Meadow looking at Timpanogos

Timpooneke Loop
The Timpooneke Loop is fairly short and of intermediate difficulty great for a quick after-work ride in the cool alpine splendor of the ridges near Mount Timpanogos. The loop follows the Great Western Trail from the Timpooneke Campground at the base of Mount Timpanogos up to Ridge Trail 157 at the ridge between American Fork Canyon and Provo Canyon. Altitude gain is 600 feet, but the trail is a gentle up-and-down rather than a prolonged climb. The trail is 5-1/4 miles round trip. With a few stops to admire the scenery, the ride is easily completed in 90 minutes.

Trail Notes:
Straight from parking lot
0.1   turn L over bridge
0.85 L at fork
0.9   cross paved road
1.5   4-way trail intersection, L on GWT
2.0   Pine Hollow in from left, continue straight
2.65 join Ridge Trail 157, turn R
3.05  fork R on Salamander Flat trail
3.55 4-way trail intersection, fork R
Drop through creek keep R at fork
3.75 primitive camping area, keep R
3.8   4-way intersection (same as at 1.5)
straight onto GWT
Retrace path back 1.5 miles to parking at 5.3
Option Ridge Trail and Summit Trail: After joining the Ridge Trail as above, continue on Ridge Trail 157 to the Alpine Loop Summit. Cross the road to the parking area. Find the Summit Trail at the west end (on your right as the pavement enters the parking lot) and head downhill. 0.75 miles later, the trail reaches the loop road. Turn right 30 feet. Find the continuation on the uphill side of the creek. 1/4 mile later, you'll reach the 4-way trail intersection. Go straight through. Hang right after dropping through the creek. At the next 4-way intersection, go straight on the Great Western towards Timpooneke.
Option South Fork Loop: For a great 12-mile ride, take Timpooneke to the Ridge Trail at mile 2.65, but turn LEFT. After 1.6 miles, turn right onto the South Fork trail at the 4-way intersection with the Tibble Fork Trail. Drop downhill, cross the road, and find the uphill trail in the primitive camping area. Climb singletrack to the Alpine Loop summit parking lot, then head north on Ridge 157 back to the Pine Hollow trail fork and roll down to Timpooneke.
Timpanooke Loop Trail Map

Getting there: From I-15, take the Alpine-Highland exit and drive 7 miles to the mouth of American Fork Canyon. Pay your $6 fee (as of 2009) there. Five miles later at the fork in the road, go along the south fork of the river. About 4 miles up, there's a T in the road. Turn right into the Timpooneke Campground road. The parking area is on your left about 1/4 mile later.
The Timpooneke Loop Trail and the Timpanogos Perimeter section of the Great Western begin together (GPS N 40° 25.891'  W 111° 38.402') alongside the outhouse. Go straight south from the parking lot, then turn left across a footbridge that crosses the creek. (Bikes are NOT allowed on the Timpooneke Trail as it enters the wilderness area!)

Copyright 2002 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Trail conditions change, and the layout of a trail may change without notice. Use this trail guide at your own risk.