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Mount Timpanogos Hike and Hiking Trails The Mount Timpanogos Hiking Trail is by far the most popular hiking destination in the state of Utah and it is climbed year round. The local population calls Mt. Timpanogos simply “Timp”. Timp’s elevation is 11,749 feet (3,582 m) above sea level and is the second highest peak in Utah’s Wasatch Range (first in Mount Nebo just a few miles south). What makes Timp so popular is its location and dominant features. It towers over the cities of Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, and Cedar Hills in the state of Utah. It rises 7000 feet above the valley floor and attracts many to its slopes. The universities of BYU and UVU are only a few miles away and thousands of their students hike the trails each year.
- Location: Near Sundance Ski Area several miles from Provo and Orem, UT
- Round-Trip Distance: 14.4 miles
- Distance to Summit: Aspen Grove trail 7.2 miles to summit, Timpooneke trail 7.1 miles to summit
- Time: 10 – 14 hours/2-3 days backpacking and camping
- Elevation gain: 3600 feet
- Difficulty: Intermediate (because hike is over 10 miles long)
- Best Season to Hike: Late spring (after snow clears) through mid to late fall
- Reference: North-central Utah, just east of Salt Lake City, in the Mount Olympus Wilderness.
- User groups: Hikers. No wheelchair access.
- Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
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The Hike There are two main trails to the summit of Timp and both can be accessed from the Alpine Loop road that connects Provo Canyon to American Fork Canyon and circles behind Mt. Timpanogos. The first trail starts at Aspen Grove in Provo Canyon with a trailhead elevation of 6,910 feet (2,106 meters), and the second starts at the Timpooneke campground in American Fork Canyon at 7,170 feet (2,185 meters). These two main trails join together (near Timp’s saddle) at a point just below the final ascent to the summit.
Mount Timpanogos Wilderness Area that shows both the Aspen Grove and Timpooneke trail routes
Mount Timpanogos Trail Map (trail #052 and 056). The lighter green defines Timpanogos Wilderess Area, the grey green is Uinta National Forest and the grey area private land - Click to enlarge trail map
The hike is marked by beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking rocky slopes and ridges, mountain goats, Utah’s only glacier, and a small glacier lake called Emerald Lake which has an elevation of 10,380 feet (3,164 m) and is 6 miles from the trailhead at Aspen Grove. Timpanogos Glacier is not really a glacier at all, but rather a snowfield. However, it has been called a glacier by climbers at least since 1916, so with tradition on our side we will continue to call it a glacier.
Emerald Lake and glacier or snowfield in Aug. 2007 (Photo courtesy of tert.org)
Emerald Lake with an altitude of 10,380 feet
If hiking in the summer or early fall and want to complete the hike in one day, we recommend that you start the hike very early in the morning before daylight. This allows you to climb the steeper areas before the heat of the day. Many hikers start at midnight and plan to summit at sunrise. The Aspen Grove trail is the most popular route to the summit maybe because it is closer to the city (Orem/Provo, Ut) . It starts at a lower elevation so it will be slightly steeper. The parking lots at both trailheads fill up fast in the late spring to fall months especially on weekends and holidays.
Timp has some dangerous areas especially if the snow has not completely melted from the trail. If the trail is blocked with snow do not try to cross without proper equipment. The most dangerous areas are on the saddle, at the summit, and on the snowfield (if you chose to hike down using the snowfield). I have a friend that hiked Timp 18 times in one summer and was sliding down the snowfield too fast and he put his arms out to slow down and cut his arms severely from ice slivers. He had to have his arms in casts for several weeks.
The views afforded while hiking Timp are magnificent, and the trail is easy enough that almost anyone can hike it. If you are plann to hike Timp in one day, start early in the day and bring plenty of water, and you'll have a great time.
The best time of the year to climb Timp is late spring through late fall. Late spring is mentioned because the trail should be clear of snow for the typical hiker. Advice on mountain conditions may be obtained by calling the Pleasant Grove Ranger station at 801-785 3563 or the Uinta National forest office at 801 377-5780. Also, current hiking trail conditions are provided by TERT, the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team (www.tert.org).
Mount Timpanogos Summit (Photo courtesy of tert.org)
Aspen Grove Trail
| Points of Interest | Elevations | Distances | | Aspen Grove Parking Lot and Trailhead | 6850 ft | O mi | | First Falls on Trail | 7540 ft | 1.1 mi | | Hidden Lake | 9480 ft | | | Emerald Lake | 10,340 ft | 5.5 mi | | North Trail Saddle | 11,000 ft | | | Snowfield to Glacier Saddle | 11,280 ft | | | Summit | 11,750 ft | 7.2 mi |
Timpooneke Trail
| Points of Interest | Elevations | Distances | | Timpooneke Parking Lot and Trailhead | 7320 ft | O mi | | Hidden Lake | 9480 ft | | | Emerald Lake | 10,340 ft | 5.5 mi | | North Trail Saddle | 11,000 ft | | | Snowfield to Glacier Saddle | 11,280 ft | | | Summit | 11,750 ft | 7.1 mi |
Directions to Aspen Grove Trailhead
The Aspen Grove trailhead can be access from Highway I-15, using the 275 exit and driving east along State Road or highway 52 (800 North in Orem) to the junction with highway 189, Provo Canyon road. Go east on 189 for 7 miles to the Sundance Ski resort turnoff (the turnoff for Sundance is a few hundred feet pass a tunnel). Follow highway 92 for 6 miles, going past the Sundance ski area and pass the Aspen Grove recreation area. Proceed until you come to a fee booth (the fee is currently $3 per car) and look for parking just beyond in a lot at the left. If full, look for additional parking just up the road. The trailhead starts from the parking lot. The Aspen Grove trail rote is the most popular.
Directions to Timpooneke Trailhead
The Timpooneke trailhead can be access from I-15. Take the 287 exit and go east on highway 92 for 8 miles until you enter American Fork Canyon and come to a fee booth (the fee is $3 per car. Continue on highway 92 for another 8 miles or so (passing the Timpanogos Cave national monument area) until you come to the Timpooneke Campground on the right side of the road. Take the paved road 1/4 mile through the campground. Just past the campground the road reaches the trailhead which is identified by a large paved parking lot. The trailhead to the Timpooneke route is just beyond the campground area.
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Hiking Trails 
