Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The hike
The trailhead is on Highway 12, about four miles east of the turning to the main park entrance, at the northern end of the park. The trail follows a stream up Water Canyon and crosses it on two footbridges, with hoodoos on the slopes above. At the fork go left, up a short climb, to Mossy Cave, an overhang kept wet by seeping water, hung with moss in summer and icicles in winter. Go back to the fork and take the other branch upstream to the small waterfall. Return down the creek.
It is 0.9 miles (1.5 km) round trip with 160 feet (50 m) of climbing; allow about 30 minutes. The grade is Easy: it is very short, with one brief climb.
The stream is the Tropic Ditch, dug by settlers between 1890 and 1892 to bring water ten miles from the East Fork of the Sevier River; it has flowed every year since, except in the drought of 2002. The car park is small and busiest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and parking along Highway 12 is not permitted. This is a fee area like the rest of the park, so keep your pass in the car. Stay on the trail, watch for fast water, and leave pets behind.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- On Highway 12 below the park's northern rim, outside the main entrance
- Beside the Tropic Ditch, dug by Mormon settlers in the 1890s; a short spur leads to its waterfall
- The cave is a shady, dripping overhang, hung with icicles in winter
Getting there
Start: Mossy Cave Trailhead. 37.66570, -112.11019
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Bryce Canyon: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
