If you have been around here for a while, you know how much I LOVE hiking. Utah has the most incredible mountains, and exploring them is so much fun. I have had so many of you ask me how to hike Timp, or how to prepare to hike Timp, that I thought it might be fun to come up with a guide to help you feel super prepared to do so!
Let me start by saying this hike is SO RAD. It is tough, but it is one hundred percent doable. It is SO incredibly beautiful on top of that mountain, and it is one of those things that you will do and feel SO DANG PROUD of yourself for accomplishing it. Put it on your bucket list if you haven’t already done it. I promise it is worth it. It DOES help to be prepared for it though, so let’s get you there.
Mt. Timpanogos is the second highest peak in Utah. At 11,749 ft it towers over Utah County, offering the MOST incredible view. There are two different trails that will get you to the exact same summit:
- ASPEN GROVE TRAILHEAD:
- Starts out of Provo Canyon
- 15.6 (ish) miles out & back
- 5,500 feet of elevation gain
- Passes Emerald Lake
- Takes you through the snowfield (commonly referred to as the glacier) can be slick to navigate
- TIMPANOOKE TRAILHEAD
- Starting out of American Fork Canyon- both trails will get you to the same destination, but I would recommend the Timpanooke trail, especially for those who have never done this hike before.
- 4,400 feet of elevation gain
- 15 (ish) miles out & back (however, I will say my watch always says 16 miles when we finish)
- Allows for a nice trade off between the steep portions & open fields
- BOTH trails meet at the saddle, which is the ridge line that takes you to the very top, where you will find the shack. It is about a mile from the saddle to the summit, and that portion of the hike does have exposed rock & some steep portions. I am SUPER afraid of heights, and have found that wearing a hat helps to block my peripheral view that makes me nervous. So, if you’re afraid of heights like me, I’d recommend a hat for the top!
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO HIKE TIMP?
This is dependent on the weather and snow fall/melt for the year. As soon as it has melted for the most part, on the backside of Timp, you can get to the summit. However, if there are a lot of snow patches remaining, they can slow your hike down quite a bit. I like to check the hike the Wasatch Facebook page where people will usually start to post when the snow is gone, & it’s clear to hike. Typically, the best time to hike is July-August.
If you can catch the wildflowers on Timp it is absolutely stunning, and those typically bloom at the end of July or beginning of August. I have hiked Timp as late as mid September, & I know others who have hiked it in October…but it does start to get cold, especially at the top.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
This is the most common question I get about this hike, and the truth is that it totally depends on YOU. We typically hike it in 6 hours round trip, hiking at a pretty brisk pace. We don’t take a lot of breaks, except to stop at the top to soak it all in. MOST trail reviews will tell you to plan for 4-5 hours up, and 4-5 hours down. It’s important to understand that your time will vary depending on your acclamation to the elevation, your fitness level, the amount of stops that you make, how long you stop for, and how busy the trails are. I’d plan to be gone for 8-10 hours, knowing it could vary.
WHAT TIME OF DAY TO LEAVE TO HIKE TIMP?
This is another question that varies depending on the experience you want to have. I have hiked Timp through the middle of the night to watch the sunrise. I have left super early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler morning temps, and I have left in the afternoon to make it to the top for the sunset. It is always an awesome experience, but I would say there are pros and cons for each time of day.
- Hiking to see the sunrise: To make it to the top by sunrise most people will start hiking around 1-2 AM, depending on how long you think you need to get to the top. The sunrise from the top of Timp is stunning, and will be an experience you will never forget. I have done this a few times, and I will say that doing the hike on little sleep does make it feel harder. You will need to hike with head lamps or flashlights. It does make the hike down feel like. a new experience, since your initial hike was in the dark, & it’s like you’re seeing it for the first time.
- Hiking in the early AM: Hiking at this time of day allows you to have the whole day of sunlight to hike. It will allow you to take your time without feeling worried about losing daylight. It can also be really hot, depending on the weather when you hike, so it’s especially important to pack enough water and sunscreen if you’re hiking in the middle of the day.
- Hiking in the afternoon: My husband is actually the one who introduced me to this way of doing it, and I think it’s my favorite way to do it. We leave around 3-4 PM, and plan to make it to the top for the sunset. Watching the sunset on the top of the world is pretty amazing. We try to catch the sunset , & then start down so we make it back to the field before it’s too dark. This way of doing it does require you to hike down in the dark, but if you have a good head lamp, it isn’t bad at all. A couple of things that I like about doing the hike this way is that it is much cooler, & less crowded. The backside of Timp is shaded by the time you leave, so you don’t get stuck in the summer heat. Because most people hike through the night, or in the day, we have found that the trails are pretty empty when we do it in the evening.
- Camping: I have never camped, mostly because we prefer to just get it done in one run & it seems harder to carry all the gear up, but I know people love to camp in the meadow below the saddle. This can make a sunset or sunrise hike a little easier to do.
WHAT TO WEAR?
Deciding what to wear can make or break your experience, which sounds dramatic, but it’s true. If your feet are blistering, if your clothes are chafing, or if you are sweating/freezing, it will irritate you the whole time. You want to make this experience as enjoyable as possible, & wearing the right clothing can help with that. Don’t stress though, just plan ahead, and trust in what you know works for you. DON’T try out something new for the first time on your hike. Try it out, or break it in on a shorter hike or workout so you know what to expect.
- proper footwear – I usually wear my trail running shoes when I do hikes like this, but if you are wanting a good hiking shoe I would recommend these, or these.
- layers – Be sure to check the weather to determine what you should wear. If you are hiking through the night or if it’s a windy day it can get chilly. I like to wear a tank with a long sleeve like this that is breathable. I usually wear shorts with pockets that allow me to hold my phone close by for pictures. Whatever you decide to bring, if you’re going to be going through a swing of day to night, I’d be sure to bring some layers.
- jacket for the top – I would recommend having a long sleeve or jacket for the top because it can get really windy. I’ve been up there on a hot July day, and had it be super chilly at the top, so check the weather for sure. A windbreaker fabric, or something like this is perfect.
- hat for the top – If you are like me, & you are afraid of heights, it can help SO much to have a hat on to block that peripheral view. This is my ALL time favorite hat to workout & hike in. It’s super breathable, & can be washed without it changing the look or quality of the hat.
- proper socks – What you wear on your feet makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE. I like to wear taller socks to avoid getting scratches from bushes. These socks are AWESOME. Wool might sound hot, but it actually regulates temperature, & keeps your feet from getting sweaty, while still providing cushion. If you know it’s going to be a super hot day, these are another great option that are a bit lighter.
WHAT TO BRING?
Once you have your clothing choices figured out, there are some must have items that will help to make your hike much more enjoyable.
- water – I always bring 2 liters of water, and I usually finish it up right before we are done. If you are thinking you are going to be hiking in the heat of the day, or taking more than 6-8 hours, I’d plan to bring 3 liters of water, or a water purifier to replenish the water you are carrying. I carry mine in a backpack like this that is lightweight, & has a water bladder/drinking straw built in. It makes it so much easier to stay hydrated without having to stop and get out a water bottle every time. My husband is a trail runner, and wears this running vest, and loves the fit of it. It comes with the two bottles, and is bladder compatible, so if you wanted to purchase a bladder for more hydration you could add that to it. He loves this vest because it has places to attach your hiking poles, which is super nice.
- snacks – this is something that I definitely recommend thinking through. I usually take a g2gbar or peanut butter and jelly sandwich because they are convenient to pack, & can be eaten at anytime. Aside from that, I’ll usually bring some quick and packable snacks like trail mix, jerky, an apple, bags of candy, and a bottle of diet dr pepper, for when I’m feeling like I need a pick me up. 😉 I usually bring more snacks than I need, but it helps to keep you going when you have the right fuel.
- hiking poles – I used to make fun of hiking poles because I thought people only used them if they weren’t big into hiking. I was SO WRONG. My husband quickly helped me to understand that they are the best hiking tool ever. They allow you to use your upper body more as you hike, helping to save your legs from being as taxed. If you aren’t using poles. TRY THEM. Cam is a researcher when it comes to gear, and these are his very favorite poles. They are super lightweight, adjustable, collapsable, & durable. If you are looking to invest in some gear that will last you, I’d HIGHLY recommend those poles. If you are wanting some poles to try out, and don’t know if you are committed to loving them yet, my sister tried these ones last year and they worked great. I would recommend you get some that are collapsable in case you want to fold them up, & stow them away.
- headlamp – This is super important if you are hiking through the dark at all. I think this is my husband’s favorite piece of gear that he owns. His recommendation is to get on that is adjustable (so you can change how bright or dim it is) to conserve battery. He loves this headlamp because it is comfortable, has a variety of different brightness settings, is rechargeable, & super reliable. It is definitely on the higher quality end. This headlamp is another great option that isn’t quite as expensive.
- other: sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, bandaids, gum, chapstick, toilet paper, advil, etc.
Now, If you are SUPER pumped about hiking Timp, but you aren’t sure if you are physically ready to do so, I have a free full 8 week hiking specific program to follow HERE that will help prep you to get in awesome hiking shape to make this hike an awesome experience. If you are need of a more in depth workout program to pair with the hiking guide, I also have an 8 week workout guide HERE that I created specifically to pair with my free hiking program that will help you prepare to be in awesome condition for this epic hike!