Kodachrome!

Kodachrome

They give us those nice bright colors

They give us the greens of summers

Makes you think all the worlds a sunny day

We can't think of anything that sums up our visit to Kodachrome Basin State Park better than Paul Simon's lyrics.  In 1949, the National Geographic Society came out to this part of Utah to test out the new Kodachrome film.  With permission of Kodak, they named the basin - Kodachrome.

And I'll see your true colors

shining through

I see your true colors

and that's why I love you

so don't be afraid to let them show

your true colors

true colors are beautiful

like a rainbow

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.  Here is one of the more prominent pipes.

We were originally going to find a hike in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  We stopped at the GSENM Visitor Center in Cannonville and spoke to one of the volunteers.  She gave us several great suggestions for hikes in the Monument.  But, she also said if we only had one day in the area then we didn't want to miss Kodachrome Basin State Park.  So, we filed away all the Grand Staircase-Escalante trail maps for another day and headed to Kodachrome.

We opted for the Panorama Trail which contains several cool geologic features.  Here is Kathy demonstrating the raised hands of Estrada Sandstone.

It only took about a mile and half to reach the view point.  Way out in the distance is Bryce Canyon National Park.

There were so many spires and hoodos it was difficult to determine who was blog worthy.  However, when I saw Gandalf standing there, I knew I found the one.

After the Panorama View, we headed to the Cool Cave.  It was definitely cool - not only because of how the erosion shaped it, but because it was shaded and at least 30 degrees color than the desert basin.

The cave walls have been worn smooth by the water rushing in from above.  The water brings with it some calcium carbonate that dries very white on the salmon colored sandstone.

There were a number of holes in the ceiling that you peek through and catch a peep at the spires above.

The six mile trail circled the basin passing a number of different cliffs.  Here is Dave lending scale to the immense basin.

Here is another cool pipe perched on top of the sandstone.  The white limestone conglomerate glows white in the sun.

Another stop along the trail was the Secret Passage.  While not a cave, it provide another respite from the heat of the desert.

Here's Dave getting up close and personal with a little hoodo.  If you look close at the end of his hand, you will see a print in the sandstone.  The surface is so porous, that folks have come by and touched it leaving an impression of their fingers.  Over time, as each tourist passed, the impression became larger. (And, yes, Kathy did put her hand inside the impression - David did not.)

Some of the more impressive pipes were given individual names.  Here is Ballerina Spire.  We're sure we could have come up with a more appropriate name, but then it would not be fit for families hiking in the park.

Every hike should end with a little wild life.  Here is Betsy munching on some grass by the side of the road, gazing at us as we drove out of the park.

Hey, what were you expecting a coyote, bobcat or mountain lion?