The Mossy Cave Trail is 8/10 mile, out-and-back, relatively easy trail at Bryce Canyon National Park. The trail follows the Tropic Ditch stream, eventually leading to a waterfall (in season) and a gorgeous cave filled with, well, moss!
Although it’s outside the gates of the Bryce Canyon National Park gates, it’s still worth visiting. The Mossy Cave Trail is a perfect family-friendly trail, especially if you have little kids. Keep in mind, dogs are not allowed on this trail.
For more details about the trail and amenities nearby, the guide below has everything you need to know!
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A Short Hike at Bryce Canyon National Park
If you’re looking for a short hike at Bryce Canyon, the Mossy Cave Trail is a great option. It’s the second-easiest trail at the park (after the Rim Trail) and offers a different perspective of the park outside the amphitheater.
Because the water flow of Tropic Ditch can vary, you’ll have the best experience on this trail right after a major rainstorm or during winter. But even if there is little water in the stream, it’s still a beautiful trek and worth stopping by.
We completed the trail after hiking the Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop in the morning. Even though it’s rated easy, there are some steep sections that can feel extra tiring if you did a longer trail prior (ask me how I know!).
Prepare For Your Hike on Mossy Cave Trail
Park Admission
Although parking for the Mossy Cave Trail is outside the park entrance, you still need to pay a fee to visit Bryce Canyon National Park. It varies depending on how many days you plan to visit the park, your age, and your military status. Please refer to the Bryce Canyon National Park fees page to determine your cost.
Parking
There is a small parking lot southeast on UT-12, about 7.5 miles from the Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center. The lot holds about two dozen cars.
Amenities
There are pit toilets by the trailhead, next to the parking lot.
Cellular Service
We had decent cell service while at Bryce Canyon.
Pets
Dogs are not allowed on the Mossy Cave Trail.
Higher Elevation
Bryce Canyon National Park’s elevation ranges from 8000 to 9000 feet. You might feel more easily out of breath. Make sure to stay well hydrated and take adequate rest breaks on the steeper sections of the trail.
Hiking Mossy Cave Trail at Bryce Canyon
| Trail Location: | The trailhead is clearly marked next to the pit toilets. |
| Trail Length: | .8 miles, out and back |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy – though there are some steeper inclines along the trail |
| Trail Type: | Out and back |
| Elevation Gain: | 160 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Trailhead
The trailhead for Mossy Cave is right next to the pit toilet building. There is an informative sign giving visitors a brief overview of the history of the trail.
Along the Trail
The first part of the trail is relatively flat and cleared of any rocks. The trail follows the stream and features two bridge crossings.
Fork in the Road
After the second bridge, you’ll encounter a fork in the road. Going right leads to Tropic Ditch Waterfall. Left leads to Mossy Cave. We chose the waterfall first.
Tropic Ditch Falls
If you time your hike right, like after a summer rainstorm or in the winter, you might see a good flow at the waterfall on the Mossy Cave Trail.
Unfortunately, during our visit, we only saw a slight trickle at Tropic Ditch Falls. It seriously looked like someone turned on the hose and let it run. We should have had an inkling that there wouldn’t be much flow, since the streambed had very little water in it.
Oh well! That’s the thing about waterfalls – you never know how the flow will be.
Mossy Cave
Backtrack from Tropic Ditch Fall and then continue straight to Mossy Cave. You cannot enter the cave (there is a railing), but it’s very pretty to see from afar. In the winter and sometimes into the summer, you might see icicles hanging inside.
Mossy Cave Trail Wrap-Up
Overall, this was a short and easy enough trail to add to our trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s not the best trail in the park, but if you’re driving by and want to see some of the beauty of Bryce Canyon, it’s worth stopping.
I think the best time to hike this trail is in winter or just after a rainstorm to see Tropic Ditch Falls at a higher flow.
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