Bryce Canyon National Park · Utah

Mossy Cave Trail BCT-271

0.3 mi of trail, end to end · about 60 ft of climbing · 6,836 ft–6,900 ft · native surface · hiking

6,836 ft 6,900 ft · 0.3 mi high 6,900 ft

Trailhead Mossy Cave Trailhead 6,831 ft Drive there

Mossy Cave Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · no dogs

Start Mossy Cave

A creek meanders through red rocks with red rock formations in the background.
See a waterfall in the summer and icicles in the winter on one of the park's easier hikes.

Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. It is also the northernmost hike in the park, located just off of SR 12 as it winds its way through the park boundary.

Trailhead: Northern end of the park, 4 miles east on Hwy 12

Parking: At trailhead (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles permitted.

Distance: 0.8 miles (1.3 km)

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Elevation Gain: 150 feet (46 meters)

Difficulty: Easy (elevation gain of 200 feet or less, shorter length)

Services: Accessible restrooms available at the trailhead.

Shuttle Service: None. Private options may be available.

Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

Delicate rocks and sensitive plants exist throughout this area. Please stay on the main trail and respect all posted signs.

While visitors are permitted within the water , we ask that they enter and exit at bridge crossings to reduce social trails elsewhere.

Mossy Cave is a fee area, like the rest of the park. Keep your park pass or proof of admission with your vehicle for rangers to inspect.

Accessibility Due to the park's natural terrain, this is not considered an accessible trail. Surface Type: Firm Native Sediment Total Ascent: 150 ft (46 meters) Length: 0.8 mi (1.3km) roundtrip Typical Grade: 5.0% Maximum Grade: 23.0% Typical Cross Slope: 6.0% Maximum Cross Slope: 20.0% Typical Width : 63 inches (160 cm) Minimum Width: 32 inches (81 cm) Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 32 trails in Bryce Canyon National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.