Near Tropic in Garfield County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Bringing Water to the Desert

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2024

1. Bringing Water to the Desert Marker

Inscription. 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 down into the valley. Approximately 40 men, digging with hand tools, began work in 1889. On May 23, 1892 their work was completed, and water from the plateau flowed down through Water Canyon. The canal would become known as the Tropic Ditch, taking its name from the new town whose future this precious water secured.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1892.

Location. 37° 39.881′ N, 112° 6.885′ W. Marker is near Tropic, Utah, in Garfield County. It is on Mossy Creek Trail, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tropic UT 84776, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Canyon Country

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and specifically in Color Country. It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hike the Hoodoos (within shouting distance of this marker); Water Canyon (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mossy Cave (approx. ¼ mile away); Historic Tropic Ditch (approx. 2.4 miles away); Tropic Pioneers (approx. 3.2 miles away); Stephen Tyng Mather (approx. 3.4 miles away); Tragedy and Triumph (approx. 3.7 miles away); Bryce Airport (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tropic.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2024

2. Bringing Water to the Desert Marker

Tropic Ditch Falls image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2024

3. Tropic Ditch Falls

Tropic Ditch image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2024

4. Tropic Ditch

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2024

5. Tropic Ditch

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 26, 2024

6. Tropic Ditch

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 9, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.