I feel I am in
pretty good shape so I thought I would fly up that trail. Oh boy was I
wrong, this hike is not for the week at heart. It did take us about an
hour and ten minutes. However I do have to admit once at the top it is
so worth it. Be sure and bring water for the hike you will need it!
The caves are
incredible. The tour starts with Hansen cave, which is the smallest of
the three, but houses one of the larger flowstones.
We then went
through a narrow passage to middle cave, which is comprised of a couple
of rooms. The largest room is covered with cave bacon (or draperies),
stalactites, and stalagmites, and flowstones. There is also a canal,
which looks as if it was once an underground riverbed. There is still
water there but it is only a couple of inches deep.
The separation
between middle cave and Timpanogos
cave is not much more than a door. Timpanogos is the home of the famous
heart of Timpanogos, which is the larges stalactite in the caves. It is
5.5 feet in length and is estimated to weigh over 2 tons. Considering the
hundreds of years it takes to form a Stalactite that is incredible.
Timpanogos cave offers the view of more stalactites,
stalagmites, and bacon. But also has popcorn, and helicites, which look
like straws, or string fries all over the walls, and ceiling. There is no
way to describe the beauty of these caves; they are something you have to
see for yourself. However the tunnels and passageways that you have to
navigate while on the tour can be a bit difficult at times. In some areas
they are very low, and very narrow almost to the point of crawling
through. The park rangers ask that you carry your backpacks in front of
you so that you don’t bump into the walls. The cave is approximately 45
degrees year round so be sure and take a jacket, and maybe even wear long
pants. The cave is open to the public from mid-May to mid -October.
Directions To The Cave
Timpanogos Cave is located off I-15 up American Fork
Canyon. Take exit 287, turn east onto State Highway 92, and go 10 miles to
the monument.
For more information on the Timpanogos Cave
National Monument Click
Here.
