Sentinel Spire Trail

Sentinel Spire Trail leads to the tallest and most imposing of Kodachrome Basin's sedimentary pipes — a solitary monolith standing approximately 170 feet above the canyon floor that serves as the park's most dramatic single geological feature. The 3-mile round-trip hike gains 400 feet through varied canyon terrain before arriving at the base of the Sentinel, where the scale of this ancient sediment column becomes fully apparent only when standing beside it.

The trail to the Sentinel passes through several of the park's color zones — the red and orange Entrada Sandstone, the white Cannonball Member, and the gray-green Carmel Formation — creating a layered geological cross-section visible in the canyon walls. The spire itself is composed of harder, more cemented material than the surrounding rock, which explains its survival while the adjacent formations have eroded into rubble. Views from the trail extend across the surrounding canyon country toward the Paunsaugunt Plateau and the pink cliffs visible to the north near Bryce Canyon. The trail is suitable for most adult hikers with a moderate level of fitness. Leashed dogs are welcome. The $15 per vehicle park entrance fee applies, and the trailhead is accessible from the main park campground area.