Timpanogos Cave National Monument ⓘ

Tribal people have an ancient and ongoing relationship with the land, taking only what is needed and using all that is taken.

For several thousand years, the first people of the area traveled throughout American Fork Canyon and all of Utah. These people were the first of several groups drawn to the area by the fresh waters of Utah Lake. The Paleo-Indian people (12,000 BC) hunted large animals, and likely stayed near the shores of Utah Lake in the cool climate. As the climate warmed, Archaic people (~10,000 BC-AD 1) maintained a lifestyle of hunting and gathering. Excavations in other caves in American Fork Canyon show that hunters used some caves as a base camp for hunting in the canyon.

Water flowing from the mountains created a valley rich in resources. Although abundant fish, game, and native plants provided everything tribal people needed, they began farming about 1600 years ago – planting corn, beans, and squash where homes and businesses stand today. The Fremont people built small farming villages across the valley where they grew corn, squash, and beans. Excavations in American Fork Cave have found ceramics, cordage, ground stone, and corn kernels associated with the Fremont people. As the climate cooled again around 1300 AD the Fremont people abandoned their farming way of life. Those remaining returned to hunting and gathering, and are possibly the ancestors of the those that came next. Utes, Paiutes, Shoshone, and other groups inhabited the valley, using American Fork Canyon to hunt big game and gather various plants for food . Many of their descendants live throughout Utah today.

In 1776, Fray Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Fray Silvestre Velez de Escalante became the first recorded Europeans to enter Utah Valley. These men, both priests, were searching for an overland route between Santa Fe and California. Led by a guide from the Timpanogots tribe, they labeled the Great Salt Lake in their report as “Laguna de los Timpanogos.” The priests recognized the natural richness of the area. In their journal, they recorded the promising future that this valley would offer for settlements. In the 1820s, fur trappers began thoroughly exploring the Utah region. The most desirable fur was beaver, which sold for high prices. These trappers interacted with local tribes and some married local women. Beaver became scare in the area by 1830 and trapping moved north. As more people began to travel through the area, John C. Frémont arrived in Utah. He led the first mapping expedition along the Wasatch Front in May of 1844. The following year, he returned to explore the Provo River, which he referred to as the “Timpanogos River” in his notes. Fremont's records, as well as those from other trappers and explorers, prepared the way for settlement in Utah Valley.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), became the first Europeans to settle in Utah Valley. The LDS people migrated to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, and by the end of the year, more than 17,000 people were living in the Salt Lake area. In late 1847, LDS President Brigham Young sent Parley Pratt south to explore Utah Valley for expanding settlements. By 1850, families were settled along the American Fork River. These settlers ventured up the canyon in search of building materials and established a road for transporting timber. Rich mineral deposits of silver, lead, and zinc were soon identified in the Wasatch Mountains. Many people knew of the ore deposits in the canyon, however, the high cost of shipping the ores for processing slowed mine development. Once rail lines running up the canyon connected to the transcontinental line, mining development rapidly followed. As mining claims and activity increased in the canyon, so did the need for lumber. Approximately eleven sawmills operated in the canyon to supply lumber to mining operations and nearby cities. By 1876, the veins of ore began to decrease, though people such as George Tyng still flocked to the canyon to try their fortunes. Tyng did strike it big, but wasn't immune to tragedy in the raw environment.

The Legend of Timpanogos comes from Brigham Young University professor Eugene Lusk "Timp" Roberts. The story likely debuted in the early 1920s at a traditional bonfire held at Aspen Grove the night before the Timp Hike, an annual pilgrimage to summit Mount Timpanogos. By all accounts, this modern story was quickly accepted as an authentic Indian Legend. "Timp" Roberts also initiated a short play of the legend at the 1934 Timp Hike bonfire. The original version can be found in a collection of stories that Eugene "Timp" Roberts had published in 1922 entitled "Timpanogos, Wonder Mountain". This book serves as a love letter to the area and the beauty of the mountain itself. It contains many early photographs, essays, poems, and stories. This book can still be found in the library archives of multiple local universities. In 1957, Edward R. Tuttle published a poetic version of the legend titled “The Heart of Timpanogos.” To promote his publication, Tuttle held a book signing at the monument. The tale has been revisited in print throughout the 1970s, and a compilation of legends was published in 1988 by Effie W. Adams. The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, circa 1990, featured three versions of the legend. The story was adapted as a ballet titled "Legend of Timpanogos" by Jacqueline Colledge of the Utah Regional Ballet Company in 1994. It was performed at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and is still occasionally presented by the company. At least twelve recorded versions of the Legend of Timpanogos exist today. Though the legends vary, most explain the curious outline of a woman that can be seen in the peaks of Mount Timpanogos, or the origin of the "Great Heart," a large stalactite found in the Timpanogos Cave System. Mount Timpanogos overlooks Utah Valley as the dominant peak in the region. Standing at 11,750 ft in elevation, it is the second highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range. One of the notable points on the hike, Robert's Horn, is named after Eugene Roberts. The mountain has long beckoned area residents to explain their relationship with the majestic peak, just as Eugene "Timp" Roberts did in 1922.

Timpanogos Cave is the park's primary resource. The cave system is unique due to its high abundance of helictites, its coloration in its formations, its display of fault-controlled passages, its alpine surroundings, and unique history. The 1-1/2 miles long paved trail with a 1,092 feet elevation gain to the cave is also a popular attraction. The trail provides spectacular views of the geology of the American Fork Canyon and the expanding cities of the Utah Valley. Although the park is only 250 acres, there is great diversity in the amount of wildlife living here. 55 different kinds of mammals, 2 species of fish, 52 different bird species, and 4 kinds of reptiles have been sighted within park boundaries.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument Science and Resource Management staff conducts long-term inventory, monitoring, analysis, and reporting on key park resources to assess the condition of park ecosystems and develop a stronger scientific basis for stewardship and management of natural resources.

In cooperation with Resource Management staff, the Northern Colorado Plateau network works with Timpanogos Cave and 15 other parks to monitor air quality, climate, upland systems, land surface phenology, landscape dynamics, and water quality at the monument and other National Park sites.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument has a wide variety of birds that are representative of those found throughout the canyons of the Wasatch Front. The birds found along the riparian areas of the American Fork River often extend their habitats from streamside to high up the canyon walls foraging in the foliage and on the ground. Take a walk along the Swinging Bridge nature trail and look for American Dippers feeding along the river. While hiking the cave trail you are likely to encounter a variety of birds that inhabit both riparian and montane habitats such as the Steller’s Jay, Broad-Tailed and Black-Chinned Hummingbirds, Orange-Crowned and Virginia ’s Warblers, Black-Headed Grosbeaks, Chipping Sparrows, and Dark-Eyed Juncos. During the spring and summer keep an eye out for the Western Tanager whose brilliant red, yellow, and black breeding plumage is a delight to even the most seasoned enthusiast. As you enjoy the scenery of the canyon from the cave entrance you may see Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, Violet Green Swallows, and Townsend’s Solitaires. Visitors sometimes hear the descending trill of the Canyon Wren, who often nests at the entrance to Hansen Cave . And the park/canyon provides good habitat to several species of owl (Great-horned, Flammulated, and Northern-pygmy owl).

A wonderful variety of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees are found within Timpanogos Cave National Monument . The park’s elevation ranges from 5,000 feet to 9,500 feet creating many different plant communities. Plants with similar condition requirements (elevation, rainfall, soil type) are found growing together within the same community. Timpanogos Cave National Monument has four main plant communities: riparian, coniferous, mountain-brush, and sub-alpine.

The riparian community, an environment influenced by a river, is easy to recognize and can be found on the canyon floor. Within the dark and fertile soil, cottonwoods, box elder maples and water loving grasses hug the shore of the American Fork River . The plants are dependent on the high quantities of water found within the community.

On the sunny north side of the canyon, the Mountain-brush community is found. Gambel oak, Big-tooth maple, Rabbitbrush, and Mexican cliffrose are just a few of the shrubs and trees that can be found in this area. All these plants require little water and high intensity sunlight.

On the shadier south side of the American Fork Canyon , the majority of the coniferous community reaches high into the sky. Douglas and White fir grow tall and strong, creating winter shelter for the canyon animals.

Above the cave on the south side of the canyon exists a sub-alpine community. This plant community is known for its quaking aspen and fields of wildflowers. Flowers such as Mountain bluebells, Firecracker (Eaton's) and Purple penstemons, and Wild onion create a beautiful scene for any hiker. Unfortunately, the sub-alpine community cannot be reached within the monument. However the back side of Timpanogos Mountain has a wonderful example of this community. If you would like to take this trip, ask for directions at the Timpanogos Cave Visitor Center .

Timpanogos Cave National Monument has approximately 55 species of mammals. Each species of mammal plays an important role in the park’s “circle of life.” Small mammals such as rodents and bats help control the population of insects; larger mammals, like ringtail cats, help control the population of rodents. Plant-eating mammals help distribute seeds. The following are some of the more common mammals found within the Monument:

Ringtail cat: Although not related to cats, these animals were called miner’s cats (historically appreciated for their mousing abilities.) Like raccoons, ringtail cats are actually in the family Procyonidae and have striped tails and a fur mask around their eyes. A ringtail cat has a compact and sleek body with an elongated pointed nose. Its fur ranges from a white to a dark brown and the tail of this animal has seven to eight black rings. The ringtail cat is not a large mammal. It grows as long as 24 to 32 inches and weighs from 30 to 39 ounces making it the perfect size to live in rock crevices and tree hollows. The diet of this omnivore includes mice, woodrats, squirrels, rabbits, insects, plants, and nectar. The ringtail cat feeds at night and is not often seen by park visitors.

Colorado chipmunk: This chipmunk can be distinguished from other chipmunks by a cinnamon-buff rump and 3 black back stripes. It is found foraging in coniferous forests on seeds, fruits, fungi, and insects. This animal can be commonly found on the trail in the mornings and the evenings and will bark if alarmed by visitors.

Townsend’s big-eared bat: This bat is known for its particularly large pink ears. Like many other bats it hunts at night and sleeps in caves. Every winter this bat must hibernate in an undisturbed cave. If disturbed, it will leave the warmth of the cave to battle winter conditions in attempts to find a peaceful, undisturbed home. At this time the townsend's big-eared bat population is declining at a fast rate and is now listed as a threatened species because of white nose sydrome, a disease killing millions of bats across North America. This bat uses Timpanogos Caves temporarily as a home but do not hibernate in Hansen, Middle or Timpanogos Cave .

Bighorn sheep: Frequent sightings of Bighorn sheep thrill visitors in the canyon. Whether on the cave trail or even on the canyon floor, it is exciting to see these magnificent mammals. Both the male and female have horns, although the adult male has the curled-back horns that give this species its name, with shorter horns on the females. With hooves well adapted for climbing the surrounding cliffs, Bighorn sheep are sometimes seen standing looking down at visitors hiking the trail, or sunning themselves on rock below trail overlooks. When looking for these animals, look for the splash of color from its white rump patch, as the brownish body often helps it camouflage with the surrounding rock.

Mountain lion: At the top of the food chain in American Fork Canyon stands the cougar, also known as mountain lion. This elusive creature is rarely seen, but plays a major roll in the discovery of Hansen Cave. In 1887, Martin Hansen followed the tracks of a cougar to the entrance of Hansen Cave, beginning the era of cave discovery on this canyon wall. Often solitary, mountain lion hunt deer, elk, and other big game, but will also hunt and eat other food as it presents itself. These big cats are masters of stealth, sneaking up on their prey to get close before they run and pounce. Mule deer: Found in many places throughout the western United States, mule deer are sometimes seen in the park near the river or on the lower half of the cave trail. Mule deer get their name from their large mule-like ears. They are predominantly browsers, but will also eat grasses and forbs. Males can be identified by their antlers (which they lose and regrow annually); females do not have antlers of any kind. Moose: An occassional winter visitor to the park is the Moose. These large members of the deer family sometimes winter in the riparian area near the river, eating the buds of plants. Moose are browsers, eating shrubs, woody plants, and aquatic vegetation. Males are known for their large antlers, and can stand more than 6 feet at the shoulder. Moose are solitary animals, with the exception of when females stay with their young the first year to year-and-a-half of their life.