Distinctive red and white hoodoo rock formations rise above the Mossy Cave Trail trailhead in Bryce Canyon National Park, with pine trees and desert vegetation scattered across the landscape.
Day Hike

Mossy Cave Trail

A short streamside walk to a mossy grotto

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Bryce Canyon City, UT

About

Mossy Cave Trail sits off Highway 12 in the park's north end, about 4 miles east of the Highway 12/63 junction — no fee booth to pass, though it's still park land. At 0.8 miles round trip with about 150 feet of gain, it's one of the shortest, lowest-elevation hikes in Bryce Canyon.

What you'll see

  • A stream-fed trail leading to a natural grotto shaded by an overhanging shelter cave
  • A waterfall in summer, ice formations coating the cave walls in winter
  • Moss and lichen giving the cave its name in warmer months

Accessible restrooms are at the trailhead. Pets aren't allowed on the trail itself, and you'll still want your park pass visible in your vehicle even without a fee station here — rangers do check.

Best Time to Visit Mossy Cave Trail

Mossy Cave Trail changes character with the seasons, offering a different payoff depending on when you visit. In summer, a waterfall spills into the grotto beneath the shelter cave. In winter, that same cave shows off ice formations coating its walls instead, giving visitors a reason to return at a different time of year.

Mossy Cave Trail Tips

  • There's no fee booth at this access point, but the trail is still on park land — keep your park pass visible in your vehicle, since rangers do check.
  • Pets aren't allowed on the trail itself.
  • Accessible restrooms are located at the trailhead.

Getting to Mossy Cave Trail

The trailhead for Mossy Cave Trail sits off Highway 12 in the north end of Bryce Canyon National Park, about 4 miles east of the Highway 12/63 junction.

What to Expect on Mossy Cave Trail

Mossy Cave Trail is a short, easy walk to a natural grotto tucked beneath an overhanging shelter cave, following a stream for most of the way. At 0.8 miles round trip with about 150 feet of elevation gain, it's one of the shortest and lowest-elevation hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park.

  • A stream-fed path leading to the shaded grotto
  • A waterfall spilling into the cave area in summer, with ice formations coating the cave walls in winter
  • Moss and lichen covering the rock in warmer months, giving the cave its name

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