Mossy Cave is truly a must see stop. Mossy Cave is in
the northern section of the park, located on highway 12, approximately 4
miles east of the intersection of highways 12 and 63. Look for a small
parking area on the right-hand side immediately after crossing a little
bridge. The Mossy Cave itself is at the end of short trail. Here too you
can see
hoodoos and
windows
without having to hike a steep trail. At
first, this canyon known as Water Canyon, might look like any ordinary
Bryce Canyon kind of canyon. It's not. From 1890-1892 Mormon Pioneers
labored with picks and shovels to carve an irrigation ditch from the East
Fork of the Sevier River, through the Paunsaugunt Plateau, into this
canyon. Every year since its completion in 1892 (except during the drought
of 2002), this canal known as the Tropic Ditch has supplied the
communities of Tropic and Cannonville with irrigation water.
Geology
By definition Bryce Canyon is misnamed, it is not a "real canyon." Canyons
are carved by flowing water. Most of the "canyons" of Bryce are carved by
ice forming in cracks - a process known as frost wedging. Even though the
Tropic Ditch has only been flowing for a century it has changed the
geology of Water Canyon. As you hike up the Mossy Cave Trail, notice how
the higher elevations of this "canyon" have the lumpy, broken, and random
texture typical of Bryce Canyon and its hoodoos. You will also see how the
lower section is without hoodoos, and has smooth angled sides looking like
a 'V' in cross-section. Because of this little water course, it is
unlikely that anymore hoodoos will form here. The existing ones will
eventually crumble and Water Canyon will have completed it metamorphosis
into becoming a "real canyon."
Take the left fork of the trail up to Mossy Cave.
Mossy Cave is not a cavern but a shelter cave. Here depending on the
season, you will either see a large overhang filled with moss, or filled
with giant icicles. Mossy Cave is a
grotto,
created by an underground spring.
Take the right fork of the trail and you'll end up
above a small waterfall. Here, the rapid trenching of this stream has been
delayed by a layer of Dolomite. Dolomite is a special form of limestone
that is fortified by magnesium. Dolomite is not only harder than regular
limestone, it also can't be dissolved by slightly acidic rainwater.
Dolomite is what has created this waterfall and it is also the cap rock
for our more famous and durable
hoodoos.
Nature
The presence of water alone is what makes water canyon unique. Although
you might not see them (animals tend to avoid busy trails - especially in
daylight hours), a wide diversity of animals come here regularly to quench
their thirst. The supply of water is still recent enough that nature
hasn't quite caught up yet. Eventually more riparian trees like willows
and cottonwoods will probably grow here. In the meantime you'll be
surprised to see some plants that you might expect to find along a brook
in a mountain meadow, such as Mountain Death Camas and Watson Bog Orchid.
Trails
The Mossy Cave trail is an excellent hike for children, senior citizens,
or others wishing to see hoodoos up close but without having to hike long
trails up and down steep slopes. It is rated as an easy trail with a round
trip distance of .9 miles.
Services
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