Mamoth Cave Trail

Mammoth Cave is one of the largest lava tubes in Utah, formed by cooling lava on the Markagunt Plateau in the Dixie National Forest. A short, easy path of about 0.4 miles on a loop leads to a collapsed entrance you climb down into, opening onto more than 2,000 feet of dark passage with several additional openings along its length. The rock is basalt rather than the pink limestone this region is known for, a reminder of the volcanic activity that shaped parts of the plateau alongside the erosion that carved the amphitheaters.

Good to know

• Bring a real flashlight or headlamp for every person — the interior is pitch dark past the first turn, and phone lights aren't enough
• Sturdy footwear helps on the uneven, rocky floor
• Access is seasonal; heavy winter snow typically keeps the area closed until roughly late June, reopening through October
• No entrance fee or facilities at the site

The cave sits well up on the Markagunt Plateau near Duck Creek Village and Panguitch, a highland forest landscape distinct from the pink hoodoo country around Bryce Canyon itself, so plan the drive time accordingly.