Timpanogos Cave

https://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timpanogos_Cave_National_Monument Timpanogos Cave National Monument protects the Timpanogos Cave Historic District and a cave system on Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Mountains in American Fork Canyon near American Fork, Utah. The visitor center, caves, and cave tours are currently closed. Hike your way past stunning vistas to explore a hidden underground world. Taste the thrill of caving as you twist and bend to enter beautifully decorated rooms. Learn the science behind formations and hear stories of cave exploration and preservation. Experience and discover as you go – geologic mysteries await From I-15: Take Exit 284 (Alpine-Highland exit), turn east on State Highway 92 and proceed ten miles (16km) to the monument. UT 40 or U.S. 189: Travel UT 189 through Provo Canyon, west on Orem 800 North (UT 52). After 2.4 miles turn right on State Street UT- 89. After 3.8 miles, turn onto Pleasant Grove 100 East (UT 146). Stay on this road for almost five miles, as it turns in Canyon Road and takes you to the mouth of American Fork Canyon. Turn right up American Fork Canyon to visitor center. Timpanogos Cave Visitor Center The Timpanogos Cave Visitor Center is located in American Fork Canyon on UT-92. It sits at the base of the cave trail that leads to Timpanogos Cave. The visitor center is generally closed when the cave tours are closed. See https://www.nps.gov/tica for the most up-to-date information. From I-15: take Exit 284 (Alpine-Highland exit), turn east on UT-92, drive 10 miles (16km) to the monument. From UT 40: from Heber or Provo Canyon travel on UT40 through Provo Canyon, turning west onto Orem 800 North (UT 52), then after 2.4 miles turn right onto State Street (Hwy 89). After 3.8 miles, turn onto Pleasant Grove 100 East (UT 146). Stay on this road for five miles, as it turns onto Canyon Rd and takes you to the mouth of American Fork Canyon. When Canyon Rd ends, turn right into the canyon. Helictites in Timpanogos Cave Twisty helictites growing off a stalactite Timpanogos Cave is filled with twisting helictites and other beautiful formations Timpanogos Cave's "Chimes Chamber" Visitors gaze at delicate cave formations in Timpanogos Cave's Chimes Chamber Timpanogos Cave's beautiful Chimes Chamber is filled with delicate cave formations Hansen Cave-Introduction to Caving Tour Two cavers look at large formations in Hansen Cave Cavers on the Introduction to Caving Tour admire magnificent formations. View from the Timpanogos Cave Trail Utah Valley beyond the steep cliffs and fir trees of American Fork Canyon The scenic view from the trail to the caves is one people often remember. Along the Trail to the Caves White-orange quartzite surrounded by greenery stands against a blue sky The trail to the cave leads the hiker past layer after layer of geologic time 2011 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2011 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Arches National Park’s Free-Flowing Waters Visitors to Arches National Park experience natural free-flowing waters and have water to quench their thirst, thanks to an agreement between the National Park Service and the State of Utah. The sun sits just below the horizon behind Delicate Arch. Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Northern Colorado Plateau Park Waters Pesticides, antibiotics, and personal care products are all being found in streams and rivers. But would you expect to find them in a national park? On the northern Colorado Plateau, scientists found that even in isolated areas, these "contaminants of emerging concern" are not uncommon. Find out what we found where--and how you can help. Ripples in cave water About The Southern Paiute “Paa” ute means water ute, and explains the Southern Paiute preference for living near water sources. The Spanish explorer Escalante kept detailed journals of his travels in the Southwest and made notes concerning Southern Paiute horticulture, writing in 1776, that there were “well dug irrigation ditches” being used to water small fields of corn, pumpkins, squash, and sunflowers. Southern Paiute boy by wickiup shelter. Bats in Caves Bats and caves go together in people's minds. National Parks are home to many important bat caves. But, bats are particular. Many caves only contain a few bats. Some bats like certain caves for raising their young and other caves for winter hibernation. Other bats avoid caves entirely and sleep and raise their young in protected locations in trees and rocks outside. a group of bats hanging on a cave ceiling NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. canyon and cliffs Cave Research Activities and Documented Vandalism Core samples were taken from two stalagmites and some flowstone in the Timpanogos Cave System to determine stable isotope geochemistry in an effect to assess whether Lake Bonneville produced lake-effect snow on the glaciers found within the Wasatch Range. Additionally, an attempted break-in damaged one of the entrance doors to the cave. cave formation with hole drilled What We’re Learning and Why it Matters: Long-Term Monitoring on the Northern Colorado Plateau Knowing which key natural resources are found in the national parks, and whether they're stable or changing, helps decisionmakers make sound choices. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network is building that knowledge. After more than ten years of monitoring, we've learned a lot about park ecosystems, how they're changing, and what they may look like in the days to come. Find out what we’ve learned and how it’s being used to help managers plan for the future. Man stands in a stream, looking down at a handheld gauge. Trends in Water Quality of Cave Pools at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 2008–2018 At Timpanogos Cave National Monument, water quality is monitored in two cave pools perched within a steep mountainside. Yet a recent analysis of measurements collected over a ten-year period revealed some surprising results about the influence of human activities on park waters. The findings will help park managers make decisions that protect park resources for enjoyment by future generations. Green pool surrounded by cave formations. Water Quality in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: Water Years 2016–2018 Once a month, ecologists collect water samples at dozens of monitoring sites in and near ten National Park Service units across Utah and Colorado. This consistent, long-term monitoring helps alert managers to existing and potential problems. Find out the results for 2016-2018 in this brief from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network. A monitoring crew of three samples a clear river flowing over brown rock and sand Series: Inside Earth – NPS Cave & Karst News – Summer 2017 This newsletter is produced as a forum for information and idea exchanges between National Park Service units that contain caves and karst landscapes. It also provides a historical overview and keeps partners and other interested folks aware of cave and karst management activities. 4 rangers walk through shoe cleaning station Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Series: Cave Week—Featured Articles More than 20 parks across the US are participating in Cave Week via social media posts, cave tours, exhibits, school events, web pages and much more. The theme for Cave Week 2020 is, “Why do we go into caves?” This articles shares a few stories about why people (and bats) enter caves. person standing by underground lake in a cave Mississippian Period—358.9 to 323.2 MYA The extensive caves of Mammoth Cave and Wind Cave national parks developed in limestone deposited during the Mississippian. Warm, shallow seas covered much of North America, which was close to the equator. fossil crinoid Blanket Cave National Youth Park—Activity Enjoy a fun activity and learn about caves even when you can't get out to a park. In this activity you will build your own cave and learn how to make it like a "real" natural cave. Find out about cave formations and wildlife, and how to be safe and care for caves. New "Blanket Cave National Youth Parks" are springing up all across America! Join the fun! cartoon drawing of a childs and a park ranger exploring a cave Monitoring From Space: Using Satellite Imagery to Measure Landscape Conditions on the Ground Scientists from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network travel thousands of miles each year to collect data on plants, soils, and water across network parks. But it would be impossible to cover every square inch of the Northern Colorado Plateau with boots on the ground. Instead, we simultaneously monitor the parks with boots in space—satellite data that provide information at a much broader scale. Satellite and Earth in space Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Cave Waters Tell a Story of Breathing Humans A long-term study in a Utah cave shows that people’s exhalations have measurable impacts on cave waters and the growth of mineral formations. Man in NPS uniform kneels next to turquoise lake in cave Studying the Past and Predicting the Future Using Rat Nests In the western United States, packrat middens are one of the best tools for reconstructing recent environments and climates. These accumulations of plant fragments, small vertebrate remains, rodent droppings, and other fossils can be preserved for more than 50,000 years. Packrat middens have been found in at least 41 National Park Service units. Photo of a wood rat. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope. Making an Impact: Long-Term Monitoring of Natural Resources at Intermountain Region National Parks, 2021 Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021. A man looks through binoculars at sunrise. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Water Quality in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: Water Years 2019-2022 Good, clean water is essential for healthy ecosystems--for people, vegetation, and animals--making it one of the most important resources in the semi-arid west. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network and its partners monitor water quality in 8 national parks in Utah and Colorado to help scientists and managers conserve these resources. This article summarizes 2019-2022 water quality data and how they compare to state standards. A calm river flows through a red rock canyon on a sunny summer day.

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 norther