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Show Kodachrome Basin's Beauty Unsurpassed - ... . - " - "... 'I vironment. Piny on and juniper trees are common aa well as yucca and prickly pear cactus. Mule deer and mountain lions are the largest animals found in the park. Coyotes, gray foxes, bobcats, striped skunks and spotted skunks make their home at Kodachrome but are seen less often because of their nocturnal habits. The coyote is usually heard, if seldom seen, yapping at dusk and at dawn. Except for the common raven seen gliding about the rook spires, the soaring eagle, and the chattering pinyon jay, most birds are seasonal visitors, such as the mourning dove, a common migrant to Kodachrome. The Basin is an ideal spot for establishing a base camp from which to explore fascinating places. Nunv uis rocks and coves offer unlimited opportunity for the hiker to explore. The photographer also will find ample subjects of unusual and colorful pictures. Trail guides are furnisehd for the clearly marked interpretive trail, and the visitor who takes advantage of this opportunity will learn much about the area. A new trail, "Panorama Trail", was just opened last year. Exploring the famous Grosvenor Arch and Cottonwood Canyon areas located just 10 miles southeast of Kodachrome is a must. Paria River, close to the park, offers rare possibilities to see and enjoy nature at its finest via four-wheel four-wheel drive, motorbike or hiking. Motorcyclists will find hundreds of miles of old roads near the Reserve Resourceful youth skateboards on one of Kodachrome Basin's graceful rock formations. This smooth flat surface sur-face contrasts with the towering monolithic spires, or chimneys, which jut up from the valley floor or protrude from sandstone rocks at Kodachrome Basin State Reserve (B). (B) Visitors to Garfield County looking for a quiet camping spot in a beautiful setting will appreciate the. colorful and unique surroundings of Kodachrome Basin State Reserve. While many have discovered this special place only after finding other campgrounds filled to capacity, it would, in reality, be included as' one of the most unique attractions in the area. At an elevation of 5,800 feet with . easy access, Kodachrome is one of Utah's most colorful and peaceful, sites, providing the weary traveler with a restful communion with nature in a truly restful setting. More than 2240 acres have been - set aside to provide relaxing satisfaction in a dramatic natural setting. The richly-colored ecological area was named Kodachrome Basin by the National Geographic Society a name nationally recognized and associated with color photography. The rich hues of speactacular rock formations vary from gray and white to several tints of red, and are ever changing with atmospheric conditions and position of the sun's rays. It is a place, not only for the tourist wanting to see something unusual but for the artists and photographers who want to capture the varied moods of color. Natural rock formations, a geologist's delight, are the feature attractions of Kcdathrome. The towering monolithic spires, or chimneys as they have been called, jut up from the valley floor or .protrude from sandstone rocks surrounding the campground. They . inspire an infinite array of subjects limited only by one's imagination. Opinpnsj differ S.mong, geologists, as to how the unusual spires were formed. One theory suggests that ancient underground springs filled up with sediment and then solidified. The spires were left standing after the softer Entrada sandstone surrounding them eroded away. Another view merely points out that the columns are for some reason more resistant to erosion than is the surrounding rock. ; In recent years a magnificent natural arch was discovered not far from his headquarters by park Superintendent Tom Shakespeare while minting a coyote den one day. The arch was named Shakespeare Arch, honoring early settlers of the Bryce Valley area, from whom the ranger is descended. A path leading to the arch has been constructed so that the visitor may enjoy one of nature's wonders. Plant and animal life in the park are typical of a semi-desert en to explore. Lake Powell, accessible by automobile through beautiful - Cottonwood Canyon is just an hour's drive away on an unpaved road. Within the park is a comfortable 24-unit campground protected from the wind by a circle of cliffs. Each well-spaced campsite is provided with a picnic table, cement slab and barbecue grill. Cool, clean spring water is available year-round. An attractive group use area is also provided. To reach Kodachrome, located only 35 miles southeast from the juration of U.S. 89 with Utah High way 12, the traveler takes U-12 east from the jucntion, passes the Bryce Canyon National Park turn off, and continues east and south, actually crossing a part of the national park. The road leads down into beautiful Bryce Valley which lies under the flaming cliffs of the national park, and through the sleepy little town of Tropic. Continuing on the highway, . it is only five miles to Cannonville, the turnoff for Kodachrome, where nine miles of improved dirt road bring the traveler to one of Utah's most scenic and incredibly unusual geological areas. |