Via the Scenic Byway 12 we drive through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from Bryce Canyon towards Capitol Reef National Park. Before that we stop at the Kodachrome Basin State Park and of course also in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Scenic Byways are streets in the USA that lead through scenic or culturally significant areas. The best way to get from Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park is to follow the Scenic Byway 12. The Kodachrome Basin State Park is located about 15 km south of Cannonville. We decided spontaneously to leave the byway here to pay this park a small visit.
The park is known for its “towering sandstone chimneys”. These are pointed rock needles that rise up into the sky like chimneys, and these rock needles have a different color than the surrounding rock.
We walked the short Angel’s Palace Trail to get a closer look at these rock formations. And although we are only 35 km away from Bryce Canyon (as the crow flies), the nature here is quite different again.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Difficult name, great landscape! Grand Staircase-Escalante is about three times as big as the Saarland and really surprised us. Alone here you could spend a whole holiday.
We actually only wanted to drive through the park, but were so enthusiastic about the area that we spontaneously shortened our day trip. We camped in the Calf Creek Recreation Area, because unlike the campsites in the national parks, we were lucky here and could secure a spot.
With a great mountain panorama we made a campfire and enjoyed the nature.
As the starting point of the hike to the Lower Calf Creek Falls was close to our camping site, I used the opportunity the next morning, got up at dawn and was the first at the waterfall.
Christiane also took the opportunity: namely to sleep in and start the day a bit slower 😅.
