Bryce Canyon: Mossy Cave and Waterfall

Mossy Cave is a short trail system to a small grotto (not a cave) filled with moss. In the colder months the cave fills with ice columns (it’s actually pretty neat). Also on the trail you will see a waterfall in the Tropic Ditch. This trail, while still technically in Bryce Canyon is not on the main road (HW63) beyond the fee station. Instead is is just a couple miles down HW12, just before Tropic, Utah.

Mossy Cave.

Waterfall.

Quick Details:

Length: 0.8 miles out and back.
Difficulty: DR3. Generally pretty flat with a short climb at the end.
Elevation Gain: 200 feet.
Restroom: Yes, there is a pit toilet at the TH.
Dogs? No. Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails in the park.
Other Info: You are in the desert, be sure to wear appropriate clothing and carry enough water. Even though the trail is short, you don’t want to put yourself at unnecessary risk.

To Get Here:

If Staying in Bryce City, head north down HW63 and turn right on HW12. Follow it about 3.5 miles and you will see a parking area on the right. If you hit Tropic, you went to far.

If coming from Tropic, head west on HW12 about 3.8 miles and the parking area will be on the left just beyond the welcome To Bryce Canyon sign. If you really start climbing the hill, you went too far.

The Trail:

View from the parking lot.

Trailhead sign.

Hoodoos above.

The trail starts out pretty mild and flat.

More hoodoos.

Hoodoos and trees.

Lovely little trail.

The first of 2 bridges.

Ooh! There is actually a good amount of water in the ditch today. The waterfall should be nice.

Looking back towards the first bridge.

The ditch, and the trail to Mossy Cave.

The backside, or I guess maybe front side depending how you look at it of The Turtle. We’ll come back to that.

The 2nd bridge.

Little side waterfall.

Up canyon.

Looking down canyon.

From the far side of the bridge you get the first glimpse of the waterfall. It is going really good right now! Last time we were here it was just a trickle.

A little closer.

It is a little bizarre seeing a waterfall amongst hoodoos.

Our 4th Hike The Hoodoos Benchmark. Again, I didn’t claim the prize, but it is neat to be able to say I met the challenge, and then some on our short trip.

From here the trail splits. Mossy cave to the left, and a lookout for the waterfall to the right. We decided to start with the cave.

Nice view of the canyon below.

The trail up to the cave is a little thinner, but not bad at all.

View of the waterfall from it.

Here is Mossy Cave. It is actually a grotto, not a cave. However it s neat.

Panoramic.

Eh, it is neat, but I think I like it better with the ice columns.

From our 2014 winter adventure here.

It is mossy though.

Information sign.

This is neat, but we have more to explore!

View down.

View of the Tropic Ditch from above.

Information sign about the Tropic Ditch. It talks about how the pioneers dug the ditch to bring water to Tropic, and the blah blah industrious attitude of the people of the time. however, it does not really talk about the fact that by doing this they irreversibly changed the ecosystem here. Landis made the comment that it is interesting how the information is presented based upon who gets to write it. I am a little surprised that a National Park sign has it presented this way.

It shouldn’t be here, but it s neat.

A little closer.

Last time we were here it was barely a trickle.

Upon initial inspection, the trail appears to be closed.

And then again amongst the mess of trails.

However, if you keep to the left you will find a bridge without a trail closed sign.

Which crosses a small stream which comes from a spring as I understand it.

I thought I got a picture, but I guess not. Anyway, I know it is an official park trail as there are signs asking to stay on the main path. I think the lowest trail was closed due to erosion, and the middle trail due to not being official.

It takes you to the top of the falls.

View down canyon.

And The Turtle formation, which sadly fell victim to erosion and has been beheaded. I was happy to hear they think it was natural and not human caused.

This is the nature of well, nature. Sometimes it happens so slowly we don’t notice it in our lifetimes, sometimes it happens without warning.

Here is my picture from our 2014 trip. We were lucky enough to see it before it fell. I do remember thinking it looked awfully fragile. But honestly I thought the spire would go, not the whole head.

Not sure which way the “head” fell, so I am not sure if that is it below.

Back to the waterfall.

Kind of kicking myself for not hiking up there last time we were here for 2 reasons, 1, we could get to it without having to hop across the stream. 2, it is now closed. Darn for lost opportunities.

The stream above the waterfall.

View down canyon again.

View up-canyon. The trail appears to continue along water Canyon but I don't know for how far but, I think we have reached the end of the official Bryce Canyon posted trail.

The beheaded turtle again.

The formation again.

Well, we had our fun, and I was seriously tempted to continue up Water Canyon, but we decided to call it a day.

The waterfall again.

Down canyon.

The trail next to the canyon is closed. probably due to erosion.

The waterfall and the turtle.

Oh, I did catch a shot of the stay on trail signs.

They closed the trails next the the ravine, probably for good reason. Just keep an eye out for the actual trail to head back and to get closer to the falls.

I got a little stink eye on the way back from an old guy on the way back. Sorry you missed the alternate trail bub, but I am confidant we did not go where we shouldn’t have.

View down canyon.

View of the waterfall again.

Closer.

From the bridge.

The upper bridge.

Up canyon.

Pretty stream.

The lower bridge.

View down canyon again.

The other side of the Turtle formation.

The pretty hoodoos near the trailhead.

Looking up at a pretty ponderosa pine tree.

Random stump filled with stones.

The trailhead sign is really faded, and hard to read, but clearly shows the trail leading to the top of the falls.

I cant decide if I prefer winter or spring. Mossy Cave is really neat in winter but kind of.. meh in spring. The waterfall is really neat in spring but kind of meh on winter.I guess it really depends on what you are after. Last time I was here I gave it a 10, I think it will retain that 10.

As for difficulty, this one is super easy and short. Going with a DR3.

Dogs are not allowed on any of the park trails. So leave Fido at home, or at the hotel. Do not leave him in the car.