Timpanogos Cave National Monument is located in American Fork Canyon and has 80,000 visitors annually. Timpanongos Cave is actually a collection of three caves that have been connected by man-made tunnels over the years. The caves are at a constant temperature of 46 degrees. It became a National Monument in 1922.
Timpanogos Cave Hike Details
Distance – 3.0 miles roundtrip
Hiking and Tour time – 3 to 4 hours
Elevation at Visitors’ Center – 5638 feet
Elevation at the Cave entrance – 6730 feet
Elevation gain – 1092 feet
Difficulty – Moderate – Steep with some exposed trails
Trail – well maintained asphalt trail
Amount of water recommended – 1 liter
Bathrooms – At the Visitors’ Center and top of the trail
Seasons to hike – Caves are open from May to mid-October
Permits needed – $6 fee paid at ranger booth. Ticket purchases required in advance
Timpanogos Cave History Lesson
Hansen Cave was first discovered in October 1887 by Martin Hansen. Martin was cutting timber high up the canyon one morning, when he noticed cougar tracks in the snow where he was logging. He followed these tracks and they led to the cave now called Hansen Cave. Without a lantern, he could explore only what he could see from the entrance. He later returned several times to explore the cave. Eventually Martin, his family, and friends constructed a simple trail that went straight up from the canyon floor to the cave entrance. Simple log ladders were constructed to help people make the steep climb to Hansen Cave. For a small fee he led tours to and through the cave from 1888 to 1891.
During the summer of 1913, two teenage boys James Gough and Frank Johnson, while waiting to enter Hansen Cave, did some exploring themselves to the east of Hansen Cave. While scrambling along the rock face, they realized that they could not safely climb down. They continued to try to find an alternative route down and back to Hansen Cave. Along the way James saw an unusual looking rock and he and Frank began to dig around it. The rock moved and tumbled into a dark hole behind it. They had found an entrance to a cave which would become Timpanogos Cave. As they peered inside, they could see light coming from another opening. They retrieved their group and searched through the cave. Two weeks later they returned to explore the rest of the cave. Since they decided not to share the location of the cave with others, the whereabouts of the cave remained a secret from the general public for years.
Then in 1921, with rumors of the cave still swirling, Vearl Manwill wanted to see if he could find it. He consulted Martin Hansen, who discovered Hansen Cave, for ideas on where it might be. Hansen suggested that Manwill search around the same elevation as Hansen Cave. On August 14th, 1921, he and his group first explored Hansen Cave, which hadn’t had guided tours in almost 30 years. He discovered that in Hansen Cave many of the formations had been damaged or removed. As his group began to search along the elevation line of Hansen Cave, Manwill spotted a peculiar rock. He dug around the rock and it plunged into a dark abyss. Manwill knew he’d rediscovered Timpanogos Cave. Members of his group explored the cave and vowed that day to protect the contents of the cave.
Just three months later, Martin Hansen’s son Heber Hansen and his nephew Wayne Hansen made their own discovery. In October of 1921, they were hunting up on the other side of the canyon. During lunch Wayne was peering across the canyon towards Hansen Cave and the recently rediscovered Timpanogos Cave, when he spotted what looked like a third cave entrance between the other two. They descended the north canyon wall and climbed up the south canyon wall between the two other caves and, sure enough, a third cave was discovered. They brought back ropes and Martin Hansen to explore what is now called Middle Cave.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument is open from May to mid-October. Reservations must be made in advance. The pass is $8 for adults (16 and over), $6 for ages 6-15 years old, $4 for children 3-5 years old, and free for children 0-2 years old.
On the National Park Service website is the following info regarding the hike:
Cave tours are very popular and often sell out in advance. Weekends and holidays are particularly busy, and it is best to avoid those days if possible. Tour tickets may be purchased up to 30 days in advance online or by calling (877) 444-6777 between 10:00 AM and Midnight EST. Your tour begins and ends at the visitor center. This means that the time you purchase your ticket for is the time you should pick that ticket up at the visitor center. Plan on 3-4 hours for your hike up, your cave tour, and your hike down.
Tours are limited to 16 visitors. The tour schedule is subject to staff availability, but tours are generally offered every 15 minutes from 7:00 AM until 4:45 PM. Please remember that anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Any tour tickets not sold in advance go on sale at the visitor center at 7:00 AM on the day of the tour and must be purchased in person. Same day tickets generally sell out early in the day.
Tickets must be purchased at the visitor center before hiking to the caves; tickets cannot be purchased at the cave entrance. Go to Timpanogos Cave National Monument Tour reservations to reserve your tickets online.
How to get there:
If coming from Salt Lake City take Interstate 15 south and take Exit 284 Highland/Alpine. Turn left (East) onto UT-92 (also known as Timpanogos Highway) Head east on UT-92 for 12.5 miles. (Along the way you’ll pass through a fee station where it is $6 for a 3-day pass.) Continue past the fee station for 2.3 miles. The parking lot is on your right.
If coming from Provo or farther south, take Interstate 15 north to Ext 275 (Pleasant Grove Blvd.) Turn right (east) on to Pleasant Grove Blvd and turn left (north) at the very first stoplight, only 0.3 of a mile after exiting the freeway. This road is 2000 W/N County Blvd. Continue on this road for 5.5 miles. (The name of this road will change several times along the way. Just stay on it until you reach UT-92/11000 North. Turn right (east) onto UT-92/11000 North and follow it for 6.2 miles up the canyon. (Along the way, you’ll pass through a fee station where it is $6 for a 3-day pass.) Continue past the fee station for 2.3 miles and the parking lot is on your right.
Hitting the Trail!
After picking up your tickets at the Visitors Center, follow the signs to the paved trailhead to Timpanogos Cave. One misconception that many people have is that, since the trail is paved, it will be an easy stroll. Don’t be fooled! While it is paved, there is a constant incline the entire way. The 1.5 mile trail gains almost 1,100 feet in elevation. You are allotted 90 minutes to make the climb to the cave entrance. If you are late, you may miss your opportunity to tour the cave. Plan accordingly. In the mornings the trail can be crowded because many people use the trail for their morning workout. These “early walkers” carry badges to identify them as such. Remember, running is not permitted on the trail at any time.
While ascending the trail to the cave you’ll pass through places that were cut out of the rock, by the WPA back in the 1930s. Here is your history lesson for the day. The Works Progress Administration was a program put in place by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression to provide work for those suffering from effects of prolonged unemployment. Since then the trail has been maintained and improved by the National Park Service.
Hikers to the cave entrance will have beautiful views of American Fork Canyon, and several steep spots will have barriers in place for safety.
Along the trail there are steep drop offs. If you bring young children watch them very carefully. Some parts of the trail have rock walls, chains, and cables to keep you safe. Other areas have ropes to hang onto. There are still other areas that are frankly, a bit scary to traverse. There are areas along the trail where rock falls are common. These are well marked and visitors are warned not to stop for any reason in these areas. In 2010, a 3 year old girl wasn’t paying attention and fell off the trail. She survived after falling 100 feet. Unfortunately, a man who reached out to save her fell 300 feet to his death. That very same year, a National Park Service employee fell 1000 feet and died along the same stretch of trail. Since then a guard rail has been constructed along parts of the trail. This isn’t meant to scare you, but to educate and prepare visitors. This hike will require you and your family to be both alert and attentive while on the trail. We found the hike to and the tour of Timpanogos Cave to be most enjoyable. But, as will any outdoor adventure, planning and preparation are key elements for a successful outing.
As explained by the sign, this part of the trail has steep dropoffs. Keep your children close and stay attentive.
At several of the switchbacks and other spots along the trail are benches where hikers can take a break and enjoy the views. There are also signs that talk about the geology, wildlife, and history of American Fork Canyon and Timpanogos Cave. Hikers will also see small markers to track their progress and give encouragement.
As you get closer to the cave entrance, there is a locker for hikers to drop off their backpacks, walking sticks, etc. The cave is narrow in spots and the rangers will have you wear your backpack in front of you. I would recommend leaving your backpack in the locker and just taking your camera, headlamp, and sweatshirt.
This is a view from the waiting area at the Timp Cave entrance looking down the trail. The small stone building has bathrooms.
Shortly after passing the backpack locker, you’ll see a small stone building just before you reach the cave entrance. While there are nice bathrooms at the visitors center, there are some not-so-nice bathrooms in this small stone building.
Cave Entrance and Tour
It may be a good idea to have your headlamp handy, but as it turned out, we didn’t use it. There is a ranger that guides the tour who is at the front of the group, and then an additional ranger at the back of the group to help any stragglers.
Hansen Cave is the first cave that you’ll enter, and unfortunately, many of the formations were removed by miners and souvenir collectors before the caves became a National Monument. It is the least impressive of the three caves. As expected, it is dark and the floor can be wet in spots. Small spotlights have been installed to help light the way and illuminate some of the best formations.
This small pool is found in the beginning of Middle Cave
Please don’t touch the formations in the cave. As I was always taught as a child, “Look with your eyes, and not with your hands.” Tunnels were cut into the rock to fully connect the three caves. There are also several spots where it is a tight squeeze in the cave, but it definitely adds to the cave experience. Flash photography is permitted throughout the cave tour.
This formation is called the Heart of Timpanogos
There are amazing formations throughout the Timpanogos Caves.
The rangers will stop six or seven times along the way and point out some of the unique features of the caves, as well share stories about the history of the caves. The Heart of the Timpanogos is one of the formations that the ranger highlights along the tour. While the temperance maintains a consistent 46 degrees, you may want to bring a light jacket or sweatshirt. The temperature also makes for a nice break from the heat during summer days.
Views up American Fork Canyon from the Timpanogos Cave trail
Once you reach the cave exit, follow the paved trail which will lead you back to the backpack locker. After picking up your things just return the way you came and be sure to enjoy the views up and down the American Fork Canyon.
Enjoy the hike!
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