Mossy Cave trail at Bryce Canyon, May 2013

Mossy Cave is in the northern section of the park along highway 12. The trail to the cave goes through a canyon known as Water Canyon. From 1890 to 1892 the mormon pioneers dug an irrigation ditch from the East Fork of the Sevier River, through the Paunsaugunt Plateau, into this canyon. It is known as the Tropic ditch and supplies water to the towns of Tropic and Cannonville to this day.

After crossing a foot bridge I came to the waterfall.

It was a short walk but very enjoyable with beautiful wildflowers along the trail such as Columbinan Virginia Bower (Clematics Columbiana).

Fringed Puccoon (Lithospermum incisum) the genus name means “stone seed” referring to the hard nutlets.

Lavender Leaf Sundrops (Oenothera lavandulifolius).

Pygmy Goldenweed (Tonestus pygmaeus)

Here are some other flowers I saw but I have not been able to identify them at this time.

Eventually I ended up at the cave…

…where I came face to face with this little chipmonk.

Driving back to the campground I spotted a Pronghorn.

Then made one last stop to overlook the canyon.