Don’t miss the short, easy Mossy Cave hiking trail in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Get your camera ready!
Mossy Cave is a great photo stop. View red-orange hoodoos and a waterfall tumbling over the rock cliffs of Water Canyon.
Mossy Cave Hiking Trail
The Mossy Creek hike is an easy trail of less than 1-mile round trip. It follows along what looks like a river but it is actually an irrigation canal known as the Tropic Ditch. In 1880-1892, it took Mormon pioneers two years to carve out the ditch using shovels and picks.
The canal provides irrigation water to the nearby Tropic and Cannonville communities.
Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the largest hoodoo collection in the world. A visit to Mossy Creek is one of the top things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
After following the canal and crossing over a bridge take a left up the hill to see the Mossy Cave. The cave is a grotto with an overhang that usually has moss or icicles hanging from it depending on the season.
After seeing the cave, head back down the trail to view the waterfall or continue further to end up above the falls.
Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the largest hoodoo collection in the world. A visit to Mossy Creek is one of the top things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the largest hoodoo collection in the world. A visit to Mossy Creek is one of the top things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
How to get to Mossy Cave Hiking Trail
Mossy Cave is in the northern section of Bryce Canyon near the junction of Highway 63 and Highway 12. The entrance to the small parking lot is easy to find.
If you are heading towards Tropic, after crossing a little bridge, it is on the right side of the road.
Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the largest hoodoo collection in the world. A visit to Mossy Creek is one of the top things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Geology of Bryce Canyon
Canyons are usually formed by the steady flow of water over a rock-like surface. Many of the canyons in the Bryce area formed by a different method called frost wedging. This happens when rock cracks filled with water freeze. These thin pieces of ice are several metres in length causing a wedge. Over time, weathering occurs from the melting, freezing and expansion. The rock then begins to change shape as the crack wedge enlarges and breaks off.
Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the largest hoodoo collection in the world. A visit to Mossy Creek is one of the top things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the largest hoodoo collection in the world. A visit to Mossy Creek is one of the top things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.
- Travel to Bryce Canyon to discover the world’s largest hoodoo collection
- Trip planning tools for Bryce Canyon.
- Explore scenic Mossy Cave hiking trail in Bryce Canyon.
- Discover more hiking trails at Bryce Canyon.
- Learn interesting facts about Bryce Canyon.
- Discover the world’s largest gypsum dunes.
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, a travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National PD Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW & NATJA.
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