Conquering Mt Timpanogos

Adventures in Utah Valley

Mt. Timpanogos is an impressive landmark that offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, mountaineering and caving. It's particularly attractive because of its location, on the northeastern edge of Utah Valley about 40 minutes from Salt Lake City.

Timp, as it is called locally, is a huge mountain that rises abruptly to dizzying heights (11749 feet). Hiking and biking trails follow its forested ridges and cascading streams. Many streams plunge over photogenic waterfalls.

With people watching budgets and odometers, Timpanogos is a great destination for Utahns who want an afternoon get-a-way or a weekend escape, and for travelers seeking adventure just a short drive from the Salt Lake airport.

"Recent surveys show that more travelers this year than last plan to visit national parks, go hiking, biking and simply enjoy the beauty of the outdoors," said Joel Racker, CEO of the Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Timp has the beauty and the adventure. The mountain's summit is buried under deep snow during most of the year. During July and August, scores of hikers scramble to the top. It is a long, strenuous day hike that ranks as one of the worlds great mountaineering treks suitable for normal people seeking moderate adventure.

The mountain's beauty extends down into its heart, into a series of natural caverns that constitute Timpanogos Cave National Monument. These unique caverns are decorated with a wide variety of formations including huge stalactites and stalagmites, colorful draperies and fragile helictites. The helictites are fascinating because they grow in odd shapes and directions, seeming to defy gravity as they grow upward and then change directions.

The Timpanogos system is composed of "living" caves, meaning the formations are growing, ever so slowly, as mineral-rich water drips from ceilings and penetrates fissures. In some places the water collects into pools and streamlets, reflecting lights used to illuminate the trail and adding to the intrigue of the place.

Rangers lead people on tours of the Timpanogos complex on a scheduled basis daily during the summer months. The tours are 45-60 minutes long and lead through three caverns inside the mountain. You must participate in one of the tours to see the caves, as you are not allowed to explore on your own.

The cave complex is located in American Fork Canyon, which is an inviting destination in its own right because it offers camping and picnic areas in a lush evergreen forest, alongside a mountain stream. When summer heats up the valleys, the canyon is even more attractive because it is always several degrees cooler.

Inside the caves, temperatures are about 45 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. (Bring a sweater or light jacket if you tend to feel the chill.) Most people find the cool air to be an oh-so-nice break from summer's heat.

To reach the cave you must hike a 1-1/2 mile-long paved trail with a 1,160 feet elevation gain. The hike is enjoyable because it provides spectacular views of the canyon, with Utah Valley in the distance.

In this newsletter we are highlighting a few of the attractions found in Utah Valley, just a short drive from Salt Lake City. We mention a few more below.

"Utah Valley provides families and adventure enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity to go from pavement to mountain terrain in a few steps as well as camp, fish, climb, golf and explore caves within a few miles," Racker said. "Now is a great time to discover the adventures in your own backyard."

Other great summer attractions in this area:

Alpine Loop - During the hot summer months, take a drive through the scenic Alpine Loop, stop for a picnic, hike around the area and don't forget to bring your camera. Located in American Fork Canyon, The Alpine Loop is filled with breathtaking views and located just minutes off of I-15. The surrounding area is filled with unspoiled campgrounds, trails, sparkling streams and major outdoor attractions.

Nebo Loop - Nebo Loop is designated a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration, recognizing it as one of the premiere driving roads in America. The Byway is a winding drive between Payson and Nephi with the road climbing 9,000 feet and crossing the Uinta National Forest. The drive provides many photo opportunities with stunning views of Utah Valley, the surrounding Wasatch, and dramatic wrap-around vistas of 11,877-foot Mt. Nebo, the highest peak in the rugged and beautiful Wasatch Range.

Seven Peaks Waterpark - Seven Peaks is the largest water park in Utah. It offers 16 waterslides, including a giant half pipe tube ride plus 100-foot free fall drop slides. There is also a 500,000 gallon wave pool, a kids' swimming area with slides, group pavilions and cabanas and a lazy river.

Outdoor Festivals - Utah Valley offers jam-packed fun with some of the largest festivals in the West. Nestled in and around the mountains, the festivals provide amazing vistas, weather and first-class entertainment. This September, thousands will gather in American Fork Canyon to hear tales from storytellers across the nation at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. America's Freedom Festival Stadium of Fire is one of the main Utah events to look forward to this summer as the Jonas Brothers will be performing and it is one of the biggest Fourth of July firework productions in the country.

- Dave Webb

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