Mossy Cave is the short walk most Bryce visitors miss, and one of the park's most charming. The trailhead is not on the main park road at all, but on Scenic Byway 12, about four miles east of the junction with Highway 63, on the way down to Tropic. You do not pass a fee booth, but it is part of the park, so keep your pass or receipt in the car. The National Park Service lists the trail as 0.8 miles round trip with about 150 feet of climbing, and it is one of the lowest-elevation hikes in the park. The path follows Water Canyon, where a rare permanent stream flows beneath orange hoodoos and walls; the stream is fed by the Tropic Ditch, an irrigation canal dug by Mormon pioneers in the 1890s to carry water from the East Fork of the Sevier River over the plateau to farms in Tropic, and it still waters the valley today. After crossing the stream on bridges, the trail forks. The left branch climbs to Mossy Cave itself, a shallow alcove where water seeps from the rock and nourishes thick green moss in summer; in winter, the seeps freeze into curtains of icicles that can last into spring. The right branch leads to a viewpoint over a small waterfall where the stream drops over a ledge of rock, flowing in the warmer months and sometimes freezing in winter. Hoodoos, arches and windows in the cliffs above add to the scene.
Seasons. Mossy Cave is open year round and changes character through the year. In summer, the waterfall flows, the moss is bright green and the stream is a welcome cool spot on a hot day. In winter, the alcove becomes a frozen grotto of icicles, the waterfall may turn into a sculpture of ice, and the trail can be icy, so traction devices are worth packing. Spring brings snowmelt and the strongest flows. Because the trail is at a lower elevation than the main amphitheater, it is often more pleasant than the rim when the weather turns cold.
Practical notes. The trail is short but not considered accessible: the surface is firm native sediment with a typical grade of about 5 percent and short pitches much steeper, and some sections are narrow. Accessible restrooms are at the trailhead. Parking is limited and can fill at midday in summer, so come early or late. Stay on the trail near the water, do not climb on the fragile cave walls or hoodoos, and do not drink the ditch water.
Fitting it into a trip. Mossy Cave is a natural stop when driving between Bryce Canyon City and Tropic, or on the way east along Scenic Byway 12 to Kodachrome Basin and Escalante. It is ideal for families with small children who are not ready for the steep trails below the rim, for photographers who want water and hoodoos in one frame, and for anyone looking for a quick walk on arrival or departure day.
What to expect
The experience
A 0.8-mile round-trip walk with about 150 feet of climbing along a stream beneath hoodoos, forking to a mossy alcove and a small waterfall viewpoint.
Best time
Summer for the waterfall and green moss; winter for icicles. Early or late in the day for parking.
How long
Thirty minutes to an hour.
Tips
Keep your park pass in the car even though there is no fee booth. Bring traction in winter, stay off the fragile walls, and combine it with the drive to Tropic.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A quick, easy walk with water and hoodoos.
- Families
- Excellent for small children.
- Couples
- A peaceful stop on a Byway 12 drive.
- Pair with
- Kodachrome Basin farther east, or the Rim Trail at the main amphitheater.
- Time needed
- Under an hour.
Good questions
Where is the Mossy Cave trailhead?+
On Scenic Byway 12, about four miles east of the Highway 63 junction, between Bryce Canyon City and Tropic, outside the main park entrance.
Do I need to pay to hike Mossy Cave?+
There is no fee booth, but Mossy Cave is a fee area like the rest of Bryce Canyon, so carry your park pass or proof of admission.
Is there a waterfall?+
Yes. A small waterfall flows in the warmer months, fed by the pioneer-built Tropic Ditch, and often freezes in winter.
How long is the walk?+
About 0.8 miles round trip with roughly 150 feet of climbing; most people spend 30 minutes to an hour.
Is it worth visiting in winter?+
Yes. The alcove fills with icicles and the waterfall can freeze into ice sculptures. Bring traction devices for icy sections.
