Bryce Canyon’s elevation ranges 2,500 feet (762 m) from Rainbow Point to the canyon bottoms, creating a wide range of temperatures and precipitation resulting in three climatic or life zones—Pinyon/Juniper, Ponderosa Pine, Mixed Conifer. More than a thousand plant species inhabit the park, while dozens of animals, including over 100 species of birds, move throughout these zones.

The Mossy Cave Trail winds through a through a forest community defined by pinyon pine and juniper. Look for short evergreen trees and a variety of desert and upland shrubs. Springs and irrigation water found here also create refuges for more water-dependent plants.