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Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a real treat to visit. Not only are the cave formations spectacular to look at, the tough walk up is a great workout.
Visiting
We took the short but scenic drive from Salt Lake City through American Fork Canyon to the visitor center. There’s a toll to enter the canyon but visitors heading only to the cave don’t have to pay it. It costs US$6 (as of April 2025) for a 3-day pass for those driving the entire length of the Alpine Loop Scenic Drive through the canyon. The drive is 20 miles through the canyon, which is part of the Uinta National Forest.
The caves and visitor center are open between May and October depending on weather conditions. Four hours are recommended for the hike up and down and the cave tour.
Entrance Fees
There are three ranger-guided cave tours available. They often sell out in advance, so it’s highly recommended to purchase tickets online ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Keep in mind you have to take a steep 1 ½-mile hike up to the cave’s entrance. All prices are current as of April 2025:
- The Timpanogos Cave Tour visits Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave. It takes roughly 55 minutes along a ⅓ mile trail. Tickets are US$12 for adults, US$7 for kids age 2-11, US$6 for Senior or Access Pass holders, and US$2 for kids under 2.
- On the Lantern Tour, which is only suitable for visitor over 6, visitors are guided by a ranger holding a lantern. It takes about an hour. Tickets are US$17.
- The Introduction to Caving tour takes you to Hansen Cave Lake “along the same route Martin Hansen conducted tours” in the late 19th century. Tours last about 90 minutes and are limited to 5 people. Visitors must be at least 14 years old. You’ll wear a helmet with a headlamp and learn caving skills, safety, and etiquette. There will be scrambling and crawling involved. Tickets are US$22.
Hiking Up
When we arrived at the visitor center, Gönül decided not to do the tour because she injured her ankle a few days earlier. She found a picnic area across the street and relaxed while Martin and I hiked up to the cave’s entrance
The path up Mount Timpanogos is the only way up to the cave. There are no elevators or cable cars, and going up can get exhausting. The ranger at the visitor center recommended lots of water and at least an hour and a half to walk up. It took us roughly 45 minutes. There are plenty of places to stop and sit on the way up and to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
Touring the Cave
Once we reached the entrance to the cave, we met with a very nice ranger named Nancy who chatted with us while we waited for our tour to begin. Once inside, we were told the story of the discovery of the first cave by Martin Hansen in 1887. Two other caves were discovered in 1913 (Timpanogos Cave) and 1921 (Middle Cave).
Cave tours lasting just over an hour begin near the original entrance found by Martin Hansen, continue through Middle Cave, and finish in Timpanogos Cave before exiting. The most fascinating features and the fragile helictites, but cave bacon, cave popcorn, stalactites, and stalagmites can also be found.
Getting through the cave was easy. There were a few slippery spots along the way and some places we had to watch our heads. Nobody in the group felt claustrophobic although there were some tight spots to navigate.
Overall the tour was excellent and our guide, Nancy, had a contagious enthusiasm. We couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the cave. The views on the hike are also worth the trip.
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