timpanogos cave hike

As pleasant as Saturday was, Sunday was even better.  H had suggested that we try something with smoother footing than Ferguson Canyon (our knees and hips were rather tender after that) and found the Timpanogos Cave National Monument hike - because it's paved.  I thought that sounded fine but wanted breakfast first, so off we went to Johanna's Kitchen (9725 S. State St., Sandy).

I'd read about Johanna's in the June 2010 issue of Salt Lake Magazine; they listed the best diners in all of Utah and Johanna's was particularly noted for their biscuits and gravy.  I looooove biscuits and gravy (although I haven't found anywhere that's as good as my dad's version).  The restaurant is big and it was especially packed - because it was Mother's Day, I suspect - but we only waited about fifteen minutes for a table.  I got the biscuits and gravy breakfast, counting on H to help me with my eggs and hash browns, and H had a ham and cheese omelet.  Service was quick and attentive and the food was good.  Johanna's Kitchen is not my favorite (H put it on a par with Sharon's) but I certainly walked away full and with no complaints.

Off to American Fork Canyon then. We've counted off all the canyons we've been through (Weber, City Creek, Parleys, Red Butte, Emigration, Millcreek, BCC, Ferguson, LCC, Bells, Butterfield, Provo and Spanish Fork) and were surprised to find that we'd never been in American Fork Canyon. It's GORGEOUS: crazy-steep walls and a river running right down through it. We paid our $6.00 National Monument pass fee and our $7.00/each cave tour fee and up we went on that paved path to the Timpanogos Cave.

That's the road, waaaaaaaaaay down there

Look.  Just because it's paved doesn't mean it's easy.  We scoffed a bit at the start but that trail gains over 1,000 feet of elevation in about 1.5 miles.  It's all switchbacks, but parts are very, very steep and there are warning signs all over the place.  As in: "Cliff area - walk safely - don't run" and "Rattlesnakes - stay on trail" and "Regular rock slide area - don't stop ever."  It only took H and me 40 minutes to walk up but the rangers tell visitors to plan for 1-1.5 hours.  We didn't even have to rest on any of the benches thoughtfully provided along the way.

Looking west towards Utah Valley

The cave tour itself is guided and takes about an hour.  These natural, still-growing caves - and there are three of them, connected by man-made tunnels - are so cool.  (That's literally as well as figuratively since the constant year-round temperature in the caves is 45 degrees F.)  Everything is damp and dark, and you have to duck and limbo around the rock formations, painstakingly careful not to touch anything as the oils from our skin can damage the crystals and rocks. 

This is 5.5 feet long and weighs 2+ tons

The caves run right along the Timpanogos fault line, which you can see at regular intervals along the tour.  That's a little disconcerting, seeing the fault line from the inside.  But the stalagtites, stalagmites and other crazy mineral formations are beautiful, and also a little alien seeming.  I asked our ranger if he'd ever seen the horror movie, The Descent, which is about people trapped in a cave and he said he's refused to ever see it because once he was in the Timp caves when the power went out - DARK - and he'd rather not have such scary images in his head if it ever happens again.

Tibble Fork Reservoir

After the tour we strolled back down, relishing not having to watch our footing.  When we got back to the truck, we decided to continue up the canyon even though we knew that the Alpine Loop road (which eventually connects through to Provo Canyon, driving right past Sundance) was closed.  What we found were many lovely picnic spots and campgrounds located along beautiful little rivers.  We also found the Tibble Fork Reservoir which was busy with families picnicking and fishing which despite all the effort, we saw no actual catching.

We really liked what we saw up there in American Fork Canyon and will definitely be back to explore the hiking trails, finish driving through on the Alpine Loop Road and maybe even have a picnic.  A cold PBR would have be just perfect down there alongside one of those rushing creeks today.