Timpanogos Via Aspen Grove | Mount Timpanogos

Hiking Timpanogos Via Aspen Grove - Mount Timpanogos Hiking Timpanogos Via Aspen Grove

Mount Timpanogos

Overview

RATING: Strenuous Hike (almost 5,000' of elevation gain!)
MAPS: ASPEN GROVE, UT; TIMPANOGOS CAVE, UT

Fri

A slight chance of rain showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 83, with temperatures falling to around 80 in the afternoon. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

83 | 60

Sat

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

85 | 59

Sun

A chance of rain showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.

78 | 59

Mon

Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.

73 | 54

Tue

Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.

71 | 52

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Generally mid-July through September
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: Filterable at a few spots, but recommend bringing all you need.
NOTES: Reaching the trailhead requires a fee ($10 in 2025 for a 3-day pass) or a National Parks Pass.

Fri

A slight chance of rain showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 83, with temperatures falling to around 80 in the afternoon. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

83 | 60

Sat

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

85 | 59

Sun

A chance of rain showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.

78 | 59

Mon

Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.

73 | 54

Tue

Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.

71 | 52

View Full Weather Details
The summit of Mount Timpanogos

The summit of Mount Timpanogos

Rising majestically above Utah Valley, Mount Timpanogos is one of the most beloved and iconic peaks in the Wasatch Range. Standing at 11,752 feet, it draws hikers from across the state and beyond with its sweeping alpine meadows, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic summit views stretching from the Great Salt Lake to the Uinta Mountains. Though a big outing, “Timp” rewards the effort with unforgettable scenery and a true sense of mountain grandeur.

Two main trails lead to the summit, each offering a distinct experience. The Timpanooke Trail, beginning at the north side of the mountain near American Fork Canyon, winds through wildflower-filled meadows and gentle switchbacks, making it the more gradual - though still strenuous - route. On the other side, the Aspen Grove Trail, described here, starts near Sundance Resort and climbs steeply past waterfalls and up a glacial cirque on a 13-mile round trip, offering dramatic scenery but a more challenging ascent.

Hiking Mount Timpanogos is a rite of passage for Utah adventurers. Of the two routes, I, personally, think this route, the Aspen Grove route, is more spectacular. The scale of the mountain is experienced differently than on the Timpanooke trail. It is very strenuous, though!

Warning: This is a big hike on a big mountain. Bring plenty of water, food, and layers for changing weather conditions. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Dawn, or even pre-dawn starts are strongly recommended. Many groups take over 10 hours round-trip. You want to plan your hike for when the trail is free of snow. This is generally mid-July to September but can be later depending on the winter.
History: In 1912, 19 college students and faculty summited Timp from Aspen Grove. This began an annual tradition for 59 years of a group hike to the summit. Over the next 59 years, the number of folks joining and attempting to summit during the event swelled to a stunning 7,000 people attempting to summit during the event in 1970, and an estimated 3,500 of those actually reached the summit! The impacts of that many people on the mountain on a single day caused enough damage that the annual event was cancelled.

Though the annual event no longer occurs, over the course of a summer, many thousands of people attempt to summit the peak. With those impacts spread over several months, the area is not trampled as it was when all that impact occurred at once. Do your part when visiting: pick up any trash you see, don't cut switchbacks, don't pick wildflowers, and give wildlife space.

View from the ridge looking north

View from the ridge looking north

Getting There

From Provo, take US-189 up Provo Canyon toward Heber Utah. From the mouth of Provo Canyon, travel up the canyon about 7 miles. After about 7 miles, turn left off of US-189 on the Alpine Loop Road/Sundance Resort. Follow the Alipe Loop Road for 4.8 miles to the trailhead on the left just after passing the forest service fee booth.

Mountain goats near the summit.

Mountain goats near the summit.

Route

To The Lower Falls (1.3 miles)
Getting started has caused a few people confusion. When you pull into the trailhead parking area, look for the trail on the right (west side of the lot) just after pulling into the parking area. This is the trail you want. There is also a trail leaving on the south side that goes to Stewart Falls. You do NOT want the Stewart Falls Trail.

Follow the trail as it heads west and soon passes a small building that is the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team (TERT) group. There is a trail register here to sign into. Continue past TERT, in a few minutes the trail crosses a bridge and comes to a junction. Stay left at the junction as the trail begins heading up the broad valley. In places, old pavement is visible from when the trail was partially paved.

A small falls is encountered, then the trail makes a short climb up to a second, more dramatic falls.

To Hidden Lakes (3.7 miles from Lower Falls)
From the second falls, the trail begins a few very long switchbacks to gain elevation before starting a long traverse up Primrose Cirque. After the trail crosses a stretch of talus, it begins a steep climb up many switchbacks, both long and short. At X miles, the trail finally eases a bit and meanders less steeply over the Hidden Lakes.

Note: If you are backpacking, I thought the best sites were around Hidden Lakes. There are a few sites and Emerald Lake as well, but in general Hidden Lakes seemed more protected and better sites.

To Emerald Lake (3/4 of a mile from Hidden Lakes)
The trail gains a bit of elevation to Emerald Lake, but it is not nearly as steep as the climb up to Hidden Lakes. Mountain goats frequent the slopes around Emerald Lake and on up to the summit. Emerald Lake is the last chance for water, so if you need to filter, this is the last place. An old shelter here was heavily damaged in an avalanche in 2022, but its ruins are still visible. This is an excellent area to take a break and assess the time, weather, and your motivation. The summit, visible from near the lake, is still about 1,300 feet in elevation above, a fair bit of effort!

To the Summit (1.8 miles from Emerald Lake)
From the lake, continue on the trail. It reaches a rise with broad views down into Timpanogos Basin below and of the rugged Little Cottonwood Canyon ridge in the far distance. In a few minutes the trail splits. Stay left on the trail that you can see traversing the rocky slope over to the ridgeline. The ridgeline gives you the first views west into Utah Valley and is referred to as the Timpanogos Saddle.

From the saddle, head south on the trail that is now on the west side of the range, overlooking the busy valley below. The trail climbs to the summit with 2 steep switchback sections en route. These are rocky and can require a tiny bit of route finding. When you reach the old Glass House, you have reached the summit.

History: The Glass House was constructed in 1927, hauled up in pieces by burros. The structure was used for signaling, weather observations, and for hikers to visit. Vandalism eventually led to the glass windows being removed, but the structure remains as of 2025.

Maps

Route / 14.90 miles / Elevation Range 6,890 - 11,737 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12T 448637E 4472846N

40°24'17"N 111°36'19"W

Jct - Left

12T 448180E 4472957N

40°24'20"N 111°36'39"W

Lower Falls

12T 447343E 4472829N

40°24'16"N 111°37'14"W

Lower Falls 2

12T 447282E 4472758N

40°24'14"N 111°37'17"W

Hidden Lakes

12T 446431E 4471692N

40°23'39"N 111°37'52"W

Emerald Lake Shelter

12T 445645E 4471679N

40°23'38"N 111°38'26"W

Jct - Left

12T 445192E 4471730N

40°23'40"N 111°38'45"W

Saddle

12T 444457E 4471916N

40°23'46"N 111°39'16"W

Summit

12T 445175E 4471339N

40°23'27"N 111°38'45"W

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