Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
miles of the scenic byway are relatively easy (in dry weather) in a standard pas-
senger car; it then gets a bit steeper and sandier, and the last 6 miles of the road
require a high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle. Allow about 6 hours round-trip,
and make sure you have plenty of fuel and water.
Another recommended drive in the national monument is the
Cottonwood
Canyon Road,
which runs from Kodachrome Basin State Park south to U.S. 89,
along the monument's southern edge, a distance of about 46 miles. The road is
sandy and narrow, but usually serviceable for passenger cars in dry weather. It
mostly follows Cottonwood Wash, with good views of red rock formations and
distant panoramas from hilltops. About 10 miles east of Kodachrome Basin State
Park, you'll find a short side road to
GrosvenorArch.
This magnificent stone arch,
with an opening 99 feet wide, was named for National Geographic Society founder
and editor Gilbert H. Grosvenor. Incidentally, a professional photographer friend
of ours complained bitterly about the power lines that parallel the road, making
scenic photography difficult. However, the BLM tells us that the road wouldn't ex-
ist at all if it weren't for those power lines.
WILDLIFE-&BIRD-WATCHING
This isolated and rugged terrain makes a good habitat
for a number of species, including desert Bighorn sheep and mountain lions. More
than 200 species of birds have been seen, including bald eagles, golden eagles,
Swainson's hawks, and peregrine falcons. The best areas for seeing wildlife are
along the Escalante and Paria rivers and Johnson Creek.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
About 22 miles E of the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park
Kodachrome Basin lives up to its name—its wonderful scenery practically cries out
to be photographed. Named for the classic Kodak color slide film by the National
Geographic Society after an expedition there in 1948, the park is chock-full of tall
stone chimneys and pink-and-white sandstone cliffs, all set among the contrasting
greens of sagebrush and piñon and juniper trees. It also abuts and makes a good
base for exploring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (described earli-
er in the chapter).
Essentials
Because temperatures get a bit warm here in summer—the park is at 5,800 feet of
elevation—the best times to visit, especially for hikers, are May, September, and
October, when there are also fewer people.
