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Mossy Cave Trail
A hike on this trail will have you walking in the footsteps of Mormon pioneers.
Plan Around Mossy Cave Trail
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Mossy Cave Trail Details
The Mossy Cave Trail leads into Water Canyon, and therein lies a story: it was here that Mormon pioneers, bedeviled by drought, labored for two years in 1890-92 to dig an irrigation ditch from the east fork of the Sevier River. The flow of water here means that, eventually, Water Canyon will become a real canyon -- unlike the rest of Bryce Canyon, which was formed by rainwater not running water. A grotto formed by an underground spring, Mossy Cave is a shelter cave, not a cavern. In warmer weather, the cave overhang is covered in moss, while giant icicles form in the winter. The Mossy Cave Trail begins at a relatively isolated trailhead off Highway 12, four miles north of the park visitor center, and is reached via a four-mile access road (turn right off of UT-12). In addition to visiting the cave, hikers can see a series of arches and follow the trail to the top of a small waterfall, formed over a layer of hard Dolomite limestone.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
.9 miles
Estimated time
1 hour
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Mossy Cave Trail
Compare nearby parks around Mossy Cave Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Mossy Cave Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Mossy Cave Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Mossy Cave
Mossy Cave is in the northern section of the park, located on Highway 12.
2.3 mi away
Fairyland Loop
This hike is considered strenuous due to its length and meandering trails with multiple elevation changes.
2.3 mi away
Fairyland Point
Offers an opportunity to see hoodoos at an "eye-to-eye" level.
