Bryce Canyon National Park 2016: Mossy Cave Trail

There's a part of Bryce Canyon National Park which, if you're on the main park road, you actually have to leave the park to get to. It's the Mossy Cave Trail. With the recommendations I read about it being a nice little hike with a scenic payoff, I convinced my family to let me go check it out.

The clouds had turned into full overcast conditions, which at least allowed for long shutter speeds when shooting some moving water.  I was surprised to learn that the creek was actually created by pioneers who needed to find an irrigation source for the towns of Tropic and Cannonville.

I really wanted to shoot from the foot of this waterfall.  But there was no trail to get there, and I was reluctant to lug my camera and tripod down the slippery, wet rocks.  So I found the best vantage point I could.

Mossy Cave itself was a bit of a letdown.  More of an overhang than a cave like I think of one.  And not especially mossy, although that's likely somewhat seasonal.

The stream was much more interesting to me, even from a fairly healthy distance away,

The clouds began to transition from uniform gray to more varying shades on my way back to the car.

I even got a decent break and some blue sky as I finished up.  Overall I'd say the trail is worth checking out.  But for the waterfall and not the cave!