Timpanogos Cave

Timpanogos Cave National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah Official Map and Guide High on the steep rocky slopes of American Fork Canyon in the shadow of mighty Mt. Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Range are three small limestone caves: Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave. These exquisitely beautiful caverns are decorated with a dazzling display of sparkling crystal cave formations in a variety of fantastic shapes. In the tradition of the National Park Service, Timpanogos Cave National Monument preserves these caves and all their fragile underground wonders for you, and for others in the years ahead, to enjoy. Touring the Caves Planning a Cave Trip The caves of Timpanogos Cave National Monument are open daily usually from mid-May through September. The season may be extended or shortened, depending on the weather; the caves are closed when snow on the trail to the caves makes hiking difficult and dangerous. Tickets for all cave tours are sold at the visitor center from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Children under 6 are admitted free. Special cave tours are also available (see "Touring the Caves"); call for reservations. Tours are run frequently throughout the day. Tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. from May through September; during the rest of the tour season sales begin at 9 a.m. Ticket sales end in the afternoon (or when all tours are full for the day); exact times vary. When you purchase a ticket you will be notified... when your tour starts. You can begin walking up the trail to the caves 1 'A hours before your scheduled tour. This should be plenty of time to walk the 1 A miles to the entrance to the caves, where tours begin. Usually you will have to wait no more than 'A hour before starting up to the caves. On busy days, however, your wait may be 2 or 3 hours. There are many ways to enjoy your time in the area; ask a ranger for suggestions (or see "Other Park Activities" and "Nearby Places to Visit"). Starting up the J trail sooner would only mean a longer stay at the Grotto, a small, not particularly comfortable, waiting area outside the entrance to the caves. as possible, but it must limit the numbers of persons in the caves to protect their delicate, irreplaceable features. For this reason no more than 20 persons are allowed on each tour. Every year more people want to see the caves than can be accommodated. Weekends and holidays are busiest; tickets often are sold out by early afternoon, or before. Come early, or consider scheduling a weekday visit. Call the park if you have questions. The opportunity to explore a fascinating underground world has lured visitors to the caves of Timpanogos Cave National Monument for decades. Today all cave tours are guided by a park ranger. The tour route through the caves is'Amile long, hardsurfaced, well lighted, and fairly level; a tour lasts about an hour. Your tour begins at the natural entrance to Hansen Cave and continues through Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and finally Timpanogos Cave. You pass from one cave to the next through manmade tunnels constructed in the 1930s. packed full of extraordinary features. Ceilings, walls, and floors are covered with a variety of stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, flowstone, and the unusual cave formations for which these caves are renowned — helictites. The profusion of bizarre, brilliant white helictites in the Chimes Chamber, part of Timpanogos Cave, are a highlight of any tour, as is the Great Heart of Timpanogos, a giant cave formation made by the natural joining of several stalactites. Cave pools reflect some of the caves' decorations. Cave animals are rare, but you may see cave crickets, a bat, or some other creature of the darkness. If you have a question along the way, ask your guide. Although the chambers and passageways of the caves are small they are The entrance to Hansen Cave Several special cave tours are offered, including candlelight, historic, and flashlight tours. There are also guided nature and geology walks along the trail to the caves and of the cave itself. All special tours are given in early morning or late evening and are usually limited to fewer than 10 persons. Reservations are required; call the park. While in the cave, look but don't touch. The temptation to reach out and touch something strikes everyone, but the delicate cave formations break easily and the oils in your skin will discolor them. It may take nature thousands of years to repair the damage or the loss could be forever: all those who come later deserve to enjoy the cave in all its splendor. Your guide will allow you to touch two stalagmites specially set aside for that purpose. Some parts of the cave can be wet and slippery: watch your step. To take pictures, bring high-speed film or a flash; tripods are not allowed. The caves are extremely | popular. The National Park Service wants as many visitors to enjoy the caves The Trail to the Caves The hike up the steep northern slope of Mt. Timpanogos on the trail to the caves is physically demanding, but rewarding. In your ascent you will climb 1,065 feet in 1 % miles on a zigzag, hardsurfaced trail from the bottom of American Fork Canyon to the entrance of the caves. Altogether the roundtrip to and through the caves and back down is 3% miles; it takes about 3 hours. Pace yourself: there is much to enjoy along the way. Several benches give you a chance to rest, catch your breath, and enjoy outstanding views of American Fork Canyon, the Wasatch Range, and Utah Valley. Wildflowers grow on the wooded slopes of douglas-fir, white fir, maple, and oak. Chipmunks, golden-mantled ground squirrels, lizards, 01 ol C B, C Walking the trail to the caves and many birds may be spotted. A self-guiding trail booklet is available at the visitor center. Just outside the entrance to the caves at the Grotto— where you will wait for your cave tour to begin— are restrooms and drinking water. For your comfort on the trail, bring along a snack and something to drink; please dispose of trash properly. Bring a jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt — the temperature in the caves is 45° F or so, about the temperature inside a refrigerator. Wear comfortable walking shoes. If you have difficulty walking or breathing, or have heart problems, consult a ranger before attempting the trail. Because of the trail's steepness and the caves' narrow passages, wheelchair access is impossible. Baby strollers and other wheeled vehicles, pets, and smoking are not permitted on the trail or in the caves. Warning! Rocks fall often in American Fork Canyon. Areas of greatest hazard on the trail are marked by blue stripes; avoid stopping in these places. Be alert for the sound of falling rocks. If a rock seems to be headed your way, take cover: move close to rock walls, stay low, and protect your head. Don't I Firecracker penstemon throw rocks yourself. Stay on the trail; shortcutting causes erosion and can start a landslide. Running —especially downhill—is dangerous. Children under 16 years of age must remain with their parents or adult supervisors, who are responsible for their conduct and safety. The illustration that appears here is an artist's re-creation by Lloyd Kenneth Townsend of the park landscape. Nearby Places to Visit Other Park Activities There are other ways to spend a leisurely and pleasurable bit of time in the park besides visiting the caves. Located in American Fork Canyon, an extremely rugged V-shaped gorge, the park is a dramatic setting for whatever you choose to do. The visitor center and all other facilities and services described here are located near the bottom of the canyon. shown several times daily; a 25-minute videotape is shown on request. The center and its restrooms are accessible to disabled persons. The center is open all year except on winter holidays. For more information write: Timpanogos Cave National Monument. R.R. 3, Box 200, American Fork, UT 84003; or call (801) 756-5238. The Visitor Center Snack Bar and Gift Shop A wealth of information about the caves, the history and natural history of American Fork Canyon, and what to see and do in the park and nearby is offered at the visitor center. Brochures, books, and exhibits are available. Rangers can answer questions and help plan your day. A 12-minute introductory slide program is A snack bar and gift shop, located next to the visitor center, are open during the cave tour season. At the snack bar sandwiches, beverages, and other snacks are sold; film, sweatshirts, and other items are sold at the gift shop. Both are accessible to the disabled. Picnic Areas The park has two picnic areas—one across from the visitor center and a larger one called Swinging Bridge Picnic Area V, mile west. Both are located along the shady banks of American Fork Creek, the clear rocky stream that carved American Fork Canyon. Each has tables and drinking water. Swinging Bridge also has fire grills and restrooms. Both areas are accessible to the disabled; some assistance may be required at Swinging Bridge. Canyon View Nature Trail A short walk along the Canyon View Nature Trail offers an opportunity to take a leisurely stroll in American Fork Canyon. The gradually rising trail winds along the southfacing slope of gambel oak, juniper, and sage. From the trail there are views up and down the canyon and across to the opposite side of the canyon where the caves are located. Trailside signs highlight features along the way. An Important Message The National Park Service wants you to have a pleasant and safe visit and to assist in protecting the park's valuable resources. Please follow these regulations and tips. •Come prepared for the season. In the summer, high temperatures are usually in the 70s and 80s°F; evening temperatures may drop to the 50s. If a sudden thunderstorm occurs, avoid open areas and tall trees prone to lightning strikes. In spring and fall, high temperatures average in the 60s and lows in the 40s. In the winter, high temperatures range from the 20s to the 40s, and several feet of snow may accumulate. • B u i l d fires only in picnic areas and only in grills provided or campstoves. •Dispose of trash properly. «Do not disturb any animals or plants. Hunting is illegal. • Utah 92, the main road through the park, is narrow and has sharp curves: don't exceed posted speed limits, and watch for pedestrians crossing the road or walking alongside. »Pets must always be leashed. eSee above for safety and regulation information concerning a trip to the caves. Within a 15-mile radius of Timpanogos Cave National Monument are many places to take a scenic drive, hike, horseback ride, fish, boat, or just relax outdoors and enjoy the day. Park rangers can provide additional information to help you plan an outing for an hour or two or for the day. Alpine Scenic Drive The 20-mile Alpine Scenic Drive winds through rugged canyons of the Wasatch Range offering stupendous views of Mt. Timpanogos and other glacier-carved peaks. The route follows Utah 92 up American Fork Canyon and then continues through Uinta National Forest into Provo Canyon on U.S. 189. Along the way is Bridal Veil Falls, a 607-foot- high waterfall. Entirely paved, the scenic drive is open from about late May to late October; snow closes part of the road the rest of the year. It is recommended that motorhomesand trailers more than 30 feet long not travel the narrow, winding drive. Uinta National Forest The nearly 1 million acres of Uinta National Forest that surround the park offer many ways to relax and enjoy the wild outdoors of the Wasatch mountains. In American Fork Canyon alone there are several national forest campgrounds and picnic areas. For hikers and horseback riders there are trails where panoramic vistas, natural lakes, and wildlife such as mountain goats, mule deer, and golden eagles are seen. Two hiking trails ascend to the summit of 11,750foot Mt. Timpanogos One special natural feature of the forest is Cascade Springs, where a ^-milelong boardwalk leads out over clear natural pools Both Wasatch Mountain and Deer Creek parks are located east of Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Utah Lake State Park, located southwest of the park in Utah Valley, is one of the West's largest natural freshwater lakes. Activities include boating, sailing, and fishing for white bass, bluegill, and crappie. and cascading terraces of travertine deposited by spring waters. Tibbie Fork Reservoir, other reservoirs, and mountain streams are popular places for fishing for rainbow and brown trout. In winter, conditions are ideal for crosscountry skiing and snowmobiling. State Parks Three nearby Utah state parks provide many opportunities for outdoor activities. At Wasatch Mountain State Park, located on forested slopes of the Wasatch Range, there are campgrounds; picnic areas; trails for hiking, crosscountry skiing, and snowmobiling; and a golf course. At Deer Creek State Park, also located in the Wasatch Range, boating, sailing, sailboarding, and fishing for trout, perch, and bass are popular pastimes. Deer Creek also has a campground and picnic areas. Accommodations and Services •GPO: 1989-242-345/00002 Within 10 miles of the park American Fork, Pleasant Grove, and Lehi provide services such as gasoline, restaurants, and groceries. Lodging and a wider range of services are available at the more distant cities of Orem, Provo, Heber City and Salt Lake City. In addition to the public campgrounds in Uinta National Forest and state parks, there are private campgrounds in American Fork, Lehi, Orem, Provo, and elsewhere. The World of the Caves For thousands and thousands of years, Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave, were dark... silent, except perhaps for the sound of water dripping . . . and unknown. Then the first light of a candle, a lantern, a flashlight flickered in these underground realms, and their secrets were revealed. Imagine the excitement and disbelief of the early explorers as light fell on the many colorful and delicate sculpted forms of the caves. There must have been a childlike delight in discovering and naming incredible features such as the Frozen Sunbeam, the Chocolate Fountain, and Timpanogos Cave National M o n u m e n t the Great Heart of Timpanogos. How did this fantasy world come to be? Speleologists—scientists devoted to exploring the mysteries of caves—search for answers to such questions. Of particular interest in the caves of Timpanogos Cave National Monument are the strange formations called helictites. In most caves helictites occur in only small numbers, or not at all; why do thousands of helictites occur here? What makes helictites twist and turn in their odd way? With research come answers to these and other questions . . . and always more questions. Some cave formations are made up of crystals that are as fragile as the threads of a spider's web. Dennis Turville Discovery! About 1 0 0 years ago no one knew that there were caves hidden in American Fork Canyon. T h e n on a fall day in 1 8 8 7 , 40-yearold M a r t i n H a n s e n , a M o r m o n settler from A m e r i c a n Fork, U t a h , accidentally discovered the first cave. Hansen was cutting timber high on the canyon's south slopes w h e n , according to o n e p o p u l a r v e r s i o n of t h e story, he came across the tracks of a mountain lion. Following the tracks to a high ledge, he found an opening in the rock—the entrance to the small cave that would be named after him. Hansen did not enter the cave that day, but he returned later to explore. To allow others to get a firsthand look at the cave, Hansen and others hacked out a rough and hazardous trail straight up the mountainside. By ail accounts, the first visitors found the cave exceptionally decorated with colorful deposits of flowstone and o t h e r f o r m a t i o n s . Within only a few years, however, souvenir hunters and miners had stripped the cave almost bare, selling much of their stolen treasures to m u s e u m s and universities and to c o m m e r c i a l enterprises who made decorative o b j e c t s from t h e c a v e deposits. Not until 1 9 1 5 was a second cave discovered. That summer a group of fami- In 1887 Martin Hansen discovered the cave later named for him. Hansen Cave was the first cave found in American Fork Canyon. lies from Lehi, Utah, came to American Fork Canyon for a day's outing. While the rest of the group explored Hansen Cave, t e e n a g e r s J a m e s W. G o u g h a n d Frank J o h n son climbed around the rocky slope outside. By chance, they stumbled across a hole not far from the entrance to Hansen Cave. It was the entrance to T i m p a n o g o s C a v e . Many persons explored the cave, seeing its exquisite formations, including t h e G r e a t H e a r t of T i m p a n o g o s , but for s o m e reason knowledge of the cave and its whereabouts f a d e d . T h e n on August 14, 1 9 2 1 , Timpanogos Cave was rediscovered. A n o u t d o o r c l u b from Payson, Utah, had c o m e to American Fork Canyon to see Hansen Cave and investigate rumors of a second cave. It was Vearl J . Manwill, a m e m b e r of the club, w h o confirmed the rumors by rediscovering T i m p a n o g o s C a v e . That very night, " . . . by the light of campfire, [we] discussed our f i n d , " Manwill wrote, "and talked about ways and means to p r e s e r v e its b e a u t y for posterity instead of allowing it to be vandalized as Hansen's Cave had been." T h e p e o p l e around that fire dedicated themselves to the cave's preservation. T h e excitement of rediscovering the natural wonders of Timpanogos Cave had not yet died when a third cave —Middle Cave —was found that fall. George Heber Hansen a n d W a y n e E. H a n s e n , son a n d grandson of Martin H a n s e n , w e r e in A m e r i c a n Fork C a n y o n h u n t i n g deer. As they looked through binoculars at t h e south slope of the canyon from the opposite side they spotted an o p e n i n g near t h e other two cave entrances. Within days they returned to this new c a v e — M i d d l e Cave—with a large exploring party e q u i p p e d with ropes, flashlights, and candles. In the party was pioneer cave-finder Martin H a n s e n , by t h e n 7 4 years old. Underground Delights It took a combination of some of the most powerful forces of the Earth and some of the most delicate to create the wonders of Hansen Cave, Middle Cave, and Timpanogos Cave. The caves' beginnings can be traced back to the time of the building of the Wasatch Range about 65 million years ago. As layers of sedimentary rock were slowly uplifted, the tremendous mountain-building forces fractured the rocks. Along two vertical cracks, or faults, rainwater and water from melting snows seeped or flowed underground, according to one popular theory of how the caves were created. This water began dissolving the surrounding layer of limestone, today known as Deseret Limestone, and hollowing out a series of subterranean chambers. Drop by drop, water created the wonders of the caves. Stephen Trimble Then a change occurred. The water that filled, or partially filled, the caves drained Water continued to seep down through the Earth, but instead of excavating, it began to decorate the caves with fantastic cave formations. Water trickling through the limestone overlying the caves dissolved calcite and other minerals from the rock. Then, upon entering an underground chamber, the water deposited its mineral load as a tiny crystal on a cave ceiling, wall, or floor. Over thousands of years, as countless crystals were deposited, a variety of cave formations took shape- stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, helictites, and others. Each had its own individual shape and size, determined by how and where the water entered the cave, how long it continued to flow, and a multitude of other factors. Early tourists had to make their way to the caves without the benefit of a paved trail. The trip was more of a climb than a walk. Helictites: Stars of the Underground Show ing closer together year by year; today they are only 3/4 of an inch apart, and if growth contin- ues at the current rate, they probably will join in about 200 years. Change is occurring throughout much of the caves but slowly, often too slowly to be detected in a single person's lifetime. As long as water—the master architect and interior decorator—continues to trickle into the caves, creation will continue. Today, the caves are still "alive" and changing: new formations are being created, and existing ones are growing where mineral-laden water continues to enter. In Timpanogos Cave, for example, a stalactite-stalagmite pair are growMiddle Cave Helictite, a strange and _ eyn3ticjSounvdjng_wprg", is, * ffieT n a m e "for a strange e and exotic type of c a v e OJ formation found in these .ac 1 caves. It is the t r e m e n dous number of helictites —especially in Timpanogos Cave—that makes the c a v e s of T i m p a n o g o s Cave National Monument so special. Uncommon in caves in other parts of the world and rarely found in such profusion, helictites are among the most puzzling of c a v e f e a t u r e s . They twistand turn unpredictably in all directions, defying gravity. Usually less than a % inch in diaHelictites come in all shapes m e t e r and only a f e w and colors. A few varieties are shown above and in the picinches long, they are as tures at right. delicate—and fragile—as h a n d - b l o w n glass. 1 « Frank Jensen A chamber with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and flowstone covering the floor and walls. Kim Despain that have grown together. T h e many colors of stalactites—and indeed all of t h e formations in t h e c a v e s of T i m p a n o g o s Cave National M o n u m e n t are caused by traces of iron, nickel, magnesium, and other minerals. Stalagmites are formed when m i n e r a l - l a d e n water strikes the floor. T h e tallest s t a l a g m i t e in t h e s e c a v e s is o n e about VA feet high in Timpanogos Cave; most are smaller. Occasionally stalactites and stalagmites m e r g e , and a floor-to-ceiling column is formed. Another c o m m o n formation—draperies—are created when water trickles down an inclined ceiling. A spectacular example of such a formation is t h e F r o z e n S u n beam, a thin translucent sheet of orange-colored calcite in T i m p a n o g o s GaverDrapeTtes"nT the caves are seldom m o r e than one inch thick. Cave explorers and speleologists have debated the origin of helictites since they were first discovered. From the beginning it was apparently understood that they w e r e created in a much different way from such formations as stalactites, s t a l a g m i t e s , and other more c o m m o n formations. S o m e early speculators believed helictites were created by mineral deposits o n spider webs or fungi. S o m e thought their odd contortions w e r e the result of t h e f o r c e s of e l e c t r i c a l energy, cave winds, or earth tremors. c a v e s of T i m p a n o g o s Cave National Monument there are other "buried treasures" in addition to the many cave formations. W h e r e water has collected, small clear cave pools occur. Mirror-like, they reflect their otherworldly s u r r o u n d i n g s . O n e such p o o l — H i d d e n L a k e — c a n b e s e e n in Timpanogos Cave. A lake in Hansen Cave not visible along the c a v e tour route supplies drinking water for the fountain at the Grotto. In some pools rimstone dams, small walllike cave formations made of calcite, can be found. T h e Cascade of Energy and the Chocolate F o u n tain, both in Timpanogos Cave, are examples of still a different type of format i o n — f l o w s t o n e . As its name implies, the smooth coatings or sculpted terraces of f l o w s t o n e are created when water flows down a wall or across a floor. A particularly i m pressive specimen decorates a wall in t h e Big Room of Middle Cave. Still another, not quite so c o m m o n , t y p e of formation that o c c u r s in t h e caves is cave popcorn. Popcorn occurs w h e r e water s e e p s slowly through walls or ceilings. These knobby lumps are particularly abundant in Timpanogos Cave, w h e r e they occur m i x e d with helictites. s m o o t h but spiraling helictites a r e m a d e of calcite: branching helictites are m a d e of aragonite, a mineral chemically identical to c a l c i t e but with a d i f f e r e n t crystal structure. r o Today many speleologists believe t h a t two. forces..... peculiar to water g u i d e the creation of helictites. Like crooked straws, most helictites appear to have a tiny central canal running up and d o w n their l e n g t h . W a t e r is apparently pushed and pulled through this canal by capillary action under hydrostatic pressure. Together these two forces override t h e usually d o m i n a n t force of gravity: controlled by t h e s e f o r c e s water slowly seeps through the c a n a l to t h e tip of t h e helictite w h e r e it t h e n deposits a crystal. S o m e scientists further believe that t h e crystals do not stack neatly, but arrange themselves haphazardly o n e on top of the other, adding toJhe apparently r a n d o m n a t u r e of their growth. Future research may s h e d new light o n t h e s e unusual c a v e creations. K - Underground Pools and Cave Creatures Stalactites and Other Common Cave Formations M a n y different types-of— c a v e f o r m a t i o n s have b e e n c r e a t e d by water simply dripping or flowing into the caves. Perhaps t h e most well known of these are stalactites and stalagmites, which can be seen throughout the caves. Stalactites, which hang like icicles from the ceiling, form as drop after drop of water slowly trickles d o w n t h r o u g h t h e c a v e roof. T h e smallest stalactites may be hollow and as thin and straight as a soda straw, and so are called soda straw stalactites. O t h e r s may be massive: The Great Heart of T i m p a n o g o s in T i m panogos Cave—5'A feet long, 3 feet wide, 4 , 0 0 0 pounds—is composed of three, or possibly more, T h e h o p e s of all t h o s e who sought to protect and • p r e s e r v e t h e c a v e s of A m e r i c a n Fork C a n y o n . were realized a year after Timpanogos and Middle ' Caves were discovered. In 1 9 2 2 , at t h e urgings of U t a h citizens, t h e U.S. Forest S e r v i c e , and others, President Warren G. Harding issued a proclamation establishing T i m panogos C a v e National M o n u m e n t . S i n c e that time the caves have been officially r e c o g n i z e d as natural f e a t u r e s of national s i g n i f i c a n c e a n d extraordinary scenic and scientific value. The Great Heart of Timpanogos, located in Timpanogos Cave, is three or more massive stalactites that have grown together. John Teltord Animals inhabit the caves, but they can be easy to o v e r l o o k . S u c h barely noticeable creatures as cave spiders, centipedes, and crickets live here. An occasional bat roosts in the caves, but no large bat colony such as those f o u n d In C a r l s b a d c a v - — e r n s or in many o t h e r c a v e s exist h e r e . O c c a sionally a pack rat, mouse, chipmunk, or lizard visits. W i t h o u t an u n d e r g r o u n d stream or o t h e r steady s o u r c e of food, however, the caves are not well e q u i p p e d to support a diversity of cave animals. Like other cave features, t h e pools and c a v e animals are protected by the N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e . Their survival depends on the Park Service and on you. Timpanogos Cave National Monument is just o n e of m o r e than 3 4 0 parks in the National Park System. Preserving many of the most important natural and cultural sites of the United States, all our national parks d e s e r v e our respect and careful guardianship. Hansen Cave Lake Neal Bullington