Cave tours are set to begin later this month at one of Utah’s most popular and unique attractions.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument is opening for tours starting May 18. Reservations are a requirement and can be made up to 30 days in advance.
This is a special year for the monument, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
“We are excited to celebrate the centennial of Timpanogos Cave National Monument,” Cami McKinney, acting superintendent, said in a release. “Over the last 100 years, there is a tradition of many families coming to see the cave, communities that have supported the success of the park, and decades of bringing people together.”
A series of events are taking place in honor of the centennial, all leading to a birthday party on October 14. Events include:
- Daily lantern cave tours
- New exhibits in the visitor center
- Star parties
- A 100-day hike challenge
- Free Saturday programs for children and families
- Art in the Park events
“We have a lot of different activities planned,” Sheila Hunt, supervisor at Timpanogos Visitor Center, told the Daily Universe. “I think one of my favorites is called Art in the Park.”
Art in the Park will feature artists throughout the day stationed in the cave, along the trail, or at the visitor center.
100 Years Of History
Created in 1922 by proclamation from President Warren G. Harding, Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a treasure unknown to many people.
Located in American Fork Canyon on the Wasatch Range, it features an extensive cave system made up of three linked caverns: Timpanogos Cave, Hansen Cave, and Middle Cave.
Each contains a wide range of formations, including helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, calcite crusts, draperies, and frostwork.
Visiting usually takes place from sometime in May to sometime in October because of the severe weather that can occur in other months.
In order to reach the caves, visitors must first hike about 1.5 miles on a paved trail that rises more than 1,000 feet. The entrance to the caves is at an elevation of just under 7,000 feet. The weather can be hot, so visitors should be well hydrated and conditioned to walk in air that is thinner than most are used to.
Because of the severity of the trail, no strollers or wheelchairs are allowed, and no pets, food, or drinks are allowed inside the caves.
The caves include dark passages and well-lit chambers filled with pylons, pillars, and other formations that are spectacular to view.
“We honor everyone that has worked here and hiked to the caves, and we invite you back to celebrate with us all year long,” McKinney said.
Tickets, tour schedules, and lists of programs can be found on the park’s website. Tickets are $12, or $7 for those ages 2 to 11.
Stay up to date on all of our travel news, including:
