The Alpine Loop near Provo and Cedar Hills in Utah is a beautiful scenic drive. This mountain road is usually open from about Memorial Day through October, but it is entirely based on weather. We love to drive the Alpine Loop in the Fall. It is spectacular, but it is also beautiful in the summer when it is all green. There are lots of things to do on the Alpine Loop, so we put together a list of 9 stops we recommend on the Alpine Loop with your family.
A Few Things to Know
A note about driving the Alpine Loop Road. There are sections of this road that are very narrow. Please be a cautious and patient driver because the speed limit is sometimes only 15 MPH and you don’t have the space to pass another car.
There is also a $10 recreation fee for the Alpine Loop. This fee is good for 3 days, so you have plenty of time to explore. If you have one, you can show your current National Parks Pass, which covers the fee. If you only plan to drive the Alpine Loop without hiking or picnicking or doing any recreating, you can do so for free, but if you plan to make any of the stops in this post, please pay for you use.
The Alpine Loop is a dog-friendly canyon. This means you can bring your dog along on the trails, but it must be on leash at all times. Of course, please remember to clean up after your pet and pack out the trash.
We are going to list the stops in order from the Cedar Hills/American Fork side of the loop to the other side that ends at Sundance/Provo.
American Fork Canyon Nature Trail
This trail is short and sweet, but we love it. It starts at the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area and it is a paved trail that walks over toward the Timpanogos Cave National Monument area. There are beautiful views of the canyon and a few interpretive signs. Great for young kids and even strollers if you can push up and down a few little hills.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
The cave is quite a sight to see. It is not that large, but has some cool features inside like the heart of the cave pictured above. The real downer of the cave tour is the hike. It consists of steep switchbacks up the mountain to the mouth of the cave. Tickets are available online, and we recommend reserving them ahead of time because they do sell out.
Picnic Areas
We love having a picnic at one of the picnic areas along the stretch of road between Timpanogos Cave and Tibble Fork. We really love the Martin picnic area near Tibble Fork, but you can stop at any of the numerous day use areas along this road. Picnic areas will be near the river, super shady, and fun for an afternoon or evening in the mountains.
Tibble Fork Reservoir
This is one of the most popular spots along the Alpine Loop. It is technically on the American Fork Canyon Road since you have to take a slight detour off of the Alpine Loop, but we think it is worth it. This is a great spot for fishing, paddle boarding, or kayaking. It can get really busy in the summer, so plan to arrive early if you want to spend some time enjoying the water.
Scout Falls
This trail begins at the Timpanooke Trailhead. The trail goes all the way up Mount Timpanogos, but for this trip, we recommend hiking only about 1.5 miles up to this waterfall and then back again! The falls can disappear later in the year, but they are in a beautiful little north-facing side of the mountain.
Primrose Overlook Trail
This trail in the Fall is absolute spectacular. The aspens are golden yellow and line the trail the entire way. You also end at an overlook where you can see the colors all over the mountain. It is a beautiful spot along the Alpine Loop.
Cascade Springs
Cascade Springs is another popular spot along the Alpine Loop. You will need to drive a few miles off of the main Alpine Loop Road to enjoy this easy walk. The trail walks through the springs and past a waterfall. It is paved or a boardwalk for the entire distance, and the scenery is great.
Timpanogos Falls
This hike begins at the Aspen Grove trailhead and it is the start of the Mount Timpanogos Trail from this side of the loop. The falls (and there are actually two) are only 1.0 mile up the trail, so you can enjoy them and then head back down.
Stewart Falls
The Stewart Falls trail also begins at the Aspen Grove trailhead. This trail is a little bit longer for young kids, but the waterfall is awesome. You can head to the base of the falls and cool off in the summertime.
Continue around the loop and you’ll end up in Provo Canyon, which has many of its own amazing adventures!
There are definitely more hikes on the Alpine Loop, and other stops, too. These are just a few of our family favorites, and we have only included trails we would take our family on. Leave a comment if we missed your favorite stop along the Alpine Loop.
