Escalante PF, Mossy Cave, Red Canyon
Willis Creek & Kodachrome Basin SP

Journey map

Approximately:

• from Escalante petrified Forest SP (A) to Mossy Cave (B): 42 miles and 52 mn on road
• from Mossy Cave (B) to Red Canyon SP (C): 14 miles and 16 mn on road
• from Red Canyon SP (C) to Willis Creek (D): 25 miles and 35 mn on road - dirt road
• from Willis Creek (D) to Kodachrome Basin SP (E): 12 miles and 35 mn on dirt road - road

---

Saturday, June 6

7 am, wake up after a cool night and with 48°F. Breakfast and, while Isabelle finishes the preparations for departure, I hastily climb the beginning of the hike to Petrified Forest to take a quick look.

We leave for Mossy Cave where we arrive at 9:40 am with 55°F. The sky is completely blue, beautiful and the sun shines brightly. We see the beginnings of Bryce and its beautiful colors: shades of pink ranging from pale white to dark orange; beautiful promises for the next day because we don't stop here today.
Quiet stroll along a stream and, after some pictures of flowers, we fork towards the cave which is rather a large overhang. A few photos later, we can look for the waterfall then back to the parking lot at 10:24 am.

We drive the road, passing with "flippant" in front of the entrance of Bryce Canyon, and continue towards Red Canyon. The color of rock changes, passing quickly to red, but a red totally different from that of Moab. It's rather "Bryce red" but much darker, redder.
We stop at the Visitor Center (it became a habit), purchase postcards, discussion on interesting trails (possibly to supplement our news, but ouestusa.fr was pretty accurate). We find there, in consultation, a binder full of information and photos about the local flora.
We begin Pink Ledges Trail, which starts on the east of parking lot and takes us to the heights of the VC always with beautiful landscapes and colors. We chain Photo Trail by which we left unsatisfied, because the name sounded enticing.
We leave this great site, seems a bit neglected by travelers and we're heading to Kodachrome Basin SP to try to find a place on the campground (I had hesitated to book) and there remains places ($16 with shower); we finally had lunch at a reasonable hour (1:20 pm).

We leave our site at 2 pm for Willis Creek; the beginning of the Skutumpah Road (track) is awesome and climbs well, but we're moving quietly and reach the car park at 2:30 pm and 70°F. Fifteen minutes later, we start the hike and helped by the wind, the temperature drops to 64°F.
The hike is very nice, the trail winds through the canyon, quite narrow at some times, and we frequently go from one side of the torrent (very quiet) to the other. As its flow rate is low, there is no need of water shoes, but this should not always be the case. This hike is, in any case, to recommend with children. It's not really a slot canyon, but for those who can't see one, it's a good overview.
We turn back and arrive on parking lot at 4 pm with 2.3 miles at our pedometer.

Around 4:30 pm, we start Panorama Trail in Kodachrome SP, only true hike that we do in this park.
We have the opportunity to see closely what experts believe to be "fossils" of ancient geysers ducts. They are now monoliths, usually white and sometimes red, which the imagination can lend any resemblance . The trail seems surrounded by tall, gray-white hills streaked with red.
After an hour and a half, Isabelle, who has a sore right foot, begins the way back while I continue alone on Panorama Point, a view which is reached after a "small" climb. I do not regret this climb, the landscape is beautiful.
At 6:50 pm, we travel quickly Nature Trail and go back to our campsite. Lighting a campfire, cooking sausages on a grill, meal warmly dressed (pants and fleece sweatshirt) because the temperature has dropped. Working with photos accompanied by a good cigar in the firelight and then sleep at 10 pm. Light rain around 4 am that drummed on the roof of the car.