Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 40.39938°N / 111.63732°W
Additional Information County: Utah
Activities Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Ice Climbing, Scrambling, Skiing
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Elevation: 10993 ft / 3351 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview.

Robert's Horn is one of the more popular summits on the Mt. Timpanogos massif. Just shy of 11,000 feet at 10,993, this peak is seen on both approaches from both the Aspen Grove and Timponeke trails leading up the mountain. It rises above the Emerald Lake area and is a common secondary objective for those attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Timpanogos at 11,750 feet. The views from the summit of Robert's Horn are probably some of the best on Mt. Timpanogos. A gentle class II ridge leads to the summit from the upper basin areas, which all have a common point from Emerald Lake. Other much more rugged routes, primarily those seeking some great consolidated snow climbs, are available on the east face above Aspen Grove and Primrose Cirque.

The naming of Robert's Horn is from a popular local in the early part of the 1900's, who was later nicknamed Gene "Timp" Roberts. Roberts started the annual Timp hike in 1912, which lasted solidly until 1970. A little more on the history of the area in a later section.



Photos.

Robert s HornDean's great photo showing the Aspen Grove area and Robert's Horn.


Roberts HornMountaingazelle's exceptional photo of upper Primrose Cirque and Robert's Horn.


Roberts Horn, Wasatch, UtahMarauder's fantastic photo of Robert's Horn.











Getting There.

Two access points can be used for Robert's Horn, the Timponeke Trail on the north side of the mountain, and Aspen Grove on the east. Both of these sections have already been written by Dean, he has written them in excellent fashion, the info is copied from his pages. One other thing to note is that the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, which is used for the Timponeke approach mainly, is a very narrow winding road on the north and east side of Timp. Some drivers on this road don't exercise the same discretion while on the road as some of us, use caution on this road and keep your eyes peeled, especially around the corners.

The Alpine Scenic Loop is usually closed from October through May during the winter season.


Timponeke Trail access.

From I-15 take the 284 exit(no longer the 287 exit as shown on some maps so be aware of this change) and go east on highway 92. Also note that it mentions Alpine and Cedar Hills and if you see this, you've got the correct exit. Go 8 miles until you enter the American Fork Canyon and you'll be confronted by a fee booth. Continue on another 8.2 miles (passing the Timpanogos Cave national monument area) until you come to the Timpooneke Campground on the right side of the road. The trailhead to the Timpooneke route is just beyond the campground area.

Aspen Grove access.

You can access Mt. Timpanogos easily from Highway I-15, using the 272 exit. and driving east along highway 52 ( 800 North in Orem) to the junction with highway 189, the Provo Canyon road. Be aware that there is road construction going on in Provo canyon but that now seems to be further up Provo Canyon. Go East on 189 for 7 miles to the Sundance Ski resort turnoff (watch for it just after you go through a tunnel) and turn left on highway 92 for 6 miles, going past the Sundance ski area and the Aspen Grove recreation area. Proceed until you come to a fee booth (pay the fee ) and look for parking just beyond in a lot at the left. If full, look for additional parking just up the road. From the parking lot, you'll find the most popular trail, the Aspen Grove trail that heads on up the mountain

Red Tape.

American Fork Canyon and Aspen Grove charges a use fee of $6.00 for a minimal 3 day use pass. Pay these fees at the trail head locations through out the canyon in envelopes and drop boxes provided.

There is a 15 person group size limitation.

Campfires are not permitted on the mountain, and camping must be 200 feet from lakes or streams.

Leashed dogs are permitted on the trails on Mt. Timpanogos, good news for you dog owners.

Camping.

Developed Camping.

Timponeke Campground.

The Timponeke Campground is located just below the trail head area. Reserve this one well in advance as it is booked full for most of the summer season. Fee's are charged, water and latrines are available.

More info on this campground:


Location: From Pleasant Grove go 13 miles northeast on UT 92 and Forest Road 114.
Address: Pleasant Grove Ranger District
Uinta National Forest
390 North 100 East
Pleasant Grove, UT
Phone: 801-342-5240
Season: May - October
Fee: $11/ single; $22/ double; $3/ entrance
Reservations: tel: 1-877-444-6777

Mt. Timpanogos Campground.

In the Aspen Grove area is the Mt. Timpanogos Campground, which offers developed camping sites, water and latrines. The Aspen Grove Trailhead is a short walk from a lot of the camping areas at this location. This campground is very popular, book a reservation well ahead of time.

Description: Elevation 6800 feet. 27 campsites.

Address: Pleasant Grove Ranger District
Uinta National Forest
390 North 100 East
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 Phone: 801-785-3563

Season: May - October
Fee: $11/ night; $3 entrance fee

Reservations: tel: 1-877-444-6777

More information on this location can be seen here.

Back country camping.

There are many back country campsites on Mt. Timpanogos, which usually follow the 200 foot rule from any lake or stream though tents have been seen perched on the small center portion of Emerald Lake. There are several areas located in the vicinity of Hidden Lakes Cirque, which can be reached by a short off trail walk. Other sites are abundant along the Timponeke trail as well.

When to climb and gear.

This peak can be climbed year round.

Winter and Spring:

Access from the Timponeke Trail is much not used commonly as the access to the trail head is closed. Otherwise, probably the foremost danger on the Aspen Grove Trail is upper portion of Primrose Cirque, which falls victim to avalanches during the winter months. Use discretion when in the back country during the winter season in this area. The Utah Avalanche Center is a great resource for checking on the current snow conditions of the Wasatch. While venturing onto the higher portion of the mountain during the winter season, an ice axe and crampons are highly recommended. Avy gear is highly recommended. Another topic worth mentioning is the "Killer Snow Holes," that form at the smaller waterfall areas on the Aspen Grove Trail during May and June as the water flows beneath the snow pack. This phenomenon has taken lives in the past, the Forest Service now has a regular practice of posting signs at these locations, even blowing them up if conditions warrant doing so.

If heading up during the snow season, please check out the Utah Avalanche Center link here for the most current snow conditions on the mountain before venturing out.

Summer and Fall:

This is by far the most popular time for hiking and exploring on Timpanogos. Early summer from late May and early June will still have the possibility of needing an axe and crampons handy, fine consolidated snow awaits on the upper reaches of the mountain. Compacted snow can linger well into the summer months depending on the previous winter snow pack. In mid to late summer a good sturdy set of boots and trekking poles will come in handy. Also at this time be prepared for the insects that always come out of the woodwork. The fall season is probably the most scenic time on the mountain, though temperatures can be brisk later on, a good soft shell jacket is essential.

Route information.

This peak can be reached by either the Aspen Grove approach or Timponeke. Dean has excellent route pages existing for both of these. The information used below is approximate for each route.

Aspen Grove:

This route is the shortest but requiring more elevation gain to the peak.

Stats:

Mileage one way: 4.7
Elevation Gain: 4,143 feet.
Class II

Timponeke:

This route is a longer approach, however with less elevation gain.

Stats:

Mileage one way: 5.8
Elevation Gain: 3,633 feet.
Class II

Both routes usually will bring you to the Timpanogos shelter above Emerald Lake. The south west ridge leading to the top of Robert's Horn is directly to the north east of the shelter, a short walk away. The ridge is class II, boulder hopping along the ridge line once in a while dropping a short distance to the south east to bypass dwarf pines and very small blocks here and there. There is some exposure into Timp basin to the north west on one or two sections, however avoiding the edge will abate this problem easily.

Geology.

Mt. Timpanogos' entire upper bulk is made of the Oquirrh Formation, which is a layered strata of limestone, mainly gray and light tan, with thin beds of quartzite. The age of the formation dates back to 270 to 325 million years old. In the gray colored limestone beds on the mountain fossils can be found, some places with more abundant deposits than others. Keep your eyes peeled for these as they are in different locations along the mountain.




Mountain Weather.

Mt. Timpanogos is one to check on with the weather before venturing out. The closest locations to the area discussed are Sundance Ski Resort, and the town of Alpine to the west. Two links for weather location are included below:

Alpine, Utah weather link.

Sundance Resort, Utah weather link.




A little history.

As mention in the first section, Robert's Horn was named after Gene "Timp" Roberts. Gene was born in Provo, Utah in 1880. From an early age he explored the South Wasatch. Gene later became the Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University. He started the annual Timp Hike in 1912, which reached the mountain in wagons. Keep in mind they approached the summit from Aspen Grove, the current trail was not built until 1921. This annual Timp Hike continued until 1970. Another interesting note is that the road to Aspen Grove was not paved until 1937.

More information.

An excellent resource for Mt. Timpanogos is Michael R. Kelsey's book, Climbing and Exploring Utah's Mt. Timpanogos.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

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AriehDavid

AriehDavid - May 2, 2011 11:31 am - Hasn't voted

No glaciers in Utah

Just for the sake of accuracy regarding the 'glaciers' mentioned on this SP page, please check out the link below... http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/gladasked/gladglaciers.htm

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