Mossy Cave Trail and Waterfall at Bryce Canyon

The Mossy Cave Trail is a short, easy hike in the north end of Bryce Canyon National Park. One branch leads up Water Canyon to a waterfall, and the other leads to a mossy overhang. The round trip is 0.8 miles (1.3 km), and it starts from its own parking area on Highway 12 without passing the park's fee booths.

Mossy Cave Trail at a Glance

Mossy Cave Trail is an easy out-and-back walk that splits two ways: up Water Canyon toward the waterfall, and over to a sheltered overhang called Mossy Cave. It is one of the lowest-elevation hikes in Bryce Canyon and the northernmost one in the park. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.

The trail climbs about 150 feet on the way in and descends on the way back. That order is unusual here. Most day hikes in the park begin with a descent and end with a climb.

The trail is not rated accessible because of the natural terrain.

Where the Mossy Cave Trail Starts on Highway 12

The trailhead sits on Highway 12, also called State Route 12 (SR 12), about 4 miles east of the junction of Highways 12 and 63. Watch for a small parking area on the right-hand side immediately after you cross a little bridge. Oversized vehicles are permitted in the lot.

No park shuttle serves Mossy Cave, though private options may be available. If the lot is full, come back at another time. Parking on the SR 12 shoulder is not permitted, cars left there may be ticketed, and walking along the highway is dangerous.

During periods of high visitation, the area can be extremely busy between 10 AM and 6 PM. Arrive in the morning or later in the evening to avoid congestion. Accessible restrooms are available at the trailhead.

The Waterfall and the Tropic Ditch

The stream in Water Canyon comes from a hand-dug irrigation canal called the Tropic Ditch. Settlers had reached the Paria Valley east of Bryce Canyon by 1874. The dry land pushed them to divert water 10 miles from the East Fork of the Sevier River, through the Paunsaugunt Plateau and into this canyon. Around 40 men with hand tools finished the job on May 23, 1892, and the canal took its name from the new town of Tropic.

The ditch has carried water to Tropic and Cannonville every year since its completion, except during the drought of 2002. The Water Canyon branch of the trail follows that stream up to the waterfall. You may step into the water, but enter and leave at the bridge crossings so new side paths do not form along the banks.

How the Water Reshaped Water Canyon

Most of Bryce Canyon's so-called canyons were carved by ice forming in cracks, a process called frost wedging. Water Canyon is different, because steady running water since 1892 has made it one of the fastest-eroding areas of the park. Look up as you climb: the higher walls have the lumpy, broken texture of hoodoos, while the lower section has smooth sides shaped like a V. Hoodoos are unlikely to form along the stream, and the ones standing there now will eventually crumble.

The trail also gives you hoodoos and rock windows without a steep hike. Animals come here to drink, though they tend to avoid busy trails in daylight. Watch for plants you might expect beside a mountain meadow brook, such as Mountain Death Camas and Watson Bog Orchid. Stay on the main trail, since compacted soil makes it hard for new plants to take hold.

Mossy Cave in Winter and Summer

Mossy Cave is a sheltered overhang. Slightly acidic groundwater seeps through a harder limestone layer and dissolves the softer rock underneath, leaving a cool, moist, shaded alcove where mosses grow in summer.

When temperatures drop, the dripping water freezes into icicles that hang from the overhang, and some last into summer. Admire it from the trail and do not enter the cave, because the moss and rock are fragile. For temperatures by month before you pick a date, see the guide to Bryce Canyon weather.

Who the Mossy Cave Trail Suits

The Mossy Cave Trail offers a waterfall and hoodoos in about 30 to 60 minutes of walking. Pick it if any of these fit your trip:

• You have an hour between other stops and want a complete hike with two destinations.
• You are hiking with children and want a modest climb of about 150 feet with a waterfall as the payoff.
• You drive an RV or tow a trailer and need a lot that allows oversized vehicles.
• You want restrooms at the trailhead before and after the walk.

The trail is a poor fit for three groups. Pets are not allowed, so plan for someone to stay with a dog or choose a different outing; service animals are allowed. The trail is not rated accessible, with grades up to 23 percent and a 32-inch minimum width; check the Bryce Canyon National Park site before planning other stops. If you want a long day on foot, treat Mossy Cave as a warm-up and pick a main route from our list of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon.

Pairing It with Other Stops

Mossy Cave sits on Highway 12, and you do not need to enter through the park's fee booths to reach it. Pair it with stops such as Sunset Point and the Navajo Loop Trail once you enter the main park road.

Mossy Cave is a fee area like the rest of the park, so keep your park pass or proof of admission with your vehicle at every stop. Rangers may inspect it even here, where no booth stands at the entrance.

At Dark Light Collection, we are building glass pyramids near Bryce Canyon on private land about 15 minutes from the park, opening in 2027. The site has the Sevier River in view.