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    Mossy Cave Trail

    4.6 (37 reviews)

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    The end is near.
    Michael G.

    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.

    Priscilla M.

    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.

    sherry u.

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

    You can see their bald spot from behind.
    Glen N.

    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.

    Lane T.

    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.

    Trail to the waterfall
    Michelle S.

    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.

    MIlton S.

    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

    Angelina I.

    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.

    Maria R.

    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.

    They have a restroom at least.  The hike here is really short.
    Daniel C.

    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.

    Sweetyy L.

    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!

    Stream at Mossy Cave area
    Art D.

    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.

    Cheri N.

    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.

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    3 years ago

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

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

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

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    4 years ago

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

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    It comes up fast on your right when heading away from Bryce, ao look out for the little carpark.

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    Bryce Canyon National Park - Breathtaking view!

    Bryce Canyon National Park

    4.8(744 reviews)
    4.1 km

    This is a must stop if you are planning a trip out west to hike, bike, horseback ride, or just…read moreenjoy the scenery at one of our nation's stunning national parks. We stopped at the Visitor Center to learn about the protected prairie dogs that reside in the park. This was a special focus that day. They had tables where you can learn about the varieties of prairie dogs in the US as well as why the ones in the park are endangered. We then got to use their provided binoculars to view some of the prairie dogs that live near the visitor center. The highlight of our day was taking a horseback ride. Definitely look into this as an added activity during your visit!

    I am so glad I got to see the one of a kind, incredible landscape of hoodoos (largest concentration…read morein the world) at Bryce. I wasn't prepared for the how large the area was. We first visited Capitol Reef, then Bryce, then Zion. I am glad we did it in that order. I will share my favorite hike, whether I thought the Queen's Garden Trail was worth It and a must-do. The park is 6,600 - 9,000 ft above sea level, so be prepared for less oxygen by walking on a inclined treadmill or hills and colder weather. We spent one day arriving around 8 am to get a parking space. I greatly enjoyed the Sunrise Point to Sunset Point Rim Trail (easy trail)- great for non-hikers, flat, paved and different view of the hoodoos. It is about 1 mile and wheel chair friendly. Midway is a sign to the Bryce lodge. That provides a nice stop for lunch. We had good hamburgers. We did the Queen's Garden trail which descends farther down into the hoodoos, you walk past a few down. It is more gradual than the Navajo Loop and easier of the two. It is 1.8 miles round trip and can take an hour each way depending on how well you do climbs coming up especially at 8,000 - 9,000 ft with less oxygen. I saw a man pushing a wheelchair with his mother down the Queen's Garden Trail. I wouldn't want to be in that chair without a seatbelt and just in case the man's hands slips. I hope he made his way up pushing that chair, since I imagine that was super hard up the steep inclines. I don't enjoy hiking or hills, so for me, it wasn't worth the effort walking back up Queen's Garden Trail and I had been training on a treadmill with a 13 degree incline for a few weeks; I turned around before I made it to the bottom. Looking down at Navajo Loop later, although steeper, I think it would have taken me more into the hoodoo level. My husband did the Figure 8 loop which is both trails. He said after Queen's Garden, there was a boring area then several up and down the hills below before you got to the Navajo Loop. The Wall St section was closed, so look for warnings before you go. A must do is to drive to Rainbow point at 9,115 ft and then stop on the way back. If you are pressed for time, the best stops were: - Natural Bridge - Biggest, tallest natural bridge I have ever seen. - Inspiration Point - 8,100 ft - the columns and rows of hoodoos was beautiful - Bryce Point (must do) - you can see both Sunset and Sunrise points and have the most panoramic view If you have time, stop in the Visitor Center with a small gift shop and watch the short film on how the hoodoos are formed. Bryce Canyon is a unique, bucket list kind of experience and whether you are a non-hiker who loves nature or enjoy challenges of hills and hiking, there is something for everyone.

    Photos
    Bryce Canyon National Park - My son and I

    My son and I

    Bryce Canyon National Park - Hiking x February!! Ciao

    Hiking x February!! Ciao

    Bryce Canyon National Park - Though dry, green bushes still grow and the occasional yellow flower.

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    Though dry, green bushes still grow and the occasional yellow flower.

    Jacob Hamblin Park

    Jacob Hamblin Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    77.2 km

    We drove up from the Grand Canyon and stopped in Kanab for the evening. We checked out Hamblim Park…read moreso our toddlers could run around. It's a very cute little park at the foothill of a mountain. The kids really enjoyed the play structure. swings, LARGE grassy play area, and the spongee floor. Yep, I said "spongee". The ground beneath the play structure is filled with recycled (I'm guessing) rubber bits so walking on them makes folks slightly bounce. The park is right around the corner from the downtown area and on the way out of town. It was just the trick to get my littles out and about.

    Kanab, known for "The Wave" and proximity to "Wire Pass" and "Buckskin", my family from Los…read moreAngeles, traveling through Kanab, also attended a spectacular firework show on the 4th of July at this Jacob Hamblin Park. My preteen kids said it was one of the best shows they have seen due to our close proximity to the lighting of the fireworks! Everything seemed bigger! Explosions louder! We were practically right under most of the explosions in the sky, with ambers literally falling on top of us / the spectators! Perhaps because if the dry air. At the very end of the show, our fears were realized as one last firework exploded on the ground, and some cardboard shrapnels flew into the spectators, hitting some of them. Fortunately, we think there were no injuries! We were just glad that we could attend and celebrate 4th of July far from home!

    Photos
    Jacob Hamblin Park - Playground

    Playground

    Jacob Hamblin Park - Epic view!

    Epic view!

    Jacob Hamblin Park - Going down the slide!

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    Going down the slide!

    Capitol Reef National Park - Hickman's Bridge

    Capitol Reef National Park

    4.8(162 reviews)
    102.4 km

    This is a national park located in Utah about 2.5 hours drive from Moab. Stop in their Visitor…read moreCenter so you can get a trail map. They also have guides on hand that will help you plan your adventure and answer any questions. We chose to hike Hickman Bridge and Colab Canyon Trails. We also drove out to see Bentonite Hills. The trails were moderately difficult and we enjoyed the challenge. We had a capable vehicle so we were able to make the treck to Bentonite Hills. Capitol Reef Park is somewhat overshadowed by the big ones so be sure not to miss it!

    Truly a hidden gem with mountains of stunning colors - ribbons of orange, white, grey running…read moreacross and sculpted by wind and water over millions of years. We went end of April and it was not too crowded. We started with Hickman's Bridge trail at 8:30 am after a short stop at the Visitor Center. We stayed at Capitol Reef Resort which gave us a nice handout summarizing the trails as well. For Hickman's Bridge, the small parking lot had a bathroom. It is rated as an easy-moderate trail. The trail was about 250-300 feet up switchbacks and stairs then an easier area before lots of rock scrambling to see the stone arch. Hiking poles were helpful navigating the ascent/descent and rocks until I went on all four's for some areas of tilted, uneven rocks. We almost missed seeing the bridge; we were so intent on trying to find footholds on the rocks and climbing. I think the left side of the loop would have been easier. Even though it is only 0.9 miles with a 400 elevation gain, it took us 1.5 hours round trip at my stopping to breath and carefully climbing/descending the rocks. Capitol Gorge Trail (2.3 miles, 80 ft elevation change) was more my speed being mostly flat and walking on small stones (hiking boots were helpful) through a canyon. (If it is going to rain; beware of flash flooding). The highlight was seeing faint petroglyphs and Mormon pilgrim signatures (from the 1800's) on parts of the rock walls. If you don't like climbing up rocks, I would say skip the optional hike up the mountain to see the water "tanks" or areas in the stone where the water collects. I saw some on the HIckman Trail and never finished that part since my thighs were getting too tired. My husband had difficulty finding the actual trail among the rocks and had to backtrack. The next day, my husband left at 6:45 am to do Navaho Knobs so he could be back by 11 am (we got a late checkout). Driving around the park, you can see the beauty without effort and the number of stunning rock formations and colors was truly something to behold.

    Photos
    Capitol Reef National Park - Some of the amazing petroglyphs!

    Some of the amazing petroglyphs!

    Capitol Reef National Park - Some of the amazing petroglyphs!

    Some of the amazing petroglyphs!

    Capitol Reef National Park - Gifford Homestead Pie

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    Gifford Homestead Pie

    Mossy Cave Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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