Panorama Trail in Kodachrome Park to Cool Cave

The Trail

This easy 3 miles trail (one-way) only has a 131 ft. elevation change. It is part of a larger tail system that is often done as a loop, but we just went to the cave and back the same way. Cool Cave was our favorite spot along the trail in any case.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trail starts across the street from the dirt parking area and sets off across a landscape strewn with rock spires reminiscent of oddly shaped pipes and twisted upended carrots. It starts by dropping some into a cut bank.

Trailhead

Trail descending into cut bank

After traveling only 0.4 miles, the trail splits, as indicated by the first blue trail on the topographical map above. Heading left will take you around toward Panorama Point before heading back toward the cliffs to the north and connecting back to the trail shown via one of the other two trail segments shown in blue. The trail map below gives a fuller picture of this (map taken from the Kodachrome Basin State Park Map and Guide):

To go the direction shown on the map, stay right and keep along the cliffs to the north. Do not take one of the other confusing side trails heading off to the left either, but remain along the cliffs. This will take hikers to Indian Cave 0.6 miles up from the trailhead. This pleasant alcove has numerous hand print impressions around it, some quite deep.

Indian Cave

Next, hikers will come to Ballerina Spire 0.8 miles from the trailhead which somewhat resembles a dancer's leg with pointed toe at its top, and then to Hat Shop one mile from the trailhead with its baseball-cap-like top on one of the spires.

Hat Shop

A half mile later, and 1.5 miles from the trailhead, those exploring this trail will have the option to turn off to a loop dubbed The Secret Passage. This loop is about 0.4 miles long and offers views of some uniquely pyramidal shaped rocks. We also made our way back along a wash where we found some interesting pockets in the rocks, one of which appeared to boast its own odd sandcastle inside.

Secret Passage Turn-off

Pyramid shaped rock along Secret Passage Trail

Shallow canyon area along the wash

Sandcastle formation inside a rock pocket

Shortly after the Secret Passage is another option to turn off from the trail along the cliffs and head south toward Panorama Point, and in another half mile there is yet another option for this. (If you turn left at this second option, you will shortly arrive at Mammoth Geyser, the tallest and thickest of the "pipes" along the trail. There are also some intriguingly weathered hills near this second trail junction.

Those willing to head straight another mile past the Secret Passage (not following the turn-offs marked as heading back to the trailhead) will reach Cool Cave. Near the entrance to this cave stands an interesting spire that reminded us of the horse used for knight chess pieces.

Cool Cave is reached by following the path along a wash down a canyon and around a bend. After a small easily climbed pour-off, explorers will find themselves in an enclosure that is something of a large alcove that is not actually an fully enclosed cave. It still feels cavernous through in its design complete with bumpy dirt and sandstone formations on its sides. The space offers a definite drop in temperature as well. At the far end a narrow steep slot canyon can be viewed at the top of an impassable dryfall, which obviously forms a waterfall during flash floods.

Approaching Cool Cave

Small Pour-off to climb up into the "cave"

Looking up the dryfall

Leaving Cool Cave

Upon leaving Cool Cave, you have the option to take the trail going left to complete a short loop before connecting to the trail you followed up this way. This is only a little longer than just going back the way you came. We did not head this way though, so it is not shown on our own topographical map.

This trail is open to horses and leashed dogs. Please stay on the trail and avoid cryptobiotic soil, as you should throughout this entire section of country. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead, but there are restrooms avaliable at the visitor's center. A fee is required to access the area.

Directions

This trail is located in Kodachrome State Park, which is found in Garfield County near Cannonville, Utah. To get there from Hwy 12, turn south onto Kodachrome Rd./Main St. in Cannonville. Turn left onto Kodachrome State Park Rd. Continue past the Visitor's Center to the parking for the Panorama/Grande Parade Trail. The trailhead is across the parking lot (whereas the Grade Parade Trail starts from the parking area). GPS Coordinates: N37° 31.377' W111° 59.505'