Mount Timpanogos from Timpooneke is known for stunning wildflowers, a fingered waterfall, and wildlife like moose and mountain goats.

Preparation

Before hiking, be sure to prepare.  Here is a packing list.

-Water/Electrolytes

-Snacks (High energy/high protein)

-First Aid

-Repellent

-Sun protection

-Headlamp/Flashlight

-tissue/toilet paper

-Ziplock bag to carry out trash

-Hiking backpack or pack

(Optional items include: hiking poles, navigation tools, phone charger, camera, multi-tool/pocket knife, bear spray, Walkie-Talkies, fishing pole)

For more specifics about what to pack, check out this list. Also, be sure to trim your toenails or you may lose them on a hike as long as Timp.

Directions

The Timpooneke Trailhead can be accessed from American Fork Canyon, Provo Canyon, or Midway.

Parking

*Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays starting June 29-October late October there is a reservation system to park in the Timpooneke parking lot. Reservations begin at midnight and run through the next afternoon. In the later afternoons and evenings it will still be first come-first serve, but of course you’d have to be gone before the next reservation period. Weekdays are still first come first serve. The cost is $10 plus a $2 reservation fee. Sign up at Recreation.gov.

During wildflower season it’s especially popular. I arrived at 6:20 am on a Friday in mid-August and saw a car pull into the last spot. I was able to park in the pullout just below the Timpooneke junction, but that added 0.3 mile each direction.

Timpooneke Trail

The Timpooneke Trailhead is the starting point for many gorgeous hikes, including the most popular route to the top of Mount Timpanogos.  Other trails from this trailhead include Island Meadow, Julie Andrews Meadow, and Scout Falls. There are two main reasons that this trail is a more popular for hiking Timp than the Aspen Grove trail. This first is that it is less steep, because it starts at a higher elevation and is slightly longer. This trail is basically moderate difficulty to the meadow just below the backside of Timp, but of course it is long. Up to the saddle it becomes difficult and even more so to the summit, but it still isn’t very technically challenging.

You follow the same path as Scout Falls through the aspens and periodically have beautiful vistas. It is beautiful right away!

If you go in September or early October, then you get the beautiful fall foilage. In the summer it’s dense green!

There are some small falls near the trail.

Near those little falls you may need to step over water along the trail, but there are rocks to step on. Hiking poles are helpful for balance, but it’s not too deep even if you just walk through it.

Timpooneke is also great for wildflowers. These are some from the first few miles of the trail.

Scouts Falls

This route has Scout Falls. If it’s in June or July then the falls will probably flowing well. Later in the summer and fall the waterfalls mostly dry up.

In another half mile you come to the first meadow.

You can only go about this far in early June. Be cautious about going further when you reach snow drifts. The patches of snow are actually snow bridges. Water runs beneath the snow melting it from below, so it can collapse. I love seeing the contrasts in colors looking up at the snowy parts!

Depending on the year, hiking Mount Timpanogos is usually July-October, but it depends on snowfall. The trail winds back and forth around the large slabs and then up the next level.

There are several sections where you have to cross shale, but the path is clear.

As you get higher and higher the views get more impressive!

The higher you get, the more glorious the wildflowers.

You can start to see part of Mount Timpanogos.

As you come over the rise you can see the meadow. The sign is deceptive now because the top sign is missing. The one there shows a route to Emerald Lake and Mount Timpanogos heading straight, but the top sign is supposed to point right to the Saddle and Mount Timpanogos. For the best wildflowers, you will probably want to continue right here.

Upper Meadow

The Upper Meadow is filled with wildflowers in late July/early August (depends on snowpack).

Mountain Goats

I have hiked this and only seen a few mountain goats in the distance, but last time I lucked out and on my down saw several mountain goats in the wildflowers near the base of the incline and others on the rocks. I did have a zoom lens. The mountain goats aren’t aggressive (except occasionally with dogs), but don’t approach wildlife.

The meadow is fairly flat with a few gentle inclines, but after that it starts going uphill at a steeper grade.

Along the way there are incredible views! See all the flowers making the different colors!

You can look over and see the route from Aspen Grove. It comes up near the green on the far side, passes Emerald Lake (just behind the corner of Timp (out of sight in this shot). You have to cross the snow field and then the trail connects near where I stood to take the photo.

There are other snow patches besides the large patches that are there year round. Often there is “watermelon snow”, which is created by an algae that loves freezing water. The second shot is zoomed in to see the detail from the first.

Here is the last stretch from both directions.

Mount Timpanogos Saddle

The Timpanogos Saddle got its name not just from its appearance, but also the lowest point connecting higher peaks.

It is the first part that allows you to see views out to Utah Lake and Utah Valley.

You also have impressive views looking back.

Many people make the saddle their destination.

Timpanogos Summit

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 on the front side of Timp.

Be sure to download the AllTrails map or watch carefully for switchbacks.

Please 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 electrolytes, 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.

Wildlife

There is often wildlife along the Timpooneke Trail. We saw several moose from very close. I’ve also seen deer and rodents, like chipmunks and pika.

There are also birds along the trail.

My favorite wildlife along the Mount Timpanogos trail are the mountain goats!

Here are a few more of the wildflowers because they are so gorgeous!

On your way back down you can either return down the Timpooneke Trail or you can head down the Aspen Grove Trail.  One time we had parked a car there the night before so that we could go up Timpooneke and down that Aspen Grove, which I recommend if you can arrange it. 

Stats: Distance – 14.3 miles roundtrip (0.9 less to Saddle) 10-11 to Upper Meadow
Approximate hiking time – 8-12 hours
Elevation gain – 4471 feet
Difficulty – Difficult
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks, narrow rocky trail at the end
Bathrooms – At the trailhead
Seasons to hike – Late June – October (depending on snow fall)
Permits needed – $10 fee paid online or ranger booth (or National Parks pass) and $12 parking reservation on weekends from Recreation.gov
Pets allowed – Yes (sometimes mountain goats can be aggressive with dogs)

Julie Andrew’s Meadow and Pine Hollow Loop are nearby trails. If you like a challenge, try Lake Blanche, Brighton Loop, and other difficult hikes.

Mount Timpanogos from Aspen Grove

Peak Hikes in Utah

Brighton Loop, Five Lakes and Up to Four Peaks

Julie Andrew’s Meadow

Emerald Lake

Brighton Loop, Five Lakes and Up to Four Peaks

Difficult Hikes in Utah

Lake Blanche

Pine Hollow Loop

Mount Timpanogos Upper Meadow