Gypsies at Kodachrome Basin State Park was taken with a self-timer camera set on a rock, so they are a bit-lopsided. They did not hike or climb any closer to the hoodoos, because they followed the trail that runs alongside the formations.

Below: The view from the trail to Shakespeare Arch.

Below: Some of the eerie sandstone hoodoos on the Shakespeare Arch trail.

Below: Shakespeare Arch peeks out of a hoodoo-laden sandstone formation in Kodachrome Basin, and stands 180 feet over the trail. Note the unusual tiered structure of Shakespeare Arch.

Below: Thanks to a close-up lens, the two RV Gypsies got the photograph of the Arch that they wanted, and decided not to hike any further.

Below; The short Shakespeare Arch trail has a few features other than the hoodoos and the distant views of Grand Staircase Escalante.

Below: Grand Parade Sand Pipe

Please continue on to page 2 at Kodachrome Basin: Big Stoney, Ballerina Geyser, a giant slickrock and more