The trailhead for Mossy Cave is located outside of the main section of Bryce Canyon National Park, though this trail is part of the park and maintained by the Park Service. The trail is very short, and there are two great payoffs along the way: A waterfall, and Mossy Cave.
Mossy Cave isn’t actually a cave at all, it is a grotto that is constantly wet and dripping. It even forms ice in the winter months. The waterfall isn’t really a natural waterfall, either. It was created by the Pioneers when they dug a 10 mile canal to bring water to Bryce Valley. Both are still impressive.
The trail has a wide pullout between mile marker 17 and 18 on the road between Bryce Canyon NP and Tropic. There are trailhead restrooms and a small brown sign. The trail itself is very well marked and easy to follow, but there is a lot of traffic and you won’t get much peace on the trail!
The trail is out and back and runs less than a mile roundtrip (the sign says 0.4 miles to the cave, so 0.8 roundtrip). It is consistently uphill to the waterfall and grotto, but rarely steep, and our 3 year-old made the hike without any help. The only real incline is when you walk a few steps up to the cave.
The Mossy Cave trail follows the stream throughout the hike. There are a few bridges across the water, and eventually you come to the waterfall. There is a bridge that overlooks the falls nicely from about 100 yards, but some people have made their own trail to the base of the falls. We stayed on the trail until it forks. The right takes you to the top of the falls (this trail was closed when we were there) and the left takes you around to the grotto, Mossy Cave. This area is cool and shady and we saw a Western Tanager flitting about the trees.
Mossy Cave Trail is an easy Bryce Canyon hike. It is appropriate for pretty much everyone, though you could not do wheels on this trail. There is also a Hike the Hoodoo challenge marker where the trail splits. Take a photo or do a rubbing (see Hike the Hoodoo Challenge on our Bryce Canyon National Park family guide) to receive a reward at the Visitor’s Center!
You can stop along Highway 12 between mile markers 17 and 18 between Tropic and Bryce City and do this hike even if you are not visiting Bryce Canyon. Mossy Cave still lies in the fee area for Bryce since it is part of the National park, so make sure to pay the fee or display your pass in your car window.
