Welcome to Travel Tuesday! We’re in for another hike (the shortest one we did at this park) in Bryce Canyon today – the Mossy Cave Trail!
Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park
Distance: 1 mile (out + back)
Elevation: 118 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 30 minutes
Trailhead Address: Mossy Cave Trailhead, Tropic, UT 84776
Parking: Lot available
If you need a quick + easy hike with almost no elevation changes and no park fees (it’s before the entrance station), look no further than the Mossy Cave Trail! We went super early in the morning so there were only a couple other people on the trail.
The trail runs along a ravine/waterway – the water from it originates from Tropic Ditch on the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Mormon settlers built the irrigation channel to divert water from the Sevier River to supply water to their areas during the dry season.
You should be able to see Turret Arch as you hike, and if you take a right when you get to the fork in the road, you’ll be able to see a little waterfall.
If you backtrack and go left, it brings you, as promised, to a mossy cave where you can usually see ginormous icicles during the winter months.
To be truly accurate, Mossy Cave is not in fact an actual cave — it’s actually just an overhang in the limsetone that was formed by water constantly dripping from underground springs . (Please don’t try to climb into the cave!)
- Have you ever visited Great Sand Dunes National Park?
- Have you ever gone sand-boarding or sand-sledding?
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I love Bryce Canyon, but I missed out on this hike when I was there! Sounds like a great way to see things if you’re short on time!
This oneās definitely easy to miss but a great one to check out if you need a short/easy hike! :]
I would love to go hiking here, even if the trail is quote short. The scenery couldn’t be more spectacular!
Yeah, it was super pretty! :]
The landscape looks so beautiful on this hike.
It was really pretty! :]
I did not make it to the Mossy Cave Trail when I visited Bryce Canyon, but I would love to do it next time. It looks so cool. I love the little waterfall.
It’s a great little trail and I loved that it wasn’t super crowded! :]
Looks like a nice, fun and short hike. Perfect to see another view of Bryce, which is still very high on my list. I’ll be noting this trail for later
Yay! I hope you have fun when you go!
I’ve not even heard of this hike. It looks very pretty – glad you found it!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…30-Mile LoCo Gravel Grinder
It’s definitely not as well known as the others–you don’t even have to use the park pass to get to this one! :O
What a gorgeous hiking trail! It totally contrasts what we have here in Ontario – I’d love to come one day!
I’d love to go to Ontario someday! :]!