W E L C O M E

23.238.418.12/98

Revised/Reprinted 2000

A M E R I C A N F O R K C A N Y O N

and the

A L P I N E L O O P S C E N I C B A C K W A Y

SEASONS OF THE CANYON . . . The Uinta National Forest’s scenic 

beauty offers recreational opportunities any season of the year

The following passes are available for purchase at the entrance stations and 

self-service fee tubes:

 3 Day ..........................$3.00

 14 Day ......................$10.00

 12 Month ..................$25.00

Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access passports are honored. Campground and cave tour fees are separate.

credit card by calling 801-756-5238. Advance tickets may also be purchased 

at the visitor center. The day of the tour, tickets may be purchased until 

the tours are sold out. 

To reach Timpanogos Cave, visitors hike 1.5 miles of mountain trail. The 

hard-surfaced trail rises 1,065 feet and is a strenuous hike. For visitor’s 

safety, pets and wheeled vehicles (including baby strollers) are not allowed 

on the trail. Allow 3 hours for the round trip and come prepared with a 

light jacket (cave temperatures are forty-five degrees) and plenty of drinking water.

Brochures, books, exhibits, orientation film, and restrooms are available.

A snack bar and gift shop, located next to the visitor center, are open 

during the cave tour season. The snack bar sells sandwiches, beverages, and 

snacks. The gift shop sells film, sweatshirts, and other gifts.

For more information write: Timpanogos Cave National Monument, R.R. 3 Box 

200, American Fork, Utah 84003; or call 801-756-5239. You can also learn 

more about the park at http://www.nps.gov/tica/. 

Spring . . . . .

PLANTS AND FLOWERS: As you drive through 

the canyon you will notice the diverse plant 

life. In the lower portions of the canyon, oak 

and maple dominate the slopes as well as 

mahogany, cliffrose, bitterbrush and other shrub 

species. As you travel up the canyon, you will 

see more aspen, especially in the open, rolling 

country at mid-levels. The canyon is home to 

several rare plant species including the King 

woody aster, with its delicate pinkish-white 

Summer . . . . .

CAMPING: Each campground site offers a 

table, grill, and access to water and restrooms 

during the summer. Some sites are first come, 

first serve, others are reservable by calling 1-877-444-6777, TDD 877-833-6777, or 

www.ReserveUSA.com on the Internet. All campgrounds have a fee. Group sites are available by 

reservation.

UNDEVELOPED CAMPING: Undeveloped camping 

sites are available along Mineral Basin Road at 

Holman Flats and along Hwy 92 at Salamander 

Flats. Undeveloped camping is allowed in areas 

designated by forest service signs. Please camp 

in existing sites, 200 feet from roads and water 

sources. Properly dispose of trash and waste by 

practicing the “Pack it in–Pack it out” ethic. 

elcome to the Uinta National Forest and Timpanogos Cave 

National Monument.

The Uinta National Forest is located in the Wasatch Mountains, about 45 

minutes south of metropolitan Salt Lake City. American Fork Canyon is one 

of the most beautiful canyons and scenic drives in northern Utah. From the 

11,750 ft. Mt. Timpanogos to the flowing waters of Cascade Springs, the area 

has something for everyone. 

The American Fork Canyon–Alpine Loop Scenic Backway is more popular 

than ever. It is estimated that over a million people visit the 

canyon annually. Due to heavy use, the recreational areas and 

natural and cultural resources of the canyon are being impacted. As part of the Recreation Fee Demonstration Project, the 

fees collected at the entrance stations remain in the area to 

improve visitor services, maintain recreation facilities, enhance 

wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources.

Surrounded by the Uinta National Forest, Timpanogos Cave National Monument contains three small, but highly decorated limestone caves. National 

Park Rangers conduct interpretive tours through the three interconnected 

caves. 

The caves are open daily for frequent tours, usually from mid-May through 

October. The caves are closed when snow makes hiking to them difficult and 

dangerous. Tour tickets may be purchased up to 30 days in advance with a 

History of American Fork Canyon

For 8,000 years, Native Americans from Utah Valley collected essential mountain plants and animals, and 

held ceremonies in the canyon. After 1850, pioneers depended on its water, livestock, forage, and timber. 

An 1871 mining boom changed the canyon most, when dozens of lead and silver mines swung into 

operation. Miners operated a railroad to Tibble Fork in the 1870’s, and later built a 4-mile long aerial 

tram down to Tibble Fork that carried ore (and miners) 1,000 feet above the canyon floor. Some mines 

operated until the 1950’s. Recreation became the canyon’s main attraction in the 1930’s, when young 

men from the Civilian Conservation Corps built its campgrounds and picnic areas.

daisy-like flowers and the Wasatch Jamesia, a 

shrub with white flowers and foliage that drapes 

over the edges of the rocks.

WILDLIFE: The diverse environment in the canyon 

provides a great 

variety of wildlife 

habitat. Mule 

deer, moose, 

snowshoe hares, 

red squirrels, 

marmots and 

a variety of 

songbirds and 

raptors can often 

be seen from 

roadside overlooks 

and short walks along 

trails. You may even get to see a rare animal in 

Utah, the mountain goat. 

PICNIC AREAS: Picnic areas are available on a 

first come, first serve basis at Swinging Bridge, 

located at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 

A M E R I C A N F O R K C A N Y O N

and the

A L P I N E L O O P S C E N I C B A C K W A Y

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Intermountain Region

Uinta National Forest

United States Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

and along North 

Fork, Route 114 

to Tibble Fork 

Reservoir. All 

picnic sites have 

tables, grills, water and restrooms. 

Picnicking fees for 

these areas are 

included with the 

entrance fee.

Mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking 

trail maps are available at the Pleasant Grove 

Ranger Station and Timpanogos Cave National 

Monument’s visitor center. 

CASCADE SPRINGS: Cascade Springs is located 

7.5 miles off the Alpine Scenic Loop. This 

beautiful site 

consists of a 

leisurely walk 

along redwood 

boardwalks 

over springs 

cascading down 

the mountain 

slope in a 

series of limestone terraces 

and pools. 

Although closed to fishing, brown trout can be 

easily seen in the clear spring fed pools.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument
American Fork Canyon - Alpine Loop Recreation Area

Uinta National Forest - Timpanogos Cave National Monument - Wasatch Mtn. State Park

Uinta National Forest Boundary

Primary Highway

Paved Road Within Recreation Area

Dirt Road Within Recreation Area

Trail

Great Western Trail

Scenic Backway

Ranger District Office

Entrance Station

Public Phone

Visitors Center

Campground

Picnic Site

Trailhead

Horse Transfer Station

Scenic Byway

Interpretive Site

Uinta National Forest

USDA Forest Service Wilderness

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

State

Other Lands

City Limits

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Provo

Cascade Springs

Self-Pay Entrance Station

American Fork

Entrance Station

Pleasant Grove

Ranger District

Timpooneke Mt.

Timpanogos

Little Mill

Granite Flat

Exit

276

Exit

287

Exit

275

Orem

American Fork

Pleasant

Grove

Alpine

Highland

Cedar Hills

Sundance

See

Inset

Mount

Timpanogos

Wilderness

Timpanogos Cave

National Monument

Wilderness

Peak

Lone

Twin Peaks

Wilderness

Wasatch

Mountain

Park

Midway

State

Deer Creek

Utah

Lake

Tibble Fork

Reservoir

Silver Lake

Reservoir

Wasatch-Cache

National Forest

Uinta

National

Forest

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MT. TIMPANOGOS

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BOX ELDER PEAK

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LONE PEAK

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Autumn . . . . .

Alpine Scenic Loop

During the fall the Alpine Loop Scenic Backway 

offers a unique photo opportunity with its 

brilliant colors. The 20-mile Alpine Loop offers 

stupendous views of Mt. Timpanogos and other 

glacier carved peaks. The narrow, winding route 

follows Highway 92 up American Fork Canyon 

and then continues on U.S. 189 through Provo 

Canyon. Entirely paved, the Alpine Scenic Loop 

is open from late May to mid-October, snow 

closes part of the road the rest of the year. It 

is recommended that motorhomes and trailers 

more than 30 feet long not travel the road.

There are opportunities for off-road vehicles on 

designated routes. Please check road conditions 

with the Pleasant Grove Ranger Station, road 

conditions change with inclement weather. 

Winter . . . . .

SNOWMOBILING: Snowmobile trails through 

Mineral Basin and Cascade Springs Road are 

groomed regularly throughout the winter.

Hunting and Fishing

Hunting and fishing licenses are required for 

American Fork Canyon. Please check with the 

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for licenses 

and hunting regulations. Thousands of hatchery 

reared rainbow trout are stocked yearly in American Fork River, and Tibble Fork and Silver Lake 

Flat Reservoirs. The Pittsburgh, Silver and Silver 

Glance lakes offer an alpine setting with limited 

trout fishing. Native cutthroat trout are present in 

some waters and can be recognized from other 

trout by the red slashes under their jaws. The 

release of all cutthroat is 

encouraged.

Wilderness Areas

American Fork Canyon-Alpine Loop is home 

to two wilderness areas, Mt. Timpanogos and 

Lone Peak. We highly recommend visiting one 

of these two areas for a wilderness experience. 

You will find a primitive area without roads 

or other human-made features. Help us protect 

these beautiful areas by using a backpacking 

stove, staying on the trails, and respecting the 

space of animals. Mountain bikes and other 

mechanzed vehicles or equipment is prohibited.

For Your Information

◆ Please enjoy and preserve the beauty of the canyon by keeping all sites clean. Protect resources by staying on designated roads and trails, packing 

out all trash, and respecting the vegetation, wildlife, and archaeological/historic sites.

◆ No fireworks of any kind are permitted on National Forest System or Park Service lands.

◆ Mt. Timpanogos Wilderness and the Silver Lake Basin of Lone Peak Wilderness are under year-round fire closure. No campfires or use of charcoal 

briquettes are allowed. Camp and backpack stoves are permitted. Be aware of fire restrictions before building a campfire. 

◆ Please camp in designated campgrounds and use Leave No Trace practices. 

◆ Recreation, wilderness and travel maps available at visitor center.

◆ When bringing livestock to the canyon, please use only weed free hay or forage during your visit.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING:

Little Mill and Granite Flat 

campgrounds have groomed 

cross country skiing trails.

A few campground sites are open for winter 

camping, no fee is charged at the campgrounds 

but a permit from the Pleasant Grove Ranger 

Station is required for overnight camping.

Check with local avalanche forecast centers 

(801-364-1581) for avalanche information. 

Winter is a good time to catch a glance of the 

mountain goat. A nice viewing spot is the high 

cliffs above the parking lots of Timpanogos 

Cave National Monument.

Cover photo by Steven D. Garrett.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.