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Utah
115 ft
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Mossy Cave Trailhead Wayside
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Two upright panels are here near the parking lot; the first is the orientation to Bryce Canyon with full park map. The second provides details about our location here at Mossy Cave.<br /> <br /> <strong>Bryce Canyon Orientation Wayside</strong><br /> Since no river runs through it, Bryce Canyon is not truly a canyon. Instead, it is a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. These bowl-shaped features contain the world's largest collection of varied rock spires known as hoodoos. We welcome you to Bryce Canyon National Park and invite you to discover the sublime beauty and rich history of this land.<br /> <br /> Photographs alongside the map highlight four areas of the park:<br /> The first, a view along the trail as it approaches Mossy Cave, a sheltered overhang of rock. Caption reads: Take a streamside walk to a water fall and shady grotto. Then a man with a child in a backpack descends the trail through the Queen's Garden, orange rock spires and formations described as sculptures. Caption reads: Enjoy a moderately difficult descent into the Bryce Amphitheater. Bryce Amphitheater at Sunrise Point.<br /> <br /> Next Bryce Amphitheater, the forested edge of the plateau in the distance gives way to a bowl shaped feature below us filled with red and white spires of rock coming up from the bottom like jagged teeth. Caption Reads: Find this iconic area along the first three miles of the park road.<br /> <br /> Last, Natural Bridge, a natural arch or window of rock, through which can be seen the trees that grow in the canyon below. Caption reads: Visit one of many beautiful views along the 18-mile scenic drive to Rainbow Point.<br /> <br /> <strong>Mossy Cave Orientation Wayside</strong><br /> This streamside walk leads to a spring-formed alcove that fills with summer moss and winter ice. At one time, water only flowed through Water Canyon after summer storms and spring snowmelt. After settlers completed an irrigation canal in 1892, water was diverted from the plateau above, steeply eroding these fragile canyon walls and feeding a waterfall that regularly freezes in winter.<br /> <br /> Help us protect this delicate area by always staying on designated trails.<br /> <br /> Know Before You Go<br /> ● Stay on the designated trail.<br /> ● Watch for seasonally fast-moving water.<br /> ● This is challenging environment for plants. Stay on the trail and leave them for all to enjoy.
Water Canyon wayside
~0 min drive
Listen to the rushing stream. For many plants and animals it is the sound of life, yet it is also the sound of rapid change. In 1892, water for the town of Tropic was diverted into this once seasonal drainage, transforming Water Canyon into one of the fastest eroding areas of…
Tropic Ditch wayside
~0 min drive
<p>By 1874 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had begun to settle in the Paria Valley east of Bryce Canyon. Arid conditions gave rise to a plan to divert water 10 miles (16 km) from the East Fork of the Sevier River to the cliffs of Bryce Canyon and dow…
Mossy Cave Hike the Hoodoos wayside
~0 min drive
<h2>I Hiked the Hoodoos</h2> <p>Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!<br /> <br /> <strong>1. Hike a minimum of 3 mi / 4.8 km, or find at least 3 benchmarks and complete…
Fairyland Loop Trailhead
~4 min drive
<h3>Fairyland Loop Trail</h3> <p><strong>Difficulty: Strenuous<br /> Total Distance: 8.0 miles (12.9 km)<br /> Elevation change: 1,716 feet (523 m)<br /> Average time: 4-5 hours</strong><br /> <br /> Along the the Peekaboo Loop, the Fairyland Loop provides some of the best str…
Tower Bridge Hike the Hoodoos wayside
~6 min drive
<h2>I Hiked the Hoodoos</h2> <p>Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!<br /> <br /> <strong>1. Hike a minimum of 3 mi / 4.8 km, or find at least 3 benchmarks and complete…
Tower Bridge and Fairyland Loop Trailheads
~6 min drive
<h3>Tower Bridge Trail</h3> <p><strong>Difficulty: Moderate<br /> Total Distance: 3.0 miles (4.8 km)<br /> Elevation change: 802 feet (245 m)<br /> Average time: 2-3 hours</strong><br /> Similar in difficulty to the Queen's / Navajo Combination loop, but far less travelled, th…
Tropic Trail wayside
~7 min drive
One of the few trails in the park that begins below the rim, the Tropic Trail connects to Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden, Peekaboo Loop, and Rim trails. It follows Bryce Creek, which is dry much of the year. The incline is initially gradual and connects to other popular and more…
Queens Garden Hike the Hoodoos
~7 min drive
<h2>I Hiked the Hoodoos</h2> <p>Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!<br /> <br /> <strong>1. Hike a minimum of 3 mi / 4.8 km, or find at least 3 benchmarks and complete…
Navajo Loop Trailhead wayside
~7 min drive
This popular trail has two sides, one descending into the narrow paths of Wall Street and the other to the erosion-resistant Two Bridges and Thor's Hammer. Hikers can also connect to the Peekaboo Loop and Queen's Garden Trail to create larger loops. See the Visitor Guide for i…
Navajo Loop Hike the Hoodoos
~7 min drive
<h2>I Hiked the Hoodoos</h2> <p>Hiking is great exercise and Bryce Canyon's "I Hiked the Hoodoos!" program is not just hiking, it's also a scavenger hunt with a special reward!<br /> <br /> <strong>1. Hike a minimum of 3 mi / 4.8 km, or find at least 3 benchmarks and complete…
