Timpanogos Cave

Timpanogos Cave
Visitor Field Guide
Plants
Animals
Caves
Insects
Welcome
Welcome to
Timpanogos Cave
National Monument. As
you hike the cave trail and
explore the caves, this guide
will help you understand a few
of the unique features within
the monument. The 250 acres
that form Timpanogos Cave
National Monument are rich in
diversity. As you travel along the
trails you will see plants, animals,
insects, and cave features that you
may or may not have encountered
before. You can help us preserve
these features for future generations
by leaving the plants or wildflowers
as you find them, by not collecting
rocks or cave formations, by not
feeding or molesting the wildlife,
and by staying on designated
trails. Enjoy your stay.
For more in depth information on
the many features of Timpanogos
Cave National Monument, stop
by the visitor center or ask a park
ranger.
Photos by Brandon Kowallis, C. Riley Nelson, Jon Jasper, and
Timpanogos Cave photo archives.
Field Guide Design by Brandon Kowallis
Text by Becky Peterson & Brandon Kowallis
Illustrations by Brandon Kowallis & Liz Kovacs
How to Use This Guide
To navigate this guide you can use either the
colored tabs or the symbols found on each page.
The colored tabs appear on the bottom corners
of each page and corresponding colors are used
in section headings. The symbol used in the
background of each page also tells you what
section you are viewing.
Mountains: The mountain sec-
tion contains information on the interesting geologic processes involved
in creating Timpanogos Cave NM.
Cave Formations: The cave
formations section highlights a few
of the unique features found in the
Timpanogos Cave System.
Wildflowers & Plants: This
section contains information on common plants and wildflowers found
along the cave trail.
Trees: Here you will find informa-
tion that will help you identify a few
of the trees growing throughout the
monument.
Mammals & Reptiles: This
section will help you identify animals
both large and small that you may
see as you hike the cave trail.
Birds: Here you can find informa-
tion to help you identify a few of
the common birds that frequent the
monument.
Insects: The insect section will
help you identify small creatures that
roam the monument both above and
below the ground.
Mountains
Forming the Rock, Quartzite
Rocks along the cave trail began forming
several million years ago at the bottom of
a warm shallow ocean. The two principle
rock types found in the monument are
quartzite and limestone. Quartzite is the
orange rock along the lower sections of the
trail. It started it’s life as the sandy bottom of an ancient ocean. As time passed it
was compressed into sandstone and then
chemically changed by heat and pressure
into the harder quartzite that towers along
the lower cave trail.
Forming the Rock, Limestone
Limestone and it’s close relative
Dolomite also formed along the
ocean bottom. About 340 million
years ago a coral reef flourished
where Utah now exists. The
warm shallow waters that existed
here created the perfect environment for horn coral, crinoids, and
bryzoans. The remains of these
creatures can be found in the gray limestone rock along the upper
sections of the cave trail and in the cave itself. These fossils look
like masses of white blotches, distorted triangles, or miniature
webs embedded in the limestone.
Carving The Canyon
As time passed, limestone,
quartzite, and other rocks
were uplifted to form the
mountains that make up
the Wasatch Front. The
American Fork River has
been a powerful force in
shaping the canyon. As the
mountains were pushed up
the river cut it’s way down,
carving out the “V” shape common to river-formed canyons. At
one time the river passed through the Timpanogos Cave System.
Large, rounded cobblestones embedded throughout the cave bare
witness of the river’s presence.
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Micro-Climates
Climates are generally described by the temperature,
wind velocity, and precipitation that occurs within a large
7ARMER3UNNY
area. Within climate zones
-ICRO#LIMATE
are smaller micro-climates
#OOLER3HADED
-ICRO#LIMATE
- areas that are affected the
amount of sun and water
the area gets, as well as
other natural features that
slightly alter the temperature, precipitation, and wind
velocity of the overall area. In
American Fork Canyon there
are three main microclimates.
2IPARIAN:ONE
2IVER-ICRO#LIMATE
The warm, sunny north side
of the canyon that is characterized by small shrubs and smaller vegetation, the cool and more
shaded south side of the canyon where larger firs and maples
thrive, and the densely vegetated riparian or river microclimate
where the temperature is even cooler and plants like Cottonwood
Trees, Poison Ivy, and mints grow.
Formation of a Cave
The cave forming process
begins (1) when rain water falling from the sky picks up small
amounts of carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere (2) As
the rain water passes through
the soils more carbon dioxide
is picked up. The water (H2O)
and the carbon dioxide (CO2)
mix forming carbonic acid
(H2CO3). This acidic water
passes through cracks and
bedding planes in the limestone rock (CaCO3)slowly
dissolving out larger and larger
cave passages. (3) In air-filled
chambers the acidic water can
lose the carbon dioxide (CO2)
it picked up. As the carbon
dioxide out gases, the minerals precipate out of the water.
Over hundreds of thousands
of years mineral deposits build
up on the cave walls to form
stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and other common cave
formations.
#/
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CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 = Ca2+ + 2HCO3Calcite (Limestone) Water Carbon Dioxide Calcium Ion
Bicarbonate
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Caves
Drapery
PHOTO BY C. RILEY NELSON
Cave Draperies, or Cave Bacon, form as water
deposits calcite down an inclined ceiling
surface. Over thousands of years a thin rib
of calcite deposits along the wall as the water
follows this same path over and over. Trace
amounts of minerals such as iron and nickel
can create bands of color within the drapery
that resemble strips of bacon. These formations appear throughout the cave in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.
Frostwork
Frostwork, like it’s name
depicts, resembles hoarfrost
growing outside on a foggy
winter day. Frostwork is
formed from crystal aragonite, an unstable form
of calcite. Certain conditions are often observed
where frostwork is present: (1) airflow and evaporation, (2) finely
textured and highly porous bedrock, and (3) slow seeping water.
These crystals form as water is being wicked out from the walls.
The delicate nature of these tiny crystals makes them particularly
susceptible to damage and vandalism.
Helictites
Timpanogos Cave is known for
its high abundance of helictites.
Helictites are small formations
that twist and spiral in defiance
of gravity. These formations get
their name from the Greek root
“helix” which means to spiral.
Each helictite froms through
through a central canal significantly smaller then a drop of water. Hydrostatic pressure pushes
the water out from the tip. The tip’s growth of several inconsistant calcite crystals shapes and sizes causes helictites to twist and
spiral.
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Stalactites, Stalagmites, & Columns
When water enters a cave it
looses the carbon dioxide it
absorbed near the surface.
Without carbon dioxide the
water can no longer retain the
calcite minerals it dissolved.
Stalactites form as water deposits micro-crystaline calcite
as slender conical shapes on
the ceilings of a cave. As water drips from the end of a stalactite
calcite slowly accommulate as board conical shapes on the cave’s
floor forming stalagmites. After thousands of years these two
formations point closer towards each other can grow together
until they growth together to create a column.
Flowstone
Flowstone is one of the most common type
of cave formations. As water flows over
cave surfaces it leaves behind the calcite
that it dissolves on its journey through the
bedrock. The flowstone appears looking as
frozen waterfalls. Different minerals and
other impurities have created an enormous
diversity of colors throughout Timpanogos
Cave. In places, the flowstone in the cave
system can resemble great chocolate or
caramel-topped ice cream waterfalls.
Popcorn
Popcorn is the nobby formations on the cave walls, ceilings,
or floors that look similar to
popcorn. Popcorn forms from
calcite being desposited from
wind spread water. Popcorn
forms from splashing from
dipping water and from water
condensing of surfaces near long
standing cave pools.
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Plants
Firecracker Penstemon
The Firecracker Penstemon
blooms throughout late spring
and summer. This wildflower
grows in the hundreds along
the middle and upper sections of the trail. Because of its
ability to tolerate drought, the
Monument uses Firecracker
Penstemon to revegetate areas
prone to erosion. Hummingbirds will often stake territories over
Penstemon patches and fight to defend their prime nectar source.
Red Alumroot
During June, Red Alumroot
flowers directly out of the rock.
This perennial prefers shady
areas where the ground and
rock stay cool and moist. The
spring leaves are edible boiled
or steamed, and the root eaten
raw will usually cure diarrhea.
Rabbit Brush
Rabbit Brush is a large shrub with linear, grayish blue leaves and clusters of yellow flowers.
It thrives on sunny hillsides and will often
establish itself in disturbed sites. Rabbit Brush
produces small amounts of rubber and resin
(used to make plastic) within its branches.
Cliff Jamesia
Cliff Jamesia blooms along the second half of the trail during July and
August. This shrub is not commonly
found in Utah and is considered a
sensitive species within the state. It
can grow directly out of rock using
the cracks to anchor itself.
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Oregon Grape
Oregon Grape is a low lying evergreen
shrub, usually growing one to two feet in
height on the forest floor. It prefers shady
locations beneath coniferous forests.
In late fall, yellow flowers are replaced
with purple-blue berries which grow
and ripen into small grape-like clusters.
These berries are edible and have many
medicinal uses.
Miners Lettuce
Miners Lettuce grows in moist
soil on the lower half or the trail.
This annual was used by pioneers,
Native Americans, and miners as
an herb and for salads.
Dalmation Toadflax
During the early history of the
monument, Dalmation Toadflax was introduced to stabilize
eroding slopes. It quickly began
to spread itself throughout the
canyon, out-competing some
of the native vegetation. Today
park rangers actively search the
monument to remove this invasive plant. After removing it they
plant native plants like Firecracker Penstemon to take its place.
False Solomon Seal
False Solomon Seal is a shade loving plant found blooming under
trees in the late spring and early
summer. Its star-shaped flowers differ from the bell-shaped
flowers of its cousin, Eastern
Solomon-Seal. Toward the end of
the summer it produces reddish
black berries that are edible but very bitter. Early settlers thought
this plant could cure poisoning and prevent the Plague.
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Trees
Douglas-Fir
The Douglas-Fir is a tree of
legends. Some say that long
ago a mouse running from a
fox hid in the cone of a Douglas-Fir. To this day, you can still
see the hind legs and tail of the
little mouse sticking out from
behind the scales of each cone.
Douglas-Firs can grow as tall as 275 feet along the west coast. The
wood is exceptionally strong and highly sought after for heavy
duty construction.
Big-tooth Maple
Big-tooth Maple evolved from its eastern
cousin the Sugar Maple. Early settlers used its
sap for sugar, until they started farming sugar
beets. In the fall, the Big-tooth displays the
greatest variety of colors including red, orange,
and yellow.
Boxelder Maple
Boxelder Maples require both a male and
female tree to reproduce. The red and black
colored Boxelder Bug feeds on the tree but
rarely does enough damage to kill it. Many
people have mistaken the Boxelder tree for
Poison Ivy because of its red stem and clusters of three leaves.
White Fir
The White Fir can grow up
to 100 feet tall and will sometimes live as long as 300 years.
Its needles differ from the
Douglas Fir in that they curve
up from the stem. In the winter,
White Firs are often used for
Christmas trees and for
food by squirrels.
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Gamble Oak
Gamble Oak is also commonly
known as “Scrub Oak” because of
its shrubby appearance. It often
grows in groups of at least a dozen
trees. Each group contains a set
of clones created by one tree’s
root system. In the summer and
fall, Gamble Oak’s acorns become
an important food source for mule deer and elk. However, if the
acorns make up more than 50% of their diet, the animals become
poisoned by the tannic acid found in the shoots.
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
The Narrowleaf Cottonwood is the king of
the monument’s riparian, or river, habitats.
This tree was first discovered by Lewis and
Clark on the 1805 expedition across the
Northwest. Over the years, people have
found several uses for different parts of the
tree from basket making, to treatment of
toothaches, to chewing gum.
Choke Cherry
Choke Cherry grows along the lower
section of the trail. The berries of this tree
are poisonous. If eaten, they will cause
difficulty in breathing, slow pulse, dilated
pupils, staggering and loss of consciousness. Native Americans used Choke Cherry
wood to make bows, arrows, and pipes.
Utah Juniper
Utah Juniper is a bushy evergreen that produces blue, cone-like berries that take two
years to fully mature. Since European settlement, the Juniper has spread significantly out
of it historical range due to overgrazing, fire
suppression, and climatic change. Because of
this, Sagebrush-grass communities are dwindling in many parts of the Rocky Mountains.
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Mammals & Reptiles
Chipmunk vs Ground Squirrel
Two small rodents easily confused in the monument are the
Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel and the Least Chipmunk. The
best way to tell the difference is by looking at their stripes. The
chipmunk has stripes running down both the middle of it’s back
and across it’s eyes. The squirrel’s stripes run down the sides of
it’s back. The Ground Squirrel like it’s name implies likes to stay
on the ground. The more adventurous chipmunk will venture
into the trees. These rodents forage in coniferous forests on seeds,
fruits, fungi, and insects. If you cross their territory, the chipmunks will stand on their hind legs and make a chirping bark.
Sagebrush Lizard
On a warm sunny day, Sagebrush Lizards bask along the
cave trail bobbing up and down
to attract females. Their diet
consists of small insects such
as beetles and ants. These small
lizards live and hibernate in
crevices and mammal burrows.
The female lays her eggs at the base of a
shrub a few centimeters below the surface
of the ground.
Packrat
True to its reputation the packrat loves to collect wrappers,
scraps of metal, bones, and other interesting and shiny objects.
Also know as “Woodrats,” these
rodents are permanent and vital
residents to the Monument.
Old packrat nests can be over
thousands of years preserving bones, plants, and artifacts that tell
us the history both inside and outside of the cave.
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Rocky Mountain Goat
In the late 1960’s, the
Rocky Mountain goat was
introduced into Little Cottonwood Canyon. Though
some scientists believe that
it may have once existed in
Utah, no physical evidence
exists to prove this idea.
For this reason, the Rocky
Mountain goat is considered a nonnative species to Utah. During the spring and the summer Rocky Mountain goats dot the back of Mount Timpanogos
and occasionally will venture into the monument.
Great Basin Rattlesnake
The Great Basin Rattlesnake
prefers the warm south facing
slope of the canyon. Occasionally they will cross over to the
shady north facing slope to coil
up near a garbage can and wait
for a foraging chipmunk to pass
within it’s striking range. Rattlesnakes eat mostly small mammals but will sometimes eat other reptiles, amphibians, and small
birds. They hibernate during the winter and are only active during
spring, summer, and early fall. Although most humans find rattlesnakes threatening because of their potentially lethal bite; most
are secretive and will normally warn you with a rattle, if they feel
threatened. A good general rule for dealing with the Great Basin
Rattlesnake is: “if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone.”
Townsends Big-Eared Bat
The Townsends Big-Eared Bat
gets its name from its particularly large ears. Like many
other bats, it hunts at night and
sleeps in caves. Each winter it
searches out a quiet cave where
it can hibernate. If disturbed it
will fly around and use up valuable fat stores needed to survive the winter. The Townsend Big-Eared Bat population is rapidly
declining and is now listed as a sensitive species of concern in
most states. Occasionally a bat or two will use the Timpanogos
Caves as a temporary home.
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Birds
Mountain Chickadee
The name “Mountain Chickadee”
comes from it’s song chika dzee
dzee. This bird feeds on spiders,
spider eggs, insects, and seeds. In
the monument, chickadees nest in
tree cavities and roam the branches of small trees year round.
Western Tanager
The Western Tanager makes it’s
home in coniferous forests. It survives on fruit and insects, and, for
this reason, it can only be found
visiting the monument in the
spring and summer. Although incredibly showy, Tanagers are quite
secretive and are usually only seen
as a flash of bright yellow and red.
Stellars Jay
Found anywhere from Alaska to
Central America the Stellars Jay
has the widest range of any other
Jay. It has the ability to mimic the
call of other birds, in particular,
the Red-tailed Hawk. It uses this
ability to scare away other predators. In the spring, during courtship, the male will feed the female
and jump around her. When chicks come along both the male and
female will care for the young.
Townsends Solitaire
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Violet-green Swallow
The Violet-green Swallow is a bird found only in
the western United States. During the winter, it
migrates to the coasts of southern California and
Mexico. In the summer, this bird builds its nest in
the cliff faces of American Fork Canyon, and puts
on a dazzling display of aerobatics as it swoops the
sky for insects.
Canyon Wren
The Canyon Wren has one of
the most beautiful calls echoing through the canyons of the
Rocky Mountains. Its call starts
on a high note and gradually
descends for about five seconds,
ending on a lower note. In the
monument, the Canyon Wren
is most often seen near the cave entrance and exit year-round. In
other parts of the canyon, this bird can be seen hopping around
on boulders and the dense forest floors looking for insects.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in North America.
Their energy output per unit
of weight is greater than any
known animal except insects.
Hummingbirds can fly forward,
backward, straight up and
down, pivot, and even do summersaults. In the spring and
summer, Black-chinned Hummingbirds will stake territories over
Firecracker Penstemon and fight other hummerbirds to defend
their flowers. The eggs of a Black-chinned Hummingbird are
about the size of a pea, and the nest in which they hatch is small,
cup-shaped, and held together with cobwebs.
The Townsend’s Solitaire will perch itself on the tops of trees as
it looks for insects. While it sits atop a pine, fir, or Juniper trees it
makes a clear soft whistle “heeh.” This bird makes its home on the
soft forest floor and can be found in the monument year-round.
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Insects
Boxelder Bug
The Boxelder Bug gets its name
from the Boxelder trees it invades.
This tree sucking insect does little
damage to the actual tree itself. Females lay eggs on the bark, leaves,
or seed pods of a tree and then will
winter in a sheltered spot such as
tree holes, rocks, and other natural
shelters. Swarms of boxelder
bugs sometimes make their way
into houses and sheds during the late summer and fall. Indoors
these bugs can produce a foul odor when crushed and may stain
curtains and furniture with fecal matter, for this reason, they are
considered pests.
Cave Centipede
Centipedes, despite their
name, which stems from
the Latin words ‘centi’
(meaning ‘hundred’) and
‘ped’ (meaning ‘legs’),
rarely have 100 legs. Usually legs number in the
fifties though it is possible
PHOTO BY C. RILEY NELSON
to find centipedes with
over 200 legs. Centipedes have poisonous claws that they use for
defense and for capturing and immobilizing prey. Colonies of centipedes like to dwell under bats, waiting for smaller bats to fall to
the ground where they paralyze them with their venom and then
slowly devour them.
Painted Lady Butterfly
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Cave Cricket
Cave Crickets are
trogloxenes, meaning
that they live in caves
but will also venture
outside of the cave
environment to feed.
Despite the name these
insects are not true
PHOTO BY C. RILEY NELSON
crickets, but rather
long-horned grasshoppers that are related to the Mormon Cricket. At night Cave
Crickets will leave the cave in search of food. They scavenge on
plants and animals and have even been known to eat lint. Some
cavers believe that the absence or presence of the cave cricket is
an indication of a cave’s health.
Sphinx Moth
The Sphinx Moth also
known as the “Hawk
Moth” is the “hummingbird” of the insect
family. During the
Spring and early Summer these moths hover
over flowers in search
of nectar. Females can
lay as many as 1000 eggs
on the underside of plants, which hatch in just a few days. After
completing their roles in the reproductive process, the Sphinx
Moth dies. The best time to spot a Sphinx Moth is at dusk or after
the sun has set. Moths in general are very important pollinators to
flowers that open in the evening.
The Painted Lady is one of the most widelydistributed butterflies in the world. They occur on all continents except Australia
and Antarctica. Males perch on vegetation patrolling the area
for females, while the females lay eggs on the top of plants such
as Alfalfa or thistle. Before they turn into butterflies, the Painted
Lady Caterpillars live in silk nests and eat leaves. Adults get most
of their nectar from legumes, blazing star, and asters.
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