Kodachrome Basin State Park Cottonwood Canyon Road, Utah

April 22, 2018

It's Earth Day!  Having survived yesterday's world-class hike down to the Golden Cathedral, I am headed in the general direction of Los Angeles, by way of CottonWood Canyon.  Having never driven all the way down that road, this is the day.  The pavement ends here at a little state park.  An eight-dollar fee lets me in the gate.

An early-morning visit to Chimney Rock

There are numerous trails around here, yet I cannot do them all.  I will opt for the the one that visits the park's single meaningful arch.

Getting started

The trail is composed entirely of red dirt, just like everything else

It looks like a bluebird of some kind

That's Bryce Canyon in the distance

Looking north into the heart of the park

Is that an arch ahead?

Yep.  Shakespeare Arch

(See Addendum)

Continuing around the hillside

Southward view

Looking east

There is a junction here for the Slickrock Cutoff — another way back to the trailhead.  For some reason, I opt just to stay on the main loop.

Another glimpse of Bryce Canyon to the west

§: This was a pleasant, albeit unremarkable walk on a hard dirt trail.  Shakespeare Arch was worth seeing, as expected.

I really screwed up by not taking the Slickrock Cutoff; and I don't understand it either, because that's the sort of option that always appeals to me.  A bit of extra effort would have enabled a great view downward through Shakespeare Arch.  Had I done any homework, I would have known that.

• Trailhead: Sentinel/Shakespeare Trail
• Distance: 1.7 miles
• Elevation gain: 200'
• Hikers: none
• Rating: 4

Scenery
Difficulty
Personality

ADDENDUM

Shakespeare Arch collapsed in April, 2019.  The trail remains accessible.

This is the third special formation known to have disappeared within just a few months of my most recent visit.  The others were the so-called 'Turtle' window on the Mossy Cave Trail at Bryce Canyon, and the unique 'Cobra' rock at Fisher Towers.

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