Our Journey : May 26, 2013 Water, Cave, Waterfall and Fairyland

5/27/2013

May 26, 2013 Water, Cave, Waterfall and Fairyland

Today’s adventure - another road trip!

The East Fork Sevier River Scenic Backway was our first adventure late morning. This Backway stretches for 17 miles along the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park. Seven miles from the start is the Tropic Reservoir that offers camping, boating, picnicking, and fishing.

Good dirt road - it was VERY busy:

Beautiful meadows and nice pines:

The start of Tropic Reservoir:

There is a Forest Service Campground on this side of the Reservoir - nice. That will also be on my list.

We walked around the boating/swimming area and decided to drive all the way around the Reservoir. Beautiful:

Lots of babies:

We had lunch by the water and decided to head back. One more view from the Scenic Backway:

Our next stop was Mossy Cave Trail. This was rated as an easy hike - 0.4 miles and 200’ elevation one way.

On our way up the trail:

The river was flowing fast:

We came around the corner and saw this little waterfall. I was a little disappointed at first but kept walking:

And then saw this waterfall :

Another benchmark on the Hike the Hoodoos Program - we now have 4:

Mossy Cave:

Slowly sliding away:

The water from that little waterfall was the water coming from the cave.

Going back down from Mossy Cave:

To the waterfall:

This waterway is part of the Tropic Ditch. “The lack of water was a major problem in arid Bryce Valley when the area was settled. Early pioneers spent two years excavating the East Fork Canal, also known as the Tropic Ditch, relying primarily on hand tools. The ditch diverted water from the East Fork of the Sevier River to the Paria River drainage and allowed settlers to successfully farm, grow orchards and raise livestock. The nearly 10 mile long ditch was completed in 1890 and is a testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of the area’s early pioneers.”