Mossy Cave Trailhead

This trail is free because it is located outside of the park. Parking is limited. This trail has vault restrooms. Not much shade. The beginning of the trail has a lovely stream, and you follow it all the way to the water fall. As you hike, you see hoodoos and other beautiful rock formations. There are NPS info boards throughout the hike. The one with the BC Medallion is basically at the end and can be found at the upper viewpoint of the waterfalls. There are some spots that could be difficult to climb down (going to the waterfall) and up (to see the viewpoint of the waterfall from an elevated spot). This hike was totally worth it. My teens and I went right before we left Bryce Canyon and we're so glad we did. It was gorgeous and I want to go again!

The is an easy less than 1 mile round trip hike. The views are amazing. The payoff is a waterfall at the end of the trail. The trail divides so you can hike to the top of the waterfall or hike the river bed to see the waterfall from the bottom which is what I did. Restrooms are available at the trail and this trail is dog friendly. There is a small parking lot, so if it is full, you will be parking along the highway.

Beautiful and easy hike! Perfect to go up to the cave or the waterfall/river. Definitely bring water shoes cause the water feels so nice.

This is a simple yet enjoyable stop along the way near Bryce. There are three obvious trails, one up to the left which takes you to the cave (you don't really go in, and it's more like a large cutout region), one crossing the bridge which takes you to the top of the waterfall, and one before the bridge that drops down to the water and leads to the base of the waterfall. We saw toddlers and octogenarians on the hike, and photo opportunities abound. The vault restrooms were fine. Parking is limited and people were waiting for others to leave. It's a worthwhile stop if you can.

Fantastic trail— best experience for a short distance trail I have had in a long time of visiting National Parks. The waterfall is a must! Walk down the river to visit the fall!

The Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park, UT, is a fantastic short hike that packs a punch! This 0.8-mile round-trip trail is perfect for families, casual hikers, or anyone looking for a quick but rewarding adventure. The path follows a gentle stream, offering stunning views of hoodoos, a charming turret arch, and a refreshing waterfall that’s a highlight for kids and adults alike. The mossy cave itself—more of a mossy overhang—is beautifully adorned with lush moss and ferns, creating a serene, almost magical atmosphere. In winter, I’ve heard it transforms with stunning icicles, which I’m eager to see next time! The trail is easy to follow, with a gentle incline, though the final climb to the cave and waterfall can be steep and slippery, so sturdy shoes are a must. We arrived early to beat the crowds, which was a great call, as the trail gets busy. The scenery is breathtaking, with red rock formations contrasting the green streamside foliage. The trailhead is conveniently located just off Highway 12, with ample parking and clean facilities. This hike is a hidden gem that delivers big on beauty and charm—highly recommend adding it to your Bryce Canyon itinerary!

About a mile in and out. Shares parking and trail with Tropic water ditch waterfall. The cave was ok, the waterfall was nicer. Winter might be better for the cave with ice formations but I don’t know.

We came for the waterfall! Very nice and easy to get to. We stopped by after Bryce Canyon so we wanted something easier and quick to do

This review is for Mossy Cave Turret Arch and Little Windows Trail which was a ~0.9 miles round trip that took ~30 minutes to complete. Short and easy hike with a nice views of Tropic Ditch Falls. The Mossy Cave was underwhelming and inaccessible. Where the trail splits; the left takes you to Mossy Cave and the right takes you to Tropic Ditch Falls. Limited parking spots (~10 cars). Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/eJfn0TT_nZw

Family did not want to do any strenuous hikes, and Mossy Cave Trail for the bill. I earned my "Tree Hugger" Yelp badge after checking in! Mossy Cave Trail is right outside the entrance to Bryce Canyon State Park and is considered I guess part of it, but no rangers were out checking for proof you paid for a pass. The small parking lot is usually full at most times but there's an overflow lot also meant for RVs. That's where we parked and it's a short walk to the main entrance. There's a hole in the floor bathroom at the head of the trail; just watch your phones and anything that may fall into the pit of poop. The trail is not that difficult, and lots of families some with toddlers were easily able to traverse the path. You can easily tell where people have made their own paths to get down to the water. Today, it was flowing quite quickly but able to be walked in which a lot were. After some incline, you can go left to the Mossy Cave which really is a grotto, or right and will eventually get you to the nice sized falls. It was something different to see on so many of the other trails my family and I went on. Everything in every direction is beautiful scenery. You can go behind the falls or wade in and get dowsed. Although relatively crowded, everyone was patient to let each family have their turn for pictures or to be out of the way for a nice nature shot. There's not too much shade but the breeze is nice. Bring water, and I recommend hiking boots but many had sneakers. We loved Mossy Cave as it was something different to experience.

Very easy "hike" nearby Bryce Canyon. Not a lot of parking spots, but if you get here early in the morning you shouldn't have a problem at all. This was taken a few days before Memorial Day.

It was a pretty short hike but it did have short elevation gains that made the trip uncomfortable for out of shape novice hikers. It was a pretty trail with cool hoodoo formations. The stream that we visited had only a light trickle but there maybe snow melt coming.

Great hike for the family- breathtaking sights- clean restrooms at start- small parking lot - would advise to arrive early.

One of the best hikes in the world. Seriously. I mean, it's not as narrow as the Narrows, and you won't see the flight of angels, nor is the trail misty, or are there any fractions of domes, but... 1) The family-friendly trail is super easy: less than half a mile, with a gradual 300' elevation gain. 2) The trail is pretty enough: a left at the fork takes you to Mossy Cave (actually a shelter cave or grotto, filled with moss or icicles depending on the season). A right lets you follow a shallow rock-bottomed "river", which is actually an irrigation ditch dug with picks by Mormons in 1890-1892. There's also a picturesque bridge for photo ops that is long enough to fit all their wives. 3) The trail has a payoff: a waterfall about 20 feet tall that empties into a small and shallow pool that is safe for monitored children. You can scramble the (slippery) dolomite limestone rock to go behind the waterfall. Or you enter the waterfall, though I stuck only my head and shoulders in and it felt like a pillow fight with the Baltimore Ravens. You can also hike just a tad further up to the top of the waterfall, but there are no safety precautions to keep a kid from slipping over, so keep an eye on the kids that you do like. The only issue is the parking. First, the small lot fills up quick. Second, though it's outside the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance, it's officially a park fee area, so you may need proof of admission or a park pass.

Short hike with memorable rewards! This Bryce Canyon National Park trail is a bit off of the beaten path - outside of the heavily attended Bryce Amphitheater area - with trailhead parking off of 12 between Red Canyon and Tropic, UT. While cave and waterfall conditions can vary significantly with the seasons, I imagine that it's beautiful year-round, not-to-be-missed, and can be completed in as little as 20 min-1hr depending on interest and how long the trekker wants to linger or venture.

This is such a nice little hike for families. It has a great all through a creek if on a nearby trail and lands at a waterfall with a little splash area. Great place for a picnic and to play in the water.

Short and easy hike with nice views. Definitely arrive early because the parking lot seemed to always be full.

The waterfall is amazing. I hiked right up to it. "There's no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music" ~Roland R Kemler

Stray away from the cave trail and follow the stream. There's a nice little waterfall waiting for you. The water is cold, you can ever climb and get behind the falls and it builds a little pool. It does get a little packed. Most people go to the cave then can hear the falls and come check it out only to find it below not above. It's definitely worth it. Easy and kid friendly. Not even far off course.

O.M.G.!!! This is a beautiful hike. Short, but GORGEOUS! This was an unplanned stop, its approx a half a mile hike/stroll into the canyon towards a waterfall. Bring water shoes and get your feet wet... Get Up and Explore.

We arrived in the late afternoon in Bryce Canyon, after driving from Zion and having lunch followed by orientation at the Bryce Visitor's Center. We were planning to have dinner in the town of Tropic, about 15 minutes from Bryce. So if you're planning on heading toward Tropic and want an extremely easy hike, the Mossy Cave Trail is worth stopping by. It is on the way right off Highway 12E to a large parking area. The hike is really short and easy - maybe 0.8 miles round trip if you go all the way to the Mossy Cave at the end. There is some minor elevation here but its very easy on the knees, so the trails are suitable for everyone. The nice things about this trail I thought were: 1. You're surrounded by the natural beauty of hoodoos in a picturesque landscape. Its true of many hikes at Bryce but this was a good appetizer! 2. You can walk down along the riverbank and check out the pink rocks there. A very unique color since most everything is yellow, orange, and red. The small amount of water here is ice-cold! 3. There were some tiny water trickles during late October, and the streams along the bank were really small. You'll get a bigger show probably after the rainy seasons.

Really great short hike. If you are doing this in snow conditions wear spikes and bring poles. It was very icy and treacherous.

Moderate walk, Rained our day so beautiful water fall. Cave had interesting history/story. (Said to have beautiful icicles in winter too.)

It a short and simple hike to a wonderful waterfall. We spent 25mins to complete the hike and don't forget to dip your toes in the cold water. Must go! Definitely recommend!

We passed by this entrance a few times during our visit on the drive to our campground. The parking area always being busy, was an indication of a popular spot, so we chose this as an early morning visit during our time near Bryce Canyon National Park. We got a good parking spot upon arrival. The walking path is adjacent to a running stream which offers some beachy type areas where one can sit for a bit and admire the scenery. Looking up, there are fantastic geological formations. It is a short jaunt to the mossy cave which isn't as much of a cave as it is a grotto. It is partitioned off with some a barrier, so you can get fairly close but you can't enter. This is a good thing to protect the natural moss that grows in the grotto. Retracing our steps from the Mossy Cave we veered left at the trail fork to get closer to the nearby waterfall. We were able to get fairly close to the waterfall and took the opportunity to get some photos. This stop lasted us about an hour.

A simple, short, easy, no commitment hike off to the side of the road. You can park and enter the well marked trail with restrooms for free. No parking fees or National Park pass or admission required. You should not bring your dog, it is clearly marked at the entrance to the trail that dogs are not welcome. The hike is beautiful and many gorgeous picture opportunities await. The stream from the waterfall runs along the trail route. This is a not to miss hike if in the area.

A short 10 minutes drive from Bryce Canyon took us to this gem. Mossy Cave has two easy trails, one to Mossy Cave and one to a point above a little waterfall. Along the trails are two bridges which serve as an excellent places to take pictures of the surrounding Hoodos and plants. If the water is not too high, you can walk along the bank to the waterfall. No parking and entrance fee are needed.

Great little spot to cool yourself in the summer! I'm sure the mossy cave is more of a sight to see in the winter when it is icy!

The cave itself is not very interesting but the walk to it is quite scenic - with rock formations similar to the ones people pay to see in national parks - but what is most enjoyable is the river waterfall.

This hike was my favorite part of our trip to Bryce. We never saw another person for the entire hike (if I sound antisocial, it's only because there's nothing quite like an empty trail to feed your soul). The "cave" at the end of the trail is not much of a cave at all, it's definitely the type of trail where the best parts are the journey, not the destination. The waterfall looked cool from a distance, unfortunately the trail was closed to get over to it, so that was a little disappointing. This trail is great for non-hikers and children, not too much elevation gain, and relatively short.

This a pretty easy hike just outside of Bryce Canyon that will lead you to an ice cave. And because of the (much) lower elevation, it is much warmer than Bryce. Stop here for a quick hike before or after visiting Bryce.

Great for kids. Short up and back with fun under the waterfall. Can hike in the water also. Great scenery. Memorable.

Went with the family here a few days ago; was concerned if there would be enough water to make it interesting, but didn't have to worry, it was great! Regarding the trail to get there - you follow the well worn path and cross the first bridge. At the 2nd bridge, you can cross it to take the trail to the top of the waterfall area, or if you want to go to the base of the waterfall where you can walk in the water, take the narrow path just to the right of the 2nd bridge. The area is not super big, but we went mid afternoon, so it wasn't that crowded. We had swim shoes, but we saw some walking barefoot on the small rocks/sand that make up the creek bed. After staying in the area for about 20 minutes, we walked the creek back toward the beginning of the trail, and there were places to get out and go back up to the main trail. The water only gets above the ankle and doesn't flow very fast, so it makes for a nice creek walk.

This is a hike for everyone! Beautiful, short, and cooler on a hot day. Hike through the river to waterfall for a refreshing break from the heat.

This is the place, you enjoy the view of water fall, hoodoos and the Turtle Arch at the same time. This is the end of Bryce Canyon NP so not many people like Queen/Navajo trail. You can make this beautiful short trail .8 miles as long as you want to if you don't mind to get wet! We went up stream and found another tiny water fall. The water was clear and cool. We enjoyed sit in the stream admiring the beauty of this place.

This little trail is worth getting out of the main part of Bryce Canyon National Park and seeing shirt and sweet, but cool features like some falls and a, yes, mossy cave you can peek into. You can walk along the little river and stop and play as well. Very relaxing and quiet, looking up atbthe red hoodoos is always cool, epecially here where its way less crowded. It comes up fast on your right when heading away from Bryce, ao look out for the little carpark. Definitely one to do if you have kids and highly recommend as it was a favourite of ours!

Was not familiar with these caves but was told by our waiter in Bryce. So happy to have gone. Easy trail and great photo opps since you are below the hills of Bryce. Caves were nice and not many people know about this place so you do not have to fight off the crowds.

I gave this hike 3 stars because the cave was just a shallow overhang with some undistinguished moss. The waterfall hikes are beautiful and fun. When you get to the second bridge, go under the bridge along the creek to go under the waterfall. The kids will love it. Return to the bridge and continue to the fork in the trail. The right hand trail goes the top of the waterfall for a scenic view. If you take the left hand trail you will climb the steepest part of the trail for a ho hum sight

Outside of Bryce National Park is a great 1 mile hike with amazing landscape views of red rock hoodoos and a raging waterfall. It was like visiting Carsland "Radiator Springs." Easy hike with kids but you must attentively watch them so they don't fall off the cliffs edge. The big draw for the kids is obviously the water. Wear a bathing suit and good water shoes like Keens so you can hike comfortably and get wet. When you hit Mossy Cave, it isn't much of a cave but more like an alcove with moss flanking the walls. Yea, its cool but the kids didn't care. It's definitely worth the visit to break up your Bryce "Hoodoos" visit because let's face it, those amazing formations start to all look the same after a while. YouTube: Mossy Cave at Bryce Canyon | https://youtu.be/dGl51oRuaRQ

Beautiful, fun, short hike/walk. We only went to the waterfall. Definitely worth the 10 minutes or less it took us to get there. Great photo spot. Great for families. Didn't visit the cave.

After a long hike in bryce, we decided to check this place out. We walked up the waterfall and we had a blast. The kids were able to walk behind the waterfall and my niece stood right next to it, got drenched and almost knocked over. We spent the next hour hanging out in the stream relaxing enjoying the brisk water.

We loved this short hike! Great for families as you get to hike to a nice waterfall. You can play in the water and even hike in the river...my kids loved it! The mossy cave section is underwhelming, but the waterfall and river more than make up for it. Definitely a must do hike!