Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Strap on your hiking boots and bring plenty of water when you head up the mountain to see this beautifully eerie cave. The ascent will take you anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours. It's pretty steep (a 35% grade and a 1,092-foot gain in elevation), so it's not for the faint of heart. To be safe, start up the mountain a good two to three hours before your tour is scheduled to begin. Hang out at the opening to the cave to wait for your spot to go inside.

The hike is definitely worth it. The views are spectacular (stop and take them in when you're pretending you don't need to catch your breath), as is the cave. Stalagmites, stalactites, weird rock formations (and places where you have to duck to get through)—this cave has them all. As with all caves, it's cold inside, so bring a jacket. No hard-sided backpacks are allowed inside, and you have to wear your backpack on your front to traverse the cave.

The Rangers here are terrific. They know their stuff, and they definitely look out for anyone who's dealing with a bit of claustrophobia inside the cave.

Around the cave, you'll find plenty of lovely picnic spots. You can also hang out at the beach by the reservoir (you can even go fishing). Camping is easy to find in the Deer Creek area, especially if you use Hipcamp.