The Timpooneke Trailhead is the starting point for many gorgeous hikes, including the most popular route to the top of Mount Timpanogos. It is known for wildflowers, a waterfall, and even wildlife like moose and mountain goats. Other trails from this trailhead include Island Meadow and Scout Falls. You follow the same path as Scout Falls through the aspens and periodically have beautiful vistas.
Before hiking, be sure to prepare. Here is a packing list.
Timpooneke Trailhead
The Timpooneke Trailhead can be accessed from American Fork Canyon, Provo Canyon, or Midway.
It is beautiful right away!
If you go in September or early October, then you get the beautiful fall foilage.
There are two main reasons that this trail is a more popular then the Aspen Grove trail. This first is that it is less steep, because it starts at a higher elevation and is slightly longer. The second is because of the wildlife. We saw several moose from very close, a deer and some mountain goats from afar.
This trail is not technically challenging to the meadow just below the backside of Timp, only long.
Once you reach the meadow you wind around to the saddle. The saddle is the lower part in the middle of the peak. In this photo is that lower part on the right.
The views from the saddle are very impressive! You can look down and see Utah Lake and most of Utah County. If you look to back you can see towards Heber.
Many people make the saddle their destination.
It gets much more narrow climbing to the peak so it can be intimidating if you are nervous about heights. If you want to ascend to the summit, then you continue south on a narrow trail. Be sure to download the AllTrails map or watch carefully for switchbacks.
Also, be cautious if you are feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness: (headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness). A friend I was hiking with got altitude sickness when she was nearly to the summit. She had to rest and move slowly. She lost her lunch, but after sipping a Propel, sucking on a Dum-Dum sucker, and resting a bit, she recovered.
The top of Timp has this little hut. There are incredible views. This is looking down at Emerald Lake. The snow there doesn’t fully melt year round. You can see Deer Creek Reservoir further in the distance.
You can either return down the Timpooneke Trail or you can head down the Aspen Grove Trail. We had parked a car there the night before so that we could go down that way. Here is information on the trail from Aspen Grove.
Stats: Distance – 14.3 miles roundtrip (0.9 less to Saddle)
Approximate hiking time – 7-11 hours
Elevation gain – 4448 feet
Difficulty – Difficult
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks, narrow rocky trail at the end
Bathrooms – At the trailhead
Seasons to hike – June – October
Permits needed – $6 fee paid at ranger booth (or National Parks pass)
Pets allowed – Yes
Other trails to try are Lake Blanche, Brighton Loop, and other difficult hikes.
