National Parks dominate southern Utah’s tourist attractions. But Kodachrome Basin State Park is an often overlooked hideout with scenery that’s just as spectacular. This small park features red and/or white rock spires called pipes. There are several hiking trails that wind among this painted landscape and a few are short and easy enough for kids. We did these hikes with a 3-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl and have proof that they (and their parents) survived.
Shakespeare Arch Trail
Shakespeare Arch is the only large, natural arch found in Kodachrome Basin, and is therefore one of the most popular hikes in the park. At 1.7 miles long, the loop is pretty short but there is a lot to see along the way.
The trail is easy walking to the arch. For kids who aren’t good at hiking or decide it’s time to throw a tantrum mid-trail, you can simply go see the arch and return as an even shorter out-and-back. The arch itself is impressive if you stand beneath it and look up. The kids enjoyed exploring the rock’s nooks and crannies while we snacked under the arch’s shade.
Beyond the arch the trail becomes more steep and difficult with a few exposed sections. While still kid friendly, we still held their hands along the parts with steep drop-offs.Some kids may even need to be carried. This part of the trail is all about the views. Kodachrome Basin, Grand-Staircase/Escalante National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park can all be seen in the distance from the trail’s vantage.
Overall the Shakespeare Arch Trail is ideal for kids who can hike nearly two miles and are unafraid of heights. Bonus points go to those with robust imaginatiosn as the rock formation become castles and dragon towers.
Angel’s Palace Trail
If you’re looking for the best viewpoints in the park, take the kids to Angel’s Palace Trail. This hike is only 1.5 miles and winds in a lariat loop on a large bench above the basin floor. You get a bird’s-eye view of the many pipes and rock formations below, while candy-colored cliffs loom above. Overall this is an easy hike with only one steep section near the trailhead. The kids had fun scrambling over the more technical sections of trail.
The downside of all those views is the possibility of falling off the edge. Keep kids away from the ledges as the dirt is brittle and can fall away. So perhaps this hike is best for kids who don’t like to wander off.
Grand Parade Trail
The total opposite of Angel’s Palace is the Grand Parade Trail. Instead of staying high above the basin floor, this trail delves down into it. What strikes me about this hike is how many hidden box-canyons and rock formation you get to see that aren’t visible from the road or at established viewpoints. Dinosaur Spire is one such destination that is a must-find.
Grand Parade Trail is also short at 1.5 miles and is never steep. The hikes stays flat except for a few stream crossings where you must hoof it up the banks. Like Shakespeare Arch, the kids loved to pretend that the rocks and cliffs were “Darth Vader’s Castle” and it kept their interest high through the entire hike.
Nature Trail
The easiest hike in Kodachrome Basin is the Nature Trail. This is a hard-surface (read: paved) trail with educational placards along the way. Each describes the plant life and geologic history of the park and is very informative. At a mere 0.5 mile, this hike is a breeze for any child that can walk.
About Kodachrome Basin State Park
There much more than just hiking at Kodachrome Basin. Two campgrounds within the park act as bases of operation for exploring families. There’s also mountain biking, horseback riding and photography. In fact, Kodachrome Basin got its name after National Geographic Society did a photo shoot there. They suggested naming it after the film they used, “Kodachrome.”
While vising the park, don’t forget to drive 10 miles south to see Grosvenor Arch. This massive, double arch is one of the most impressive natural spans in Utah.
For more information about Kodachrome Basin State Park, visit them at stateparks.utah.gov/parks/kodachrome-basin