Timpanogos Cave National Monument is located in the Wasatch Mountains in Northern Utah, approximately 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. The cave is known for its unique formations, called helictites, which are delicate spiral formations that seem to defy gravity. According to the experts, there are hundreds of these formations (6 to 10 inches long) in the Chimes Chamber alone. The variety of colors in Timpanogos Cave is another distinctive feature. Calcite, the basic mineral in cave decorations, is almost pure white. Its main element, Calcium, is the same thing that makes our teeth and bones white, too. Different colors found in the cave are due to other minerals mixing with the calcite.
The colors found in Timpanogos Cave are:
Color:……………………………………………..Mineral:
Brown, red, orange………………………………… Iron Oxide (rust)
Yellow…………………………………………..……….. Nickel in Calcite
Lime green……………………………………………….Nickel in Aragonite
Black, Bluish-gray, Purple, Pink………………..Manganese
(Aragonite is a polymorph of calcite, which means that it has the same chemistry as calcite, but it has a different structure, and more importantly, different symmetry and crystal shapes.)
The cave formed along a series of fault lines. Water rushed into the fault and began carving the caverns, and then the dissolved minerals in the water left their indelible mark upon this beautiful underground environment.
The cavern system is surrounded by an alpine environment amidst the beauty and wonder of the Wasatch Mountains. The monument is nestled in the steeply-walled American Fork Canyon. The elevation ranges from 5,000 feet to 9,500 feet. In the center of the monument flows the American Fork River. The 1-1/2 mile-long paved trail that leads to the cave is a great way to enjoy the spectacular views of the geology of the American Fork Canyon and vast expanse of the Utah Valley so don’t forget your camera!
Besides the ranger-guided cave tours, Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a great place to hike, picnic, take photos and watch the wildlife. The extreme altitude is home to mountain goats, big horn sheep, mountain lions, moose, mule deer and black bears. The canyon also supports smaller mammals like ringtail cats, longtail weasels, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, packrats and bats. In addition, the canyon is a terrific place to bird watch and see species like the American dipper, broad-tailed hummingbird, canyon wren, orange-crowned warbler and stellers jays, as well as visits by the larger raptors including red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons and golden eagles.
Timpanogos Cave is only open during the summer months (May through October) since the canyon receives heavy snowfall during the winter. Thanks to the cold winters and warms summers, the cave stays at a stable 45 degrees, so dress accordingly if you plan to take a tour. No pets are allowed on the trail or in the cave. To help prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome — a disease that is killing hundreds of thousands of bats in North America — the Monument prohibits any boots, clothing or gear (including cameras) that have been in ANY other cave or mine at ANY time.
Other things to see and do in the area:
Salt Lake City
Great Salt Lake
Wasatch Mountain State Park
Utah Lake State Park
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
R.R. 3 Box 200
American Fork, Utah 84003
Phone: Visitor Center (summer only) at 801-756-5238 or Headquarters at 801-756-5239
http://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm
Privacy Policy
3 Comments on "Timpanogos Cave National Monument"
Thanks for the article on Timpanogos Cave National Monument! Well done, though there are a few details that need clarification.
1)Formation colors: Close, but actually the greens and yellows are both caused by nickel here is an explanation-
Colors of Cave Formations
The variety of colors in Timpanogos Cave is another distinctive feature. Calcite, the basic mineral in cave decorations, is almost pure white. Its main element, Calcium, is the same thing that makes our teeth and bones white, too. Different colors found in the cave are due to other minerals mixing with the calcite.
The colors found in Timpanogos Cave are:
Color: Mineral:
Brown, red, orange………………………………… Iron Oxide (rust)
Yellow…………………………………………..……….. Nickel in Calcite
Lime green……………………………………………….Nickel in Aragonite
Black, Bluish-gray, Purple, Pink………………..Manganese
(Aragonite is a polymorph of calcite, which means that it has the same chemistry as calcite, but it has a different structure, and more importantly, different symmetry and crystal shapes.)
2)The Cave Trail is NOT wheelchair, stroller, ect. accessible
Access to the caves requires hiking a 1 1/2 mile paved trail. Because of the steepness and incline of the cave trail, strollers and other wheeled vehicles (including wheelchairs) are not allowed.
Thanks again for a great article-we appreciate the effort!
Karissa DeCarlo
Park Ranger, Timpanogos Cave
Thanks for the information Ranger DeCarlo. We’ve updated the article to make sure that it is correct.
Kudos on the fast update! Thanks!