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Bryce
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The Ultimate Southwest Vacation is on Route 89!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Mileage from Mt. Carmel Jct.
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
Zion National Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Bryce Canyon
vacation with our Utah
maps and information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Bryce
Canyon adventures and hiking. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps,
pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds,
things for kids to do and even information on Bryce Canyon's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Utah!
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Bryce
Canyon Map
Directions to Bryce Canyon
From Salt Lake City travel south on Interstate 15 past Beaver
to UT 20. Exit on UT 20. Turn south on UT 89 and travel past Panguitch. Follow
UT 89 to UT 12. Travel along UT 12 through Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon. Turn south
on UT 63 to enter the park.
From Las Vegas: Travel Interstate 15 past St. George to Exit
16. Drive through Hurricane, Utah. Follow Hwy 9 through Hurricane and to the
only stop light in LaVerkin. Turn right at the stop light. Continue on Hwy 9
to the south entrance of Zion Park. Drive through Zion to the junction of UT
9 and UT 89 at Mt. Carmel Jct. Turn north on UT 89, then exit on UT 12.
Follow UT 12 through Red Canyon, turning south on UT 63 to enter
Bryce Canyon.
This is the only stream found in Bryce Canyon and it makes
the Mossy Cave Trail delightful. Dolomite lines the layer beneath the stream
making the stream a possibility.
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Mossy Cave Trail
This section of Bryce is called Water Canyon, even though the water flow is not natural. In the 1800's the pioneers dug an irrigation ditch from the East Fork of the Sevier River to Water Canyon. This provides nearby communities with needed water but it changed the geology of the canyon by washing away hoodoos. The result is a nice wide path to walk and magnificent hoodoo's high up on the canyon walls. The stream of water flowing through the canyon makes this a unique hike among Bryce Canyon's vast desert hoodoo landscape.
See our vacation planning section for suggested Bryce Canyon National Park trails. The shuttle
in Bryce Canyon is voluntary.
Mossy Cave at a Glance
Photo Album: Mossy Cave Pictures
Map: Bryce Canyon Trail Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: .9 miles/1.3km round trip
Average hiking time: 1 hour
Difficulty: This is a great family hike without much
elevation change.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun. It can be hot in the summer
in the middle of the day
Trail conditions: Wide sandy trail.
Trailhead: On highway 12 just outside the main section
of Bryce Canyon. Drive 4 miles east of the junction of highways 12 and 63. The
Mossy Cave Trailhead sign is on the right.
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Trail Access: Limited due to winter snow
Best season: April to October
Elevation gain: 150'/45.7m
Mossy Cave - Water Canyon
Mossy Cave is found just outside the main section of Bryce Canyon, on the
northern side of the park. Drive 4 miles east on Highway 12, past Highway 63
(main road to Bryce Canyon) to locate the small pull-out (on the right side
of the road between mile posts 17 and 18) for the trail parking area. There is
a small brown sign indicating the Mossy Cave Trail.
This is a great hike for kids that the entire family will enjoy. The start
of the trail lacks much elevation change and a charming bridge crosses over the
stream. Shortly after the river, the trail branches right and left. Take the
right fork first which leads to the Mossy Cave grotto. The grotto or cave is
a shallow alcove filled with moss. Dripping water feeds the moss and provides
a delightful retreat from the summer sun. Drier years, even though the alcove
is spring-fed, it tends to be dry in the cave. In the winter, the cave is often
filled with icicles.
Return back down the trail, taking the right fork this time. The trail will
pass the the stream and waterfall. Limestone would have been rapidly eroded,
but beneath this year-round steam is a layer of dolomite. The waterfall is a
wonderful place to stop and view the pinnacles or hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. The
window above the fall is quite interesting. It is possible to follow the path
along the stream for a longer hike.
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