Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a National Monument in Utah. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 6 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Timpanogos Cave
We matched 6 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Timpanogos Cave. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Lakes (1)
Canyons (1)
Caves (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Timpanogos Cave the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:49 AM | 8:31 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:25 PM | 243° | 9h 36m |
| February | 7:21 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:24 PM | 6:02 PM | 254° | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:39 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:34 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 284° | 13h 17m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:37 PM | 296° | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:57 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:18 PM | 9:00 PM | 302° | 15h 03m |
| July | 6:10 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:17 PM | 8:57 PM | 300° | 14h 47m |
| August | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:26 PM | 289° | 13h 47m |
| September | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:37 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:38 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:11 PM | 6:48 PM | 260° | 11h 10m |
| November | 7:14 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:11 PM | 246° | 9h 57m |
| December | 7:44 AM | 8:27 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:02 PM | 240° | 9h 18m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.4404, -111.7094); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Timpanogos Cave, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:44 AM – 5:44 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:55 AM – 6:05 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:54 AM – 5:04 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:49 AM – 4:09 AM | 3.3 | 21° |
| June | 11:05 PM – 3:45 AM | 4.7 | 21° |
| July | 10:56 PM – 2:26 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 10:09 PM – 12:19 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 9:10 PM – 10:20 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 8:19 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Although inside the caves its always 43-48 F, temperatures on the cave trail can range from the 30s up to above 100 degrees F, depending on time of year. Carrying drinking water is a necessity, especially in summer. In the mountains, weather sometimes presents interesting challenges. The cave and cave trail do not close due to rain, unless that rain is heavy enough to bring rockfall. They will close due to high winds/rockfall, or in lightning storms. Call the visitor center if you have specific concerns.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 34% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $12.00 |
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $17.00 |
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $22.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
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.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Caving
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
