Timpanogos Cave National Monument

This hike to the cave is absolutely worth the visit! The hike up is definitely steep, but the views along the way make it totally worth it. Thankfully, there are plenty of resting points where you can catch your breath, enjoy the scenery, and take in the canyon below. Once you reach the top, the cave tour itself is incredible, the formations are beautiful and the rangers do a great job explaining the history and geology. If you’re up for a challenge with a rewarding payoff, this is the perfect adventure!

Was surprised at how great an experience it was. The walk up the mountain can be challenging for some. Supposedly you have a limited time to begin the hike and arrive at the cave entrance. Best to book your tickets weeks in advance.

All right, it’s very steep, but there are a lot of benches along the way for you to rest! We booked a 9 AM start time for our hike, but we got there early and started around 8 AM because we know we’re a bit slower. We had two seniors and an asthmatic in tow. We had to be at the caves at 10:30 and we arrived right at 10:20-ish. They were very nice and had no problem with us starting earlier this way, we didn’t have to feel like we were killing ourselves on the way up lol We did the cave tour and there was a lot of bending and twisting. They won’t allow poles in the cave unless they can fold up very small. My poles were able to fold up small enough to fit in their box, but my in-laws poles could not fold that small and they had to put them down in the Bear box. You also can’t bring very big backpacks. Think more the size of a bladder bag besides if you’re in the cave, you’re not gonna want much bigger than that anyways because you have a lot of bending and twisting, and you need to put your bag in front of you quite a bit because the bag and you won’t fit when you’re ducking from getting your head hit on all of the formations in the cave. There was one section that was especially challenging going up the stairs because the formation took over half the stair. Just be prepared to twist bend and potentially crawl depending in how tall and wide you may be. We were exhausted but we made it! There’s also a super fun book you can sign at the end of the cave tour to leave your mark of saying “you were here”

Well worth the 3 Mile round-trip hike gaining and losing 1100 ft and well worth the money for a ticket. Our trail was asphalted and carefully taken care of. It was a joy to walk on. Our park ranger guide was an archeologist who knew his stuff and made the cave tour fun and exciting. Expect the whole experience to take you 3-1/2 plus hours. You must buy tickets beforehand and with tour size limited to 16 people, they go fast. You can get them at recreation.gov. this national monument doesn't disappoint! Note: If the tour is sold out or you just don't want to go through it, you are free to hike the trail up to the caves at no cost.

This is one of my favorite places to visit in all of Utah. The hike to get to the cave is breathtaking in every sense of the word. Very strenuous, but paved and has spectacular views. The cave itself is so interesting and beautiful. I was shocked by the vibrant colors. The tour guides are very knowledge and make it fun. Make sure to reserve tickets in plenty of advance. I wouldn’t recommend doing the hike during the summer afternoon (morning is best for summer). There is a bathroom at the top near the cave entrance, which is great (but stinky). The tour takes about an hour and the hike takes about 1.5 hours for a slow group.

You need tickets (<$40 for 3), and a national forest pass (America the Beautiful pass). You meet at the visitor center at your ticket time. So your ticket time is when you begin your hike, and your cave tour at the top of the hike starts at 1.5 hours after your ticket time. We completed the hike faster, and we were able to get in on an earlier tour because there was room. The hike isn’t crazy. It’s steep, but there’s intermittent shade. Especially if you’re from Utah and are used to hiking you will be totally fine. Sea level folks struggle a bit. Great cave tour, the guides are well prepared and do a good job leading you through so that you don’t hit your head or trip. They know what to say when to say it. They share interesting facts about the cave and did a good job answering the group’s questions. We didn’t need the coats we brought.

It's a very good exercise to get to the entrance of the cave. Inside is very cold (around 50F or 10C) so bring some warm clothes. A bottle of water is just fine. Cave is not what you imagining, it's very tight and and few places you have to go in crunch just to pass overhead walls. It is a good experience.

Great experience. More foot traffic going up and down the trail that expected. But not too hard and great views. The caves were also amazing. Be sure to bring an extra jacket, it's quite cold inside and the tour takes about an hour

This hike to the cave is absolutely worth the visit! The hike up is definitely steep, but the views along the way make it totally worth it. Thankfully, there are plenty of resting points where you can catch your breath, enjoy the scenery, and take in the canyon below. Once you reach the top, the cave tour itself is incredible, the formations are beautiful and the rangers do a great job explaining the history and geology. If you're up for a challenge with a rewarding payoff, this is the perfect adventure!

This was a fun tour! We did the historical lantern tour and had a great tour guide. The historical lantern tour offers a more authentic feel and is not to be missed. All of the rangers were happy and greeted us with smiles! Also, the cave is a 1.5 mile hike up so be prepared.

Very easy hike and gorgeous scenery. The tour itself is amazing and absolutely worth a visit.

Timpanogos Cave National Park is a cave system on Mount Timpanogos in American Fork Canyon in the Wasatch Range, near Highland, Utah. The only access to the cave is by walking a strenuous one and half mile trail, which rises 1,092 feet to an elevation of 6,730 feet above sea level. The round-trip hike and tour of the cave system takes about three hours. Walking up the mountain was really difficult and my mother and I had to take many breaks. It took about three hours for us to make it up to the cave but there are so many opportunities to take great photos and enjoy the amazing views. When you reach the top you will be rewarded with great views and the victory that you made it because walking up this mountain is no joke. When we reached the cave, they were behind on the scheduled cave tour which I didn't mind because I needed a break from the climbing the trail. When exploring the cave, you learn the science behind the formations and hear stories of cave exploration and preservation. Also, I would bring a light jacket or sweater as it was cold in the cave.

Amazing experience. Kind of difficult getting up there with our 2yr old but worth it. Would definitely visit again. Staff is super friendly.

You may have seen caves before, but have you seen them inside a mountain? This is a super unique place, if you're up for a steep hike up a paved trail. It's paved the whole way, and you'll need a NPS reservation time (which is your start time at the beginning). Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and a sweatshirt for the cave. Not a place for sea-level visitors unless they're in amazing shape. Such amazing views along the whole trail. Bathrooms exist at the visitor center (modern) and near the top of the trail (primitive). The cave tours have about 15 people. Our tour happened to include two very loud and disruptive children who the ranger then catered our entire tour towards. Since we didn't sign up for a preschool tour ("let's all count the formations!"), I would recommend 1) parents- please make sure your young kids are ready to let the ranger talk, and not touch the caves, or wait until they're ready, and 2) NPS- maybe you can open some age-limited tours, like 12+ or even 10+? It really impacted the experience and I wish we could have joined a different tour group.

THIS is definitely worth a visit!!! Paved parking lot. Does fill up but I have always been able to find a spot. Bathrooms at the trailhead are nice!! And heated!! Hike ALL the way to the cave is paved. There are benches to sit and your ticket for ANY of the cave tours gives you 1.5 hours to hike up. It is steep... but take your time. I see kids and elderly folks make it constantly. There are bathrooms almost to the top but they are vault toilets and not as nice. IF you are gonna do the cave intro tour, do yourself a favor and call for the normal tour too. I just did the intro tour. It was a neat experience to see parts of the Hanson cave that others can't but it's sooo short. You will need your own gloves but that's it. Some crawling and going down a rope but not too bad. BUT We actually went back the next week to do the normal tour. AND WOW! Sooo cool!!! You don't need any headlamps, they have it light up. Entire thing is paved and has hand rails. And you get to go to the middle cave and Timp cave! The facts are insane about the history, and it is sooo gorgeous! Only $12!!! You can hike the trail for free, no ticket needed and they hand out passes to scan for free if you plan on hiking it regularly.

If you are fit enough to walk up a steep, steep, steeeep paved trail for one-and-a-half miles, congratulations! Timpanogos will offer you quite the scenic stroll. On the other hand if you aren't an Olympic athlete, and/or have to carry a baby up the side of the mountain, be prepared for one heck of an exhausting, grueling workout climb! But take comfort in the fact that if you make it to the top, you will be rewarded with some awesome panoramic views and even a cave system to explore. Plus you will get a sense of accomplishment in making a 1,000-ft + elevation change during the hike upwards. If you do want to explore the caves, you will need advance reservations and tickets. These can be hard to get so plan well ahead of time. The caves themselves are pretty interesting and the guided tour will take about two and a half to three hours. There are some neat formations and an interesting history to the area that the tour guide should cover. Overall Timpanogos is far more than an unassuming information center with a little parking lot on the side of a canyon highway. All you need to do is look up. Five stars of hidden greatness!

This is a great experience for any individual, couple or family and it's only a half day trip. The scenery is spectacular of the Rockies in American Fork Canyon. Thanks to Firstpageimpact.com/blog for sponsoring our trip! They were also amazing #firstpageimpa

I've done this hike and the cave tours twice. Definitely a unique experience if you've never seen stalactites and stalagmites firsthand! These formations were preserved from thousands to millions of years. Will definitely leave an impression on what you know about the geology of Utah! The hike is only 1.5 miles up--3 miles roundtrip. However you must make reservations online and tickets are $12. Book through recreation.gov. And know that your reservation time is the time you start the hike! Not the time you should be at the top. They give you 90 mins from your reservation time to complete the hike. Plenty of time if you're in good shape! The tour itself is a little chilly inside the cave. Also there are stairs and some areas where you have to crouch low. My 58 yr old mom with a bad knee was not the biggest fan. But I think she's glad she completed the hike.

You need to purchase a pass ahead of time to be able to do a cave tour. I believe the cost was $12 a person. There is not an extra fee to be in the national park. I have a pass but they didnt ask to see it. You get your ticket time and then your actual tour time is 90 minutes after your ticket time. You need to check in inside and they will direct you where to go from there for the safety talk. 1. They want you to have 32 oz of water minimum 2. they want you to have a long jacket. It does get cold in the caves. 3. You will not be able to take in a big backpack or hard framed child carrier. After you check in and do the safety talk you will then have a 1.5 mile hike up a pretty steep hill. They have markers for 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 of the way. The trail is completely paved. There is not much shade. It is not an easy climb. So be mentally prepared. You can't touch the walls of the cave. It may be hard for young kids to do the hike and then follow the rules within the caves. So try to look at the rules prior to getting a ticket if you have a young family. The guides were all very friendly and had lots of information. It did get cold within the caves and I was grateful for my jacket. My son who is 6 foot 8 and 300 pounds could get through the tight spots BUT there was some points with major knee bending or bending over. If you are a bigger person and your joints are not so great that is something to consider. He hit his head once but that is because he didn't bend down far enough. I was glad we did this tour. Though my 16 and 20 year old were less than pleased with the climb up to the caves. Kids under 16 do need to stay with their parents on the trail. That is something to keep in mind. Also rock slides do happen. They have the trail marked clearly with red and yellow lines where it is most likely. I saw several kids running up the trail. If you are coming be sure to follow the rules for their safety as well.

This is one of those parks that just jumps out at you. Literally, if you are driving the Alpine scenic route, you will run right into it. The visitor center is right there and you've got lots of hiking around the area. The main highlight is the cave itself; a fairly steep but easy 1.5 mile hike to get to. The cave tour sells out in advance, so be sure to plan ahead. We had an enjoyable visit and while it was a nice tour, it is one of those caves that you go to once and that's it.

Absolutely love this place! Great views on the way up and down, and such cool places inside the cave. Be sure to bring water with you!

Although not the biggest cave, it's still an interesting and fun experience as long as you can physically complete the 3 mile round-trip hike with approx 1690 ft of elevation gain. The trail is completely paved but there is very little shade along the hike so I'd recommend going in the morning instead of noon like I did! Since they're only open during the summer, they often sell out of tickets. I'd recommend booking your tickets in advance at recreation.gov before coming. You check-in at the visitor's center at whatever time your ticket says, then you have 1.5 hours to hike up to the entrance of the cave to meet your park ranger for the guided cave tour. Inside the cave the temp is around 50 degrees so it is also recommended that you bring a some type of long sleeve or light jacket to wear. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen before you start your hike! They recommend at least 1 liter of water per person due to the heat.

This is an amazing place to visit!! Make sure you are physically fit enough for the climb up to the cave. Its a good 1.5 miles straight up a mountain. Amazingly they provide bathrooms at the bottom and top of this hike. The hike is completely paved and about 2-3ft wide in most places. There are many rock fall areas so mind all their safety warnings. Also, This cave tour requires a ticket purchased online so check their website for details. With all that said... come see this place! I have included photos to tempt you!

Get ready for an epic and steep hike. If you are not in shape, plan an extra 45 to an hour to walk up to the cave doors. Reservations and prior purchase tickets are highly recommended. Depending on the time of year, they may not be necessary. Once you make the hike up the hill to the cave doors, a ranger will reach you and go over safety briefings. The Ranger gave us ample time to ask discussions and show us unique things about the cave.

The first time I ever went up to the cave I didn't know you could reserve tickets ahead of time. So, when I got there I lucked out because all the slots had filled up already and I had to come back another day. Also, make sure to get your National Park Passport cancellation stamp in the Visitor Center. It's on the left when coming through the entrance. Also, make sure to request the Junior Ranger activity book if you have any Junior Rangers with you.

What an absolute magical experience. Highly recommend! I must mention the staff first, because they made the experience even better. They are extremely kind, caring. passionate, and a joy to be around. Thank you so much to Royce Shelley, Becca, and Roberta. Also, there was a gal who greeted us at the entrance and she was so sweet as well. Purchased tickets online for the 2pm tour. It was mostly shady with clear skies. Perfect time to head up. The views were spectacular; absolutely breathtaking. Great for the family, date, or solo. There are plenty of benches throughout the trail if you need to relax. It took us 45min to walk up. There are bathrooms at the start and up top. The entire trail is paved. In the cave, the floor is wet. Highly recommend good sneakers or trail running sneakers. A light jacket or sweater recommend for the cave, it gets about 55f. Carry as little as possible, all you need is a light jacket and a phone to take pictures. Pointless to carry unnecessary weight while taking this hike. Workout stats. 1,300 calories, distance 3.2 miles, highest elevation 7099. Total Time including tour guide 2hr. 33min.

One of the best hikes I've ever been on! Ambiance​/Atmosphere: The view is so scenic! The air feels so clean too. It's not loud at all. Yes, there will always be people at every corner, but it's a good amount of quiet & busyness! Level of difficulty: I went with my family and didn't realize that we were actually going up a mountain, so I wore sandals! My parents, who are in their late 50s, were able to go up this mountain easily too. My mom even wore a dress. The hike itself was about 2 hours - not long at all! The actual walkways are pretty wide, they can get a bit narrow at some times, but still able to perfectly fit 2 people to walk normally side by side. If you're visiting​ SLC, Utah, I definitely recommend! Easy hike + great views + caves! Tip: No service! It'll be pretty hard to call anyone once you get straight in the area.

Timpanagos cave was the main reason for my trip to American Fork Canyon last year and it didn't disappoint. Make sure you get your tickets ahead of time because they can sell out and they do get busy. They have guided tours of the caves with a max number of 16 per group, I believe. Tours are given at 15 minute intervals throughout the day, so it is best to get your tickets ahead of time. The welcome center is right off the Alpine Loop. You can buy tickets there if you don't get them online, which is highly recommended. They have a small gift shop and rest rooms at the center, too. The time on your ticket is the time you should check it at the welcome center. From there, you have to hike up a strenuous 1.5 mile trail full of switchbacks to reach the cave entrance. They factor in an hour and a half for the hike, so if your ticket is for 8:15, your tour at the cave entrance starts at 9:45. We made it up in about an hour. Our tour guide, Heather, was great. Very informative and articulate and full of corny jokes and puns. The tour lasts about an hour through the 1800 ft. trail that is paved but narrow in many spots. You also have to watch your head as the roof of the cave varies in height. It was a gorgeous tour full of great photo ops and I'd highly recommend going if you're into this sort of thing. They also have an introduction to caving tour for a separate price but you have to be at least 14 years old.

Definitely a must-do for anyone living in Utah County!! Timpanogas caves, is such a fun, unique hike. It's a quick drive into American Fork Canyon, and once you're there, the trail head is right next to the parking lot. The park rangers were all so friendly and helpful. When we checked in with our tickets, they made sure we had enough water and informed us about White Nose Syndrome. The hike is about 1.5 miles to the top, but it is very steep. It's paved, has a lot of switchbacks, and it has some amazing views looking into the valley! There is a bathroom near the top by the caves. Beware...it smells nasty!! But what do you expect from an outhouse? The caves are amazing. First of all, they're nice and cold which felt amazing after the tough hike. Second of all, they're just so cool!! It was crazy that I was in a naturally-made hole in the mountain. There were times when I felt a little bit claustrophobic, but for the most part it was nice and spacious. It was so cool to see all the stalagmites, stalactites, and pools of water. Our tour guide, Deb, was awesome. She was engaging and knowledgeable. TIPS: -Hike earlier in the day (especially during the hotter months)! It gets toasty fast. -Bring a jacket for the caves. It's about 40 degrees in there. -Don't be scared of earthquakes! I was a little panicky thinking I would die if there were an earthquake... But Deb told me that the caves are some of the safest places to be during earthquakes! In fact, you might not even feel it if an earthquake happened while you're in the caves. Come on, just do it. It's an experience you will never forget!

The cave itself (actually, three interconnected caves) isn't the biggest, but the fact that it's in the top if a mountain is pretty cool. The hike up may be strenuous for some, but we see families there all the time. But the views are wonderful. Lots of locals hike the trail for exercise. Well worth the side trip. But you need to schedule your tour in advance on the National Parks website.

Timpanogos Cave is so much fun - and definitely should be on your list if you're an outdoorsy-exploratory person. Or if you're visiting from out of town - just keep the altitude in mind. #1: buy your tickets waaay ahead of time. A tour allows about 15-16 people at a time, and tickets go fast. We bought ours in August for a tour on September 8th. It is confusing. We ordered our tickets online ($12 per each adult), and were told it was a 55 minute tour of the cave. But, the entire process, should take you 3-3.5 hours. It's confusing when you order a time for tickets if you should be at the visitor center at your ticket time, or if you should be up at the cave. It's the first. Whatever your time, get to the visitor center then! From there, expect your hike UP to the cave, to run you anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. After wanting to do Timpanogos for years, the day we decided to finally go.... rained. They closed the trail for a little while, and thus our ascent was delayed. We hung around the visitor center, and checked out all the cute things we wanted to buy if we made it back down. They suggest you bring at least 32oz of water with you for the hike - and have a little spring water water fountain near the bottom of the trail. The trail is longer than you expect. But along the way there are signs talking about health, the rocks, and general information and old photos. There are benches to stop and break, if needed, and tons of picturesque moments. We were lucky enough to start the trail after a drizzle, so it was cooler. I can't really imagine doing this hike in the middle of summer, because it would have been hot hot hot. Once getting to the top, there is a pit toilet, and a little area you can wait while the rest of your tour is getting there. The Rangers at the top... were not very friendly at all. Our guide really seemed like she didn't want to be there, but got better with her explanation of cave information. I guess you're a ranger for the outdoors, and not necessarily people... Once you get past your deep hidden fear of caves and nocturnal monsters dwelling in them, or getting stuck in a cave-in, Timpanogos is amazing!! The very first door you go through, I found out, would be the only area one would see bats, if they were there that day. I was sad not to see any. As soon as you enter the caves, you can feel it get a lot cooler. They say it's around 46 degrees year round - which is insane, and at points, requires a jacket. The hardest part of my visit to the caves is the fact that you cannot touch anything. I love touching all things and everything, and they ask you not to touch the cave to preserve it. Throughout the tour, you'll learn about different types of cave growth: stalactites, stalagmites, etc. You'll see all sorts of colors, learn the history of the caves, see the drama that is the stalactite and mites growing towards each other, the faultlines, and see how physically dark the caves are when the lights are out (you cannot see a thing, you'd die in there, thank the lords for flashlights on phones). Such a fun time! Post-tour, you get to walk back down the hill. Harder on the knees, still a beautiful time, and perfect time for your photo-ops. It also goes much faster. Visit Timpanogos Cave!! Just realize it's a hike+cave time, not just cave exploring. And will take you around 3 hours to complete in its entirety.

Alright, guys and gals. Imma give you the nitty gritty on Timpanogos cave, because their website does not provide any details, and to be honest, it's near deceptive regarding tour times. The only way to see the caves is via a tour (about 15 daily, and once a day they do a more involved "introduction to caving"). Reservations can be made via the recreation.gov website, or by calling 877-444-6777. Supposedly, they are available up to one hour prior to tour times, and then any remaining spots are "walk-up" only. On my recent visit, they'd just reopened for the season, and I attempted to make a reservation about 24 hours ahead (I could see availability on the website), but they could only be purchased in person. This is a long drive for most visitors without a guaranteed place! I went for it anyways, and thankfully snatched up two of the last three spots for an 8:00am tour (note, this was on a Tuesday-prior planning is A MUST for weekend visits, and I wouldn't dream of just showing up hoping to obtain admission). They were experiencing some sort of technological issue, so perhaps in the future the reservation system will be fixed, and correct as listed on the website. You will pay for the tour inside their newly renovated visitor's center ($12 for adults, $7 for children). At this time, we were interrogated regarding our water supply. I am a minimalist hiker, and declared I was not bringing any. The shock! We were admonished severely, but ultimately told it was our own (poor) choice. Of note, there is a whole gift shop here, restrooms, and on our visit, the Friends of Timpanogos Cave were even hosting a surprise pancake breakfast! We hung around for a while, finally heading to the trailhead around 7:40am. You do not have to be with your tour group for your walk to the cave, and they ask that you arrive 15 minutes early to go over safety stuff prior to the start. Water was brought up again, only this fellow simply would not allow us to go without some. Thankfully, we had a bottle in the car (they also sell them in the visitors center...convenient!), and we utilized the fill station located here. Returning to the trailhead, Hydroflask in hand, we were then informed that they really recommend 1 liter per person, but that was up to us. Good grief, enough with the water! It was like 65 degrees outside, and a mile and a half hike to the cave. Pretty sure I can manage without water for a few hours. Mercifully, he allowed us to go, and we started our ascent. This IS a steep trail: a little over 1000-foot elevation gain, which is a fair amount when the distance is only a mile and half. That said, it is paved, there are loads of viewpoints for taking a break, plus benches, so it is certainly doable for most. We passed people of all ages and levels of ability, and while it would admittedly be unpleasant in hot weather, you got this! We made it to the cave entrance in under 45 minutes, then waited. And waited. Our designated tour start time was 9:30am, but when one of the guides started gathering an earlier group, we asked if we could hitch on with them, and thankfully, there was space. Worth asking if you are in a similar situation! The tour itself explores three caves, with manmade tunnels connecting them. I won't go into the history (now you have to go yourself, haha!), but will just say that they've done a good job of keeping changes minimal - only what is necessary to allow accessibility. I've toured other caves that felt borderline touristy, and it ruined a lot of the magic, but I did not feel that was the case here. One of my favorite parts was about midway through, when our guide turned off all the lights, and everyone stood together in the most complete inky, black darkness, silent without even meaning to be. This sort of sensory deprivation is unlikely to occur elsewhere, and absolutely awe-inspiring. Afterwards, you can sign the guestbook, then make your way back down to the visitor's center. It was a little intense on the knees at times, so take it slow. And FYI: I didn't drink any of that stupid water, so there! In summary, your tour time is not the time on your ticket. You are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to that, allowing 1 hour and 45 minutes to make it to the cave entrance, where you will then spend 30-45 minutes taking the actual tour, then however long you need to descend. Bring water or expect the wrath of every park employee you meet. A jacket really is nice for the 40 degree cave, as is a flashlight. It is unnecessary to bring a big ol' backpack (in fact, those with frames, or especially large ones, must be left outside). Know your photographs are going to be crap, but that forces you to be present in the experience. Do it at least once (and personally, if I could guarantee the trail would not be too crowded, I'd absolutely be up for going multiple times).

It's a pretty decent hike up to the cave along a paved trail but is family friendly. The tour through the cave is incredible. Get your tickets well in advance. Many people hike up and back to the cave for exercise. It's free and a good work out.

Put this on your to do list! The cave tour is absolutely amazing and full of interesting facts of the history of the cave. I was nervous doing this with a 4 month old baby due to the reviews of it "being strenuous" and all, but really, it's fine. It's like an hour of being on a stair master machine. Plenty of benches to stop and take breaks at. It took about an hour to get to the cave entrance for us. We stopped a couple of times to read the informational signs along the trail, plus a mountain goat was kicking rocks. I would advise to be exceptionally careful on this trail with its potential dangers. Some people did have helmets on during their hike. Inside the cave, it is a bit tight so I'd be really careful if you're carrying a baby. I'm quite a small person so carrying a baby wasn't a dealbreaker to get through the tight passageways. But if you're over 5'2, good luck it's like a Pilates session in some parts, but doable!! And worth it!! We had a wonderful guide, Sabrina, that shared so much info and answered questions afterwards. Make sure you do some leg stretches at the bottom and bring water!

I really enjoyed the hike up to the Timpanogos Cave, which is actually a complex of three caves which are next to each other and intertwined. The trail leading up to the cave is well established and paved, but can be steep in areas. There are benches along the way so that you can stop and rest if needed. It took us less than an hour to get to the top. You need to have a ticket to enter the cave and tickets are limited. Time in the cave is guided by a park ranger and lasts for about an hour. The temperature in the cave is about 47 degrees so if you get cold remember to bring a hoodie or light coat. Inside the cave you will see beautiful formations and the guide talks about the history and the geologic formations. Beautiful views from the top of the mountain, and going down was quicker than going up. Remember to pack lots of water too and some snacks for the hike, but no food allowed in the caves. One really sad thing was that the kids in our group wanted to hear about the legend of Princess Timpangos. The guide refused saying that it was "a white mans story" and that guides are not allowed to talk about it. This is ridiculous given that the story is featured on the national Parks website. For that I removed 1 star.

I got a chance to squeeze in the Timpanogos Cave tour and hike, while I was on a work trip in SLC. Quite frankly, I was only there to do a cave tour that my coworkers recommended. No one mentioned that I'd actually have to HIKE up to the cave to get to it. I should have researched it more than take my coworkers' word for it. Knowing I was going to do this hike, I purchased my tour ticket online a few days before. Adult tickets (16+) are $8. Junior tickets (6-15) are $6. Child tickets (3-5) are $4. Infants under the age of 2 are free. You are expected to check into your tour 15 minutes, before your tour time, at the Visitor Center. I actually scheduled a 1:15 tour. But, it actually doesn't start until 45 minutes later. That is the amount of time the ranger gives you to hike up the side of the mountain. Thankfully, I arrived at 1pm, giving myself a bit more time for my super slow ascent up to the cave. This is a steep and easy hike. Steep and easy? Oxymoronic? Steep, most definitely. But, it's easy because it's paved all the way to the top. No rock scrambling or dirt in your shoes here. Pretty much switch backs all the way. Some shade. Be wary of the red and yellow markings on the pavement, which indicate rock slide areas. You don't want to rest there. Move along. Move along. Obviously, you will need a good pair of walking shoes and water. A whole lot more water, if it's hot. There are gorgeous view points as you go up, so it's definitely not a boring hike visually. Several rangers were at the cave entrance to greet the cave explorers. They provided additional instructions to help preserve the cave and protect the creatures that live in it. Tour groups are kept fairly small. I was lucky to have a number of inquisitive kids on the tour. They thought of questions my adult brain would never have thought about. The tour, which took you through 3 caves, was very informative. The temperature was in the mid-low 50s. If you're prone to being cold, have a jacket or sweater on hand. The tour itself was about 30-40 minutes. Standing at 5'5", I nearly clocked myself dodging low rocks and had some tight squeezes through narrow tunnels. Be prepared to duck and weave. Overall, this was great! I got some hiking in. Got educated about the Timpanogos Caves, including discover, rock formations and preservation efforts. Totally worth it.

Gorgeous views hiking up to the cave, and the cave itself is spectacular. Here's what to expect: 1.) Buy a ticket and wait for a ranger to give you a little speech at the bottom. You are given 90 minutes to make the climb on your own and rejoin your group. As an able-bodied 35 year old, I made the climb in an easy 50 minutes. It is a long slog uphill though, so know the abilities of thyself and thy companions. Lots of benches along the way. 2.) Enter the cave with your group. There are a lot of tight spaces inside so they will ask you to swing backpacks around to your front. Also, hiking poles are a no-no unless you can collapse them into your pack. Tripods are forbidden, but photography is allowed. 3.) It will be cold inside. You will be in a line of people moving through at a good clip so there's not a lot of time to stop and smell the cave fungus. Quite a lot of tight spaces to get through so you will have to bend, wiggle and writhe from time to time. I'm 6'3" and over 250lbs. and didn't have much of a problem. 4.) Cave tour lasts maybe 40-50 minutes and you're left to make your way back down the hill. A bottle filling station is at the bottom fed by natural springs.

I have been going here ever since I was a little kid. It's an excellent hike up with some beautiful views and a very cool cave tour to reward you for your hiking effort. We just visited and finally brought our son (9) for his first visit. We waited so long to come back because before he was born we came with my niece (3 at the time) and I had to carry her all the way up. Although it was a good workout for me, it wasn't something I wanted to do again. The GOOD: Paved hike. Awesome views. Cool cave tour. The BAD: Sometimes getting a reservation can be very tough. Just try to plan ahead, because spontaneous visit is unlikely going to work. Sometimes you get a cave tour guide that isn't the greatest.

It is an easy paced hike to the caves. Need to purchase a permit ahead of time to go in. By the time you get to the ca we you welcome the cool air but it can get a bit chilly towards the end.

Our tour guide Alex was absolutely amazing! He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. I would highly recommend this tour! The hike to the top was stunning. Definitely a must see! You won't regret it!

Head up American Fork Canyon and Mt. Timpanogos. Approximately 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. There you will find a small, 250 acre National Park. One of the most beautiful in the country. Hike up the mile & a half trail (yes, UP THE TRAIL! ) The trail gains over 1000' of elevation in that short distance. Be sure to wear good hiking boots and bring water and a light jacket. At the end of the trail you will enter a spectacular cavern with three beautiful chambers. It's always cool inside, so this is where you will really need that jacket. If you are going, be sure you go in the summer. Believe me this place is closed in the winter. In this country and in this snow you probably couldn't even find the trail. The Park is open from May to Labor Day and there are tours provided. The trail has multiple switchbacks with benches and views. I know, I sat down more than once to "enjoy the view." Actually, if you are in reasonable shape, it is an easy climb on a good trail. The inside of the cave is as all caves of this magnitude are - - SPECTACULAR! Don't miss this one.

This cave was absolutely AH-MAZING! I would definitely recommend this spot to check out in the summer! In the winter time, this place is just plain closed. Pro-tip for checking this place out? DEFINITELY RESERVE TICKETS EARLY! You can reserve tickets online or via phone but there are a restricted number of reserve ahead tickets. Otherwise, you have to just show up and hope that there are tickets available for the time slot that you want to tour the cave. We visited two days in a row and finally were able to get tour tickets when we showed up first thing in the morning. My other tip would definitely be to give yourself plenty of lead time before your designated tour time. You will need time to get through the wildnerness entrance. Sometimes, on the weekends, you can be waiting in line at the gate for quite some time just to get into the wilderness area. Then you have to drive through the mountains to get to the cave. Two of our friends didn't get to tour the cave because they got stuck in line at the entrance gate and didn't make the cut off for the tour time. If you showed up in the morning to pick up your tickets, I would recommend packing a sack lunch and just picnicking in the wildnerness area until your tour time. There are no shortage of beautiful views and picnicking spots in the wilderness area. You also want plenty of time to hike up to the cave entrance from the cave visitor center. If you're from flatlands or even a little out of shape, you also want plenty of time to hike up the mountain. The altitude, combined with the somewhat intense climb was definitely a challenge. Given enough time however, almost anyone can handle this hike since there is a paved trail the entire way. When we came in July it was hot hot hot outside and really cool temps in the cave. You'll want to pack plenty of water and dress in layers so you can be comfortable outside and warm inside the cave. The sun at these higher altitudes can also be pretty intense so I would recommend you wear sunscreen and pack plenty of water! The last thing you want is to feel thirsty and sunburned when you still have a mile left to hike up the mountain.

Lovely setting and free if you don't enter the caves. Bathrooms were clean and up to date.

Wow I have found such amazing treasures in Utah and this is no exception! We purchased tickets in advance online and arrived to our meeting site, where someone gave us some instructions. We had plenty of time to get up to the cave. I was concerned about not making it up with the the things I read but with the paved path it wasn't bad at all! The cave itself was legit. Dark, musty, and slightly claustrophobic at times. A child did cry there on a specific spot with little lighting. Highly recommended!! No longer going to be a hidden gem thanks to yelp lol

Small cave system. Very nice hike up to the caves. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about caves.

A stunning end to a winding trail up the face of the mountain. Not really suitable for children unless you take long walks often. Make sure you keep an eye on your kids since there is numerous areas where they could get too close to the edge. I would recommend this for a day date with the misses.

This place is Awsome but be prepared for a steep Mike and a half hike to the cave entrance . Then you will have to hike back. Well worth it though. Are Ranger/guide Alejandra was Awsome. All the rangers are very friendly. You song regret the trip. Remember to bring water and a jacket.

Beautiful drive. Not too bad of a hike...ok so I may have been bent over a few times sucking wind because I was new to the state and the altitude kicked my butt but not tooooo bad! Breathtaking scenery and even a few benches to rest on along the way. Watch your footing it gets narrow! Cave was cool(literally) and a little claustrophobic but learned a lot!

Great hike and what a beautiful cave. Our tour guide was awesome and very helpful. Everyone who worked there was nice and informative. The hire does have some steep parts but you don't have to be in top shape to complete it. There where plenty of out of shape folks just going slower and taking more breaks but where able to do it. The visitors center is limited and the food area was closed today on Sunday. $8 for adults makes this a great must do when in Utah.

I visited Timpanogas Cave today with some friends who I brought with me from California. I'd been there once before (probably about 20 years ago. Geez, I feel old.) but the only recollection I have of that trip is the cool bird coloring book I got at at the end of the day. This time when I set out for the trek up to the cave, I was much more appreciative of the scenery, but also older, creakier, and well aware of the fact that no coloring book would be waiting for me when I got back down from the cave. The hike is not easy - even for people who are less couch potaoey than me. Although the whole thing is paved, it is fairly steep in spots and the switchbacks are crazy. You'll be much better off if you don't look up to see how much farther up the mountain your destination is. Yikes. Luckily, there are lots of benches on the way up and you can sort of take your time and rest amongst the beautiful rocks and trees. Once we got to the top, it was a very short wait until our tour started. Like others have said, there are three sections of the cave. Hansen's Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave. Along the way, our guide told us about all of the awesome rock formations including, "Cave Bacon", the "Cave Carrot", and "Cave Popcorn". I think she was hungry. You will also see the more traditional stalactites and stalagmites, a lake, and the "Heart of Timpanogos" - a formation which has a somewhat cheesy red light near (inside?) it to create a beating heart effect. Apparently the National Park Service had the cheesy light removed, but it was brought back by popular demand. The caves are absolutely beautiful and quite spectacular - especially if you have always been weirdly fascinated with rocks, like me. Hearing the stories of how the cave was discovered also adds a lot to the experience, and makes you appreciate grizzled old mountain men and miners a bit more! There are some VERY tight spots inside the cave, and I can see how it could be quite difficult or even impossible to maneuver through if you are a person of...um... exceptional height or girth - at least not without finding an errant stalactite lodged in your head later. Then again, it'd be rough to make it up the mountain to begin with if you had any sort of heart or breathing problems. It is worth it, though! You can do it! Some hopefully helpful notes: We went on a day when rain was in the forecast. They do not close the trail unless there is lightning (or unless the rocks start to fall because of heavy rain. Good call on that one.) It barely sprinkled on the way up and I believe that the forecast could have deterred others from coming, so it worked out great. Apparently it gets insanely busy at times with the wait at the top of the trail sometimes taking over an hour (just to start your tour into the cave). A light jacket is a good idea even if it is a warmer day because the temperature inside the cave is approximately 45 degrees year round. Lastly, be sure to use the restroom at the visitors center, since the next time you see one will be at the top of the trail and it is much dodgier looking than the one at the bottom.Remember to take your camera but to leave all the rocks and other goodies in the forest where they belong - no matter how much you'd like a chunk of cave in your house.

Another home run for the National Park Service. This was on our itinerary for the previous day as we came north from Cedar Breaks but we were just too late getting to the area. We stayed in downtown SLC the night before and we had a busy Saturday planned but I managed to talk the hubby into getting up at 0-dark-30 and backtracking south to Timpanogos Cave. And it was a great decision! If you have the multi-agency annual pass then it will be free admission to the National Forest (which you have to enter to get to the park) as well as to the park but cave tours are extra. The standard cave tour is really excellent but moves at a nice relaxed pace. However you have to earn it - it is like a mile and a half uphill hike to get there. It is a paved trail and the views from the trail are stunning. There are certain areas with a red stripe painted on the walkway warning you to keep moving as they are falling rock hazard areas...so be careful where you stop to shoot pics or take in the view. The standard cave tour is nice and not too long and the rangers do a nice job of explaining the history and the geology of the place. There are a couple of narrow and low-overhead passages but they are short and you will be on your feet the whole tour. There are a lot of large open caverns where you stop to look at certain formations and listen to the ranger talk. Hints - go EARLY so you can get a good early cave tour. When you buy your tour tickets they assume a pretty leisurely walk up for you so you will have plenty of time to walk up. But they can also sell out early. And also the earlier you go the cooler and shadier the walk up is. Later in the day the sun will be overhead so less shade. If your children will not be able to walk the whole way up bring some sort of carrier/backpack device. We have a 1 year old - my husband carried him in the frame-style hiking baby backpack most of the way up, but these packs are not allowed in the cave (honestly you wouldn't fit thru some of the passages) so you will have to leave them at the intersection of the up and down paths (you go in one end of the cave and out the other, then loop back to meet up with the main pack....check the map for details.) Then I carried him on my back the rest of the way up to the cave entrance in the Ergo carrier and on my chest inside the cave in the Ergo. (Carriers which hold the baby directly onto your body ARE allowed...and are a lot easier than trying to carry a squirmy or sleeping baby in your arms thru the caves which I would definitely NOT recommend! So like a sling or ergo pack or baby bjorn or moby wrap or what have you is a must. On your chest/in front is probably easier because there are parts of the cave where you need to duck down or bend over to get thru.) My other two kids (6 and 4 1/2) basically ran the whole way up the trail and only the littler one complained on the way down. Also DO BRING plenty of WATER AND A SNACK! (But please don't litter or leave your trash behind in the cave!) Between the hike up, the cave, and the hike down it is a good 3-4 hour or longer excursion. There IS a bathroom on the trail - pit toilet only though. Also remember that even on a hot summer day it is pretty cool inside the cave - so consider bringing jackets. Although I have to admit we forgot ours and nobody complained about being too cold. I guess they were having too much fun. Like pretty much all National Parks they have a really great Jr. Ranger program for the kiddos. Highly recommend that at this and all other parks! Educational and fun and they get a little badge when they are done.

3.5 stars "A okay." Go earlier in the morning if you want to make a reservation for a tour of the caves. All cave entry is tour-only. You can call ahead to make reservations if you know what time you'll make it out there. While buying tour tickets, we were told that there was a small hike circle on the other side of the road, which we checked out, but it was very small area. Walking on the bridges over the water on this side of the road was cool. The rapids with tall trees towering over makes for a nice view. Hiking up to the cave took about 45 minutes and we took a lot of photos along the way. There are benches as you hike up, which are a good spot to do a mandatory water drinking session. A lot of people tend to carry water and forget to drink it, so this can be helpful. I went through 48 ounces of water on this hike. I love water so I drink more than most people. The rangers recommend 32 ounces. There is a bathroom at the top. It took 20 minutes to come down. The tour guide was knowledgeable of the history and geology of the cave and was likeable. He kept lamenting about human impacts on naturally occurring phenomena, which became a little excessive. We did have kids in the group so I can understand hitting on that for them. I just wanted more information on the caves, less of the semi-human-shaming. This is coming from somebody who has spent months living in a tent and strictly applies the "bring it in, take it out" rule, so I feel that the "don't touch fragile formations - Humans touch and ruin nature" reminder every 5 minutes is a little much. I have a knee that gives me issues about once a year when I run down some mountain or canyon beyond a certain incline angle, so I wore a brace on both of my knees. The top of this hike is very steep, so my knee got weird as soon as I started going down. I'm kind of surprised it was designed so steeply in that area. That section is all switchbacks, which I wish they'd just added in an additional switchback or two to help relieve the incline. As far as caves go, I would say that Carlsbad is much better, but this is still really cool. The lighting in the cave could be improved to better show off the formations. If you're in the area, it's worth seeing. Going up will take you a while, but is definitely do-able for anybody. There was a 75 y/o lady making the hike, so you can also do it. Just be careful coming down at the top-most area.

I will say this is worth the hike. If you can get up there, you will be astounded by the cave. I have always loved caves. Now the hike was a bit strenuous, so you need to be prepared to climb with a good amount of water. Make sure to take breaks though, if you need to, because you don't want to tap out early. The ranger was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, which was great since she made it all that much more interesting going through the cave. So if you manage to get here, ask for the tour guide Ranger Molly, she does know her stuff and won't bore you. There are so few words that I can say to express how beautiful this cave was. Granted the narrow passages were difficult to maneuver, but that was only because I am tall and I have some broad shoulders, it didn't take away from my amazement. I recommend this place, highly

Love this hike, but there's a couple of things to know. First, the things to love: Beautiful scenery, fantastic views, paved path (which is nice if you don't want to be hiking over ankle-breaking loose terrain), very kind park rangers, so many places to enjoy the view, and strenuous - don't let anyone tell you differently! This is an intense hike (albeit short). You will be gasping for breath at times. I completed it in 38 minutes which is pretty good time and even then I needed to stop and get my breath. It's great exercise with much better views than the gym. It's a great 2 or 3 hour activity. The keeping it real points: It's a bit shocking to me how many people bring their kids (and, apparently, every kid they ever knew - place is packed with kids). And YOUNG kids. If you go to the government's site, they caution about bringing kids because, I would think, it is 1. strenuous 2. major drop-offs along the trail 3. the trail is fairly narrow and I saw more than one kid running ahead or joking around which is pretty dangerous stuff when people have to pass each other at 6,000 feet up. So, to keep it real: there's way too many kids along this hike. Other things to keep in mind: I'm not kidding when I say it is strenuous. The park rangers who give the tours have to hike up it and I saw a few of them leaning against the mountain gasping for breath. The cave itself is interesting, but don't expect dazzling colors or gems or anything. It's white and brown. Next time I go, I'm going to just do the hike (you don't need tickets for just the hike or reservations) and skip the cave.

In Utah for business. Decided to hike and check out the caves. The hike is up 1000 ft and fairly steep in spots and fairly strenuous. They say to allow 1 1/2 hours to hike up and 30 minutes down which is about right. Beautiful hike and the caves are nice...not the best, but worth the hike and definitely worth seeing. Kids may want a light jacket for inside the cave. You can take good pics in the cave. A storm rolled through while we were in the cave and caused many rock slides and rangers had to assist everyone back down the trail. Great time and beautiful scenery. Recommended!!!

For the past couple of years I've been wanting to go here, but it's always my luck that they just closed the trail for the season. I guess I was lucky this time around! You pay a small fee to enter the Uinta park. I believe it was a $6 fee for 3 days. There is a scenic route, which is very long, coming from the south and rounding off in the east. I took the exit where Thanksgiving Point is at. You drive through a small town, but it sure is easier to get to. There's a little road construction going on though, so be prepared to stop occasionally. So the visitors center is just about a mile up or so from the roll booth, on the right side. I advise to make reservations, so you have a guarantee for a tour into the cave. They do charge a small 50 cent processing fee if you do purchase your tickets by phone, but it's totally worth it. Just $7.50 per person, it's still a deal. So the hike UP to the caves is about 1.75 miles. My parents, who are of retirement age both were able to make the trek up in about 1.25 hours. I recommend having a hiking stick with you. I brought one with me, and my mom used it, and she had no sore muscle problems. Both my dad and I did suffer a bit, a bit sore! There are 3 caves that you're able to walk through. Each cave leading into the next, through manmade tunnels. It is a bit slippery, so it's best that you wear shoes that grip well. The cave floor is wet in most places and can be very slippery. These caves remain at a steady 45 degrees throughout the year, says the ranger. So a light coat would be sufficient. I had a light sweater and it was warm. Wish I would have had worn shorts to be more comfortable, for both the hike and in the cave. All the walking will keep your blood flowing. It's a great sight to see. It's a live cave, so it continues to "grow". As long as water continues to flow through these caves, mineral deposits will continue to build these amazing formations! Just make sure you follow the rule of not touching anything. You can see the damage that human hands have made as you walk through. So please make sure you preserve it! There is a fault line, which you will see in the last cave (timpanogos cave). So I wouldn't want to be in the caves when an earthquakes hits that fault line. The Timpanogos caves are a must see if you're in town. I've seen many caves, and this is just as amazing! Be ready for a slightly strenuous hike up, but definitely an easy hike down. The scenery is great! You can also call a local phone number on your cell phone as you hike up and punch the number point number and you will hear an informational/educational recording. There was a kid group that was there, and they were running a muck. If you don't want to be around a kids group, you may want to ask if there are any kid groups scheduled for the reservation you're making.

This is probably one of the coolest caves I have been to. I went in May, according to the tour guide the spring is the wettest time of year so if you don't enjoy damp environments, you might try for later in the summer. I think May is the best time to go however, because the cool weather is nice on the strenuous hike up to the top. I would recommend stretching your calves first, the trek is quite steep. They give you an hour and half to climb up the mountain which is plenty of time I made it up in about 45 mins. Since we were so early the tour guides let us jump in on an earlier tour. I think this is an awesome place to check out, It cost $6 to get into the forest area and another $7 per adult for the tour. I wish I would have bought the year round park pass because I think I will be checking out the wilderness area around the cave a few more times.