Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park: A Guide
The Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park packs a punch for a short, easy trail: you’ll be able to see the titular cave, a desert waterfall, and dozens of the park’s famed hoodoos in less than a mile.
In fact, this is one of the easiest trails in the entire national park, so nearly any visitor will be able to complete this fun hike.
Add in the fact that there is a shallow creek for splashing in, and you’ll win over everyone in your vacation party, especially those little hikers.
Because of Mossy Cave Trail’s location outside of the park’s main entrance, it is an fantastic add-on for both those visitors planning a full Bryce Canyon National Park experience and those simply passing by on Scenic Highway 12.
In the trail guide below, I’m sharing everything you might want to know about the trail, including general hiking conditions, parking and trailhead access, what you’ll see along the way, and why this hike is such a good one in Bryce Canyon.
The beautiful Mossy Cave Trail near the trailhead
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Hike Overview
Trailhead location: on Scenic Highway 12, approximately 3.7 miles southeast from the roundabout in Bryce Canyon City, Utah
Trail length: 0.8 miles
Trail difficulty: easy
Elevation gain: 150 feet
Starting the Hike: Parking and Trail Information
To get to the trailhead, you’ll need to head southeast from the roundabout at Bryce Canyon City on Scenic Highway 12. You’ll go through 2 fairly steep curves in the road before it begins to flatten out.
Once you’re on the section of road that’s leveling out, begin to look for the small sign on the right hand of the road that indicates the Mossy Cave Trail.
There is a very small parking area at the trailhead that might hold two dozen cars. Unless you’re doing this hike very early in the morning or late in the afternoon, that first parking area you’ll come to will be full.
Don’t bother waiting around for someone to move their vehicle as there is a very large gravel parking lot a couple hundred feet down the road. The NPS expanded the parking area for this trail to keep visitors from parking on the dangerously small shoulder of the road, and this second, larger area can fit dozens of cars.
It’s also wide enough to get campers and trailers into if you’re making a quick stop here on your way to the the nearby Bryce Canyon R Journey Campground (our pick for where to stay with kids while visiting this area!).
Parking is free in both areas.
Does the shuttle run to Mossy Cave?
While there is an excellent and free Bryce Canyon shuttle in the Bryce Amphitheatre section of the park, that system doesn’t extend to this section of the park, which is outside of and away from the main entrance.
You’ll need to have your own vehicle to access this area of the park, as it isn’t connected to the rest of the park by road, shuttle, or trail. Route 12 from the main area of the park isn’t safe to walk along either, so that personal vehicle is a necessity.
Do I need a permit or reservation for this hike?
No, you do not need to have any prior planning or reservations to go on the Mossy Cave Trail.
While it is a popular hike, it hasn’t gotten so crowded (yet) that NPS staff has to actively manage the entrance and exit times.
You will need to have a valid entrance pass for Bryce Canyon National Park, though there aren’t any rangers actively stationed here. Still, if a ranger is on the trail and asks you for your entrance pass, you’ll need to produce one.
You can’t buy an entrance pass here, so you’ll need to go to the main entrance station back through Bryce Canyon City, purchase one there, and then do the Mossy Cave Trail.
Alternatively, if you have an annual pass or a pre-purchased digital pass, you can simply show up at the trail; just keep your phone or annual pass on you while you do the hike.
Are there restrooms at the trailhead?
Yes, there is a vault toilet available at the trailhead. You can find it near the smaller parking area next to the trail’s informational board.
These are wheelchair accessible, and large enough for a parent and child to navigate together if the child needs assistance.
Is this trail good for kids?
My 7 year old near the trailhead for Mossy Cave
Yes, Mossy Cave is one of the best trails in Bryce Canyon National Park for kids!
Thanks to an easy trail with little elevation gain (nearly all of which is going up to Mossy Cave at the back of the trail) and a fun water feature, your entire family will enjoy this hike.
Plus, it’s short enough that even the youngest hikers will be able to power through it entire thing before tiring out.
Explore more of Bryce Canyon National Park and the surrounding area!
Mossy Cave Trail Guide
As you start on the trail, there is a slight hill, which accounts for a small portion of the overall elevation gain.
You’ll crest this hilly area, and the trail will begin to slope slowly and gently downwards (often so slightly that you don’t even know it!).
There’s the first of 2 bridge crossings over the Tropic Ditch stream just ahead. This is an excellent vantage point to see the red, orange, and yellow cliffs dotted with hoodoos in a variety of stages of formation.
The Camping Kiddos at one of the most picturesque parts of this hike
This is one of the best places in the parks to see some of the hoodoos, though most are not as columnar as the more famous ones over near Bryce Amphitheatre.
Still, they are beautiful, and this trail is much more manageable for those visitors with little kids or walking issues than trails like Queen’s Garden or Navajo Loop.
On the far side of that first bridge, the trail curves along the stream and to the left. You’ll make a long arch as the trail then slowly turns back to the right, and you’ll come to the second bridge.
As you cross the second bridge, you’ll be able to look back to your right as see the Tropic Ditch Waterfall.
Interestingly, the Tropic Ditch Waterfall is relatively new to the world, having been created by the Mormon pioneers when they settled in this area at the end of the 19th century.
They didn’t set out to create a waterfall, but they were looking for ways to bring more water to their crops in Tropic and Cannonville, so they diverted a stream into the 15 foot tall waterfall you see today.
Downstream from the falls, you can follow that flow of water across Scenic Route 12, where it flows in a large ditch on the left hand side of the road for miles. In drier times of the year (late fall, winter, and early spring), the flow from the falls is all but non-existent, but it really depends on the amounts of rain this area has gotten recently.
Detour to Tropic Ditch Falls
If you’d like to visit the falls up close, you can do so at this bridge. There’s not an official trail to the falls, but the NPS does allow visitors to access the stream via the created path at the end of the bridge.
Please note, the path here is very much a rock scramble without obvious foot holds. You have to choose your own adventure getting down to the riverbed and back.
My kids hopped down without a problem, and my dad and I managed to maneuver ourselves without too much trouble, but we did see some less mobile visitors who struggled mightily with getting back up to the main trail.
If you’ve got babies or little kids, it might be easier to carry them down. The rock scramble area isn’t deep—maybe 6 feet or so—but I don’t think some visitors are prepared for it since the rest of this trail is comparatively so easy.
Once you’re down on the river banks, you can walk right up to the base of the falls. The water in the stream is usually crystal clear but cold, and it’s a 100% certainty that your kids will want to get in to wade.
The water (at its normal level) in the river is never more than ankle deep on an adult, but you’ll want to still watch your kids while they’re playing. The stream moves gently in most areas, making this a fun place to splash around for all visitors.
At peak times, there will be a short line to take a photo at the base of the falls, but everyone we’ve encountered here has been polite and happy to wait their turn.
When you’re ready to continue the hike, follow in your footsteps back to the little rock scramble and return to the second bridge.
Heading up to Mossy Cave
From the second bridge, you’ll continue past the waterfall view point. At the far end of that bridge is where the trail begins to climb, and you’ll get nearly all of the 120 feet of elevation gain right here at the end.
As the trail begins to climb, you’ll come to an informational marker where the trail breaks apart.
Tropic Ditch Falls and hoodoos from the trail up to Mossy Cave
Going to the right takes you to a higher viewpoint of the falls, and, if you walk far enough, you’ll be able to see the Tropic Ditch stream above the falls. (For obvious reasons, be careful walking around this area with kids.)
We found the Hike the Hoodoos medallion on the Mossy Cave trail!
On this part of the trail, don’t walk too close to the end of the cliff overlooking the falls. There is significant erosion underneath the cliff, which has caused part of the cliff to jut out over the stream. I don’t know how structurally sound the area closest to the cliff’s edge is, but I’m not one for pushing my luck.
Returning to the point where the informational marker stands, you might want to pause a moment before going to the left branch towards Mossy Cave. The informational marker is where you can do your coin rubbing for the Mossy Cave marker in the “Hike the Hoodoos” program.
NOTE: If you plan on doing several hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, I encourage you to complete the Hike the Hoodoos program. This free program is separate from the Junior Rangers program, and any park visitor can participate. To get your special prize, you’ll need to find and get rubbings from 3 of the markers inside of the park.
When you’ve gotten your proof for the Hoodoos program, continue on to your left, following the trail as it heads steeply up to the cave.
The final section of the trail with the most elevation gain
The trail does narrow here, so you’ll have to step to the side when others are coming down.
Once you power through that last section of steep trail, you’ll arrive at Mossy Cave. Given that it is what the entire trail is named after, you might be expecting something big—maybe not Mammoth Cave National Park big—but something substantial right?
Let’s get those expectations properly aligned so you won’t be as disappointed as my kids were.
At the top of that final tough climb is a cave feature. And it is indeed mossy.
But that’s about it.
The Mossy Cave from which the trail takes it name
If you’re visiting in the summer, you will see that the cave drips a lot, which allows much of the forest below to have an appropriate amount of moisture.
Beyond that, you’re not going to have much to do up here other than read the 2 informational signs.
I’m glad I completed the hike, but, honestly, the waterfall and overlooks are the real draw here.
This is an out-and-back trail, so retrace your steps when you’re ready to return to your car.
Bryce Canyon National Park Must Have!
Don’t forget to download your GuideAlong audio tour for Bryce Canyon before you begin your adventure around the park. These audio tours are our favorite thing to listen to whenever we’re visiting a new national park as we learn so much about the history, important people, geology, and wildlife of each place.
For less than the price of a souvenir t-shirt, you can get hours of information about Bryce Canyon that automatically starts and stops as you approach each point of interest.
What to Bring to Mossy Cave Trail
Since it’s a short trail, you don’t need to bring much. No matter where you are on the trail, hiking back out to the parking lot is less than 30 minutes away (at most). And, because of the way that this trail is set up, you’d have to try very hard to get lost.
Just follow the stream and you can’t lose your way!
Water bottle
I always bring along my water bottle or day pack with a water bladder no matter how short the hike is.
First of all, it’s not a fun feeling to get thirsty on a trail and know you have to wait to get a drink of water.
Secondly, it’s important to stay hydrated anytime you’re hiking, but especially when you’re at higher elevations. Mossy Cave and all of Bryce Canyon National Park is located on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, so you’re typically between 7,000 and 9,000 feet above sea level.
That thinner, drier air can lead to more rapid dehydration than you’d experience down at lower elevation levels, so do yourself a favor and sip water constantly. Doing so will also stave off other symptoms of elevation sickness like headache and nausea.
Hiking Sandals
If you’re visiting between late April and late September, when the waterfall is most likely to be flowing at full volume, you’ll want to opt for hiking sandals like Chaco, Keens, or Tevas.
These will give you enough foot protection on the trail, but also are versatile enough to let you splash in the water. And, as I mentioned above, you’re definitely going to be splashing around if you’ve got kids in tow on this hike!
I wore my beloved Keen Newport H2 hiking sandals on this hike, and they worked beautifully. The neoprene interior dries quickly, so I can easily transition from wading with my kids to hiking on the trail. The bottom of the Tropic Ditch stream is rocky in most areas, not sandy like at the beach, so the thick soles protected my feet on and off the trail.
Towel
One thing that I wished I had thrown in my day pack for this hike was a couple of our favorite Turkish towels, so that my kids could dry off after they splashed (i.e. got soaked) in the stream.
These lightweight towels are fantastic since they pack down easily, dry super quick, and are great for everything from beach cover ups to a quick picnic blanket.
Final Thoughts on this Trail
So many pretty views as you hike down from Mossy Cave!
Mossy Cave Trail was one of our favorite trails that we did in Bryce Canyon, thanks to the mix of hoodoos, stream, and cave that you won’t find anywhere else in the park.
While the cave itself might not be incredibly impressive, this entire area of the park is a unique ecosystem that’s well worth a visit. And, since you’re able to hike below the hoodoos on the stream bed, it provides a great contrast to the Rim Trail (where you’re above the hoodoos) and amphitheater hikes like Queen’s Garden (where you’re among the hoodoos).
For those park visitors with little kids, you can’t do much better than the Mossy Cave Trail, as the easy hike and seasonal water feature is a winning combo.
Plus, the easy on and off from Scenic Route 12 and ample parking means this trail is stress-free, unlike many of the more well known hikes inside the main area of Bryce Canyon.
Definitely put this on your family friendly itinerary for Bryce Canyon National Park!
