The geologic interests of the park are sandstone spires and columns called sand pipes or clastic dikes, which are rarely found elsewhere.

Differing geological explanations of the features in Kodachrome Basin State Park exist.

One explanation is that the area was once similar to Yellowstone National Park with hot springs and geysers, which eventually filled up with sediment and solidified.

Through time, the Entrada sandstone surrounding the solidified geysers eroded, leaving large sand pipes.

There are also quite large well-rounded clasts, ranging in size from 2.5 centimeters and greater, found along the outer layer of the sandstone spires which are from the Pleistocene river conglomerates.

The fracturing of the claystones also suggest that the intrusive sandstones were point sources able to concentrate the fluid pressure to a small area of the overlaying rock.

They named the area Kodachrome Flat, after the brand of Kodak film known for its vibrant color rendition.

Popular sites include Chimney Rock, Shakespeare Arch (which collapsed[7] in 2019), and Ballerina Spire.