Fall at Mt. Timpanogos – Aspen Grove Trailhead – Utah
A view of the back side of Mt. Timpanogos beneath the clouds in the fall (October) from the Aspen Grove Trailhead along the Alpine Loop near Sundance. This spot can be reached from Provo Canyon to the South, and American Fork Canyon from the North.
Mt Timpanogos is an 11,752 ft peak in the Wasatch Mountain Range that rises above the surrounding Utah and Heber Valleys. Even though the shortest hike to its summit is more than 14 miles, it is one of the most hiked mountain peaks in the Rocky Mountains. The two primary trails to it summit are from Aspen Grove via Provo Canyon and the Alpine Loop near Sundance Resort, and the Timpooneke Campground in American Fork Canyon.
The mountain derives its name from a native american tribe that inhabited the area around the mountain at the time of the arrival of Mormon pioneers in Utah.
In addition to being a designated wilderness area, the mountain also hosts a national monument near its base, that was setup to protect beautiful cave system discovered by various individuals between 1887 and 1921.
It has been said that the mountain resembles a sleeping indian princess, and that its a legend that came from local tribes, but its more likely the tale as its known today came from Eugene Lusk “Timp” Roberts, a professor at Brigham Young University, who was trying to promote the mountain to the world. Roberts was also the creator of an annual one day hike that attracted thousands of people between 1911 and 1970. The hiking event was ultimately cancelled due to the damage done being to the mountain over the years.
