Mossy Cave Trailhead

Best Time to Visit

Spring is the strongest season for the waterfall, when snowmelt pushes the creek to its highest flow and the falls run full over the ledge. Summer mornings are busy but manageable if you arrive early; afternoon thunderstorms can move in quickly during July and August, so plan to finish before midday on days when storm cells are in the forecast. Fall brings lighter crowds and comfortable temperatures on the canyon walk. In winter the waterfall sometimes freezes into tall ice columns — an entirely different visual than any other season. The trail is open year-round, though the path near the creek can be slick after snow or rain.

Trail Tips

• Dogs are not permitted on this trail. Within Bryce Canyon National Park, leashed pets are restricted to parking areas and paved surfaces — plan accordingly if you're traveling with a dog.
• Both the cave and the waterfall are worth visiting in a single trip — the total out-and-back to see both adds little extra time or distance.
• Cell service is limited in the canyon; download any maps or weather forecasts before leaving your vehicle.
• Footwear with grip is useful near the creek crossing and around the waterfall pool, where wet rock and slick conditions are common.

Getting There

The trailhead sits directly on UT-12, between mile markers 17 and 18, roughly 4 miles east of the main park entrance. A small pullout parking lot is located right at the trailhead; a larger expanded gravel lot is a short distance down the road. Both lots fill early on summer mornings — plan to arrive before 9 AM or time your visit for late afternoon to avoid competing for a spot. The trail is accessible year-round and does not require a shuttle connection.

What to Expect on Mossy Cave Trail

Mossy Cave Trail follows Water Canyon Creek upstream on a gentle grade, crossing two footbridges before arriving at a junction about a quarter mile in. The left fork leads to Mossy Cave itself — a shallow rock alcove where moisture seeps through the walls year-round, keeping a carpet of moss alive even through the heat of summer. The right fork leads to the waterfall, where the creek drops roughly 15 feet over a sandstone ledge into a circular pool below. Both destinations are short enough that most hikers visit them in sequence on the same out-and-back. The creek setting feels markedly different from the open hoodoo terrain found elsewhere in the park — this is a shaded, intimate canyon rather than a broad amphitheater view.