National Park Service In accordance with applicable law and policy, and pursuant to the delegated authorities provided in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1 (“36 CFR”), the following compendium actions apply to lands and waters administered by the National Park Service (NPS) within the boundaries of Golden Spike National Historical Park, Fossil Butte National Monument, Timpanogos Cave National Monument collectively herein after referred to as “Parks”. This document is the written compilation of designations, closures, permit requirements and other restrictions imposed under the discretionary authority of the Superintendent, as required by 36 CFR 1.7(b). Violating any provision in this Compendium may result in criminal penalties under 36 CFR 1.3. The compendium actions in this document apply in addition to all other laws that apply to lands and waters administered by the NPS within the boundaries of the Parks. These include:
NPS regulations in 36 CFR 1.4 define certain terms that are used in 36 CFR. Other sections in 36 CFR may define terms that are used in those sections. To the extent any terms defined in the CFR are used in this Compendium, those definitions apply. In addition to terms defined in the CFR, the following terms used in this Compendium are defined as follows: Parks - Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Golden Spike National Historical Park, and Fossil Butte National Monument. 36 CFR 1.5 – CLOSURES AND PUBLIC USE LIMITS.
Limits on public access are necessary to protect federal facilities from theft, vandalism or inappropriate activities, to prevent visitor interference in administrative operations and for employee and visitor safety.
Limits on public access are necessary to protect federal facilities from theft, vandalism or inappropriate activities, to prevent visitor interference in administrative operations and for employee and visitor safety.
Temporary closures may be necessary at any time due to maintenance activities, inclement weather, road conditions or other unforeseen circumstances for visitor safety or the protection of park resources. Public Use Limits and Closures
Overnight parking or camping are prohibited to protect park resources. The Parks do not have facilities such as campgrounds or 24-hour restrooms, nor the staff presence to accommodate overnight use.
Parking spaces are limited and not designed for livestock/OHV loading/unloading. This prohibition is necessary so that parking areas are not monopolized by large vehicles unloading livestock and OHVs then riding outside the parks. This can displace park visitors from the parking areas. Timpanogos Cave National Monument limits and closures:
The areas south of Utah Highway 92 are a fragile and dynamic environment consisting of caves, avalanche chutes, rockslide areas. These closures and restrictions to public access, activities and visiting hours are to protect natural and cultural resources from resource damage, theft, vandalism or inappropriate activities, and for visitor and employee safety.
The Cave trail passes through a fragile and dynamic environment consisting of caves, avalanche chutes, rockslide areas. These closures and restrictions to public access, activities and visiting hours are to protect natural and cultural resources from resource damage, theft, vandalism.
The Cave trail passes through a fragile and dynamic environment consisting of caves, avalanche chutes, rockslide areas. These closures and restrictions to public access, activities and visiting hours are to protect natural and cultural resources from resource damage, theft, vandalism.
The Cave trail passes through a fragile and dynamic environment consisting of caves, avalanche chutes, rockslide areas. These closures and restrictions to public access, activities and visiting hours are to protect natural and cultural resources from resource damage, theft, vandalism. The Cave Trail is a narrow, paved trail with steep inclines and sheer drop-offs that passes thought a dynamic environment with many known rockslide areas. The use of wheeled vehicles exposes visitors, both those using the vehicle and those around them, to increased risk of rock strikes, or the need to move around the wheeled device on the narrow trail, to increased risk of bodily harm. The prohibition on wheeled vehicles is necessary to reduce the risk of serious bodily harm or death on the trail. Wheelchairs are allowed where other devices are not because they are essential mobility aids for individuals with disabilities, and their use is protected under accessibility laws to ensure equal access.
The Cave Trail is a narrow trail with steep inclines and sheer drop-offs that passes thought a dynamic environment with many known rockslide areas. Adult supervision of those under 16 is necessary to reduce the risk of serious bodily harm or death on the trail.
The Timpanogos Cave System is a fragile cave system full of delicate and irreplaceable nature features. These limitations are necessary to protect the cave resources from vandalism.
Golden Spike National Historical Park limits and closures:
Public access limits are necessary to protect government property from damage, theft, vandalism or inappropriate activities and for visitor and employee safety, as well as preclude interference with administrative operations by visitors.
Public access limits are necessary to protect government property from damage, theft, vandalism or inappropriate activities and for visitor and employee safety, as well as preclude interference with administrative operations by visitors.
Public access limits are necessary to protect government property from damage, theft, vandalism or inappropriate activities and for visitor and employee safety, as well as preclude interference with administrative operations by visitors.
At times the West Auto Tour must be closed to allow for the use of rights of way across the grade to be used by adjacent private landowners for their cattle to cross.
This closure is necessary due to the narrow and confined road (historic railroad grade) widths found in many sections of the tour. Fossil Butte National Monument limits and closures: NPS does not have sufficient staff to appropriately manage visitors during the overnight hours. Leaving developed areas at night can cause, through theft and vandalism, significant damage to the natural and cultural resources in the park, including plants, wildlife, and paleontological and archeological sites.
These roads are not designed or maintained for visitor use. Visitor use of the roads would lead to unacceptable resource impacts.
This closure is necessary to protect the paleontological resources, and to prevent rockfall on staff and visitors in the area.
This restriction is necessary to prevent unacceptable impacts to park resources and values from the use of uncrewed aircraft. Potential impacts include harming visitors, interfering with rescue operations, causing excessive noise, impacting viewsheds, and disturbing wildlife. This restriction is required by NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 dated June 19, 2014.
The idling of large engines adds unnecessary exhaust fumes to the air and diminishes the enjoyment by visitors of the peace and tranquility of the park.
Federal law at 54 U.S.C. 100905 states that permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording in park areas if certain requirements are met. These requirements address various topics, including, but not limited to, group size, location, equipment, potential impacts to resources and visitors, and the likelihood that the NPS will incur related administrative costs. If any of these requirements are not met, the law allows the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the NPS, to require a permit for the subject activity. Permit requirements are imposed by the superintendent under discretionary authority provided by 36 CFR 1.5(a)(2), which allows the superintendent to impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity, consistent with applicable legislation, to implement management responsibilities. The general regulations for permits in 36 CFR 1.6 do not apply to permits issued for filming, still photography, and audio recording, which instead are governed by the statutory provisions in 54 U.S.C. 100905. The imposition of permit requirements, on a case-by-case basis, for filming, still photography, or audio recording does not require rulemaking under 36 CFR 1.5(b). Requiring a permit with reasonable terms and conditions in accordance with statutory requirements at 54 U.S.C. 100905 is not highly controversial, will not result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern of the System unit, will not adversely affect the System unit’s natural, aesthetic, scenic or cultural values, or require a long-term or significant modification in the resource management objectives of the System unit, because the permit requirement is limited in time and scope to the specific activities authorized by the permit, which contain terms and conditions that protect the values, resources, and visitors of the System unit, and implements federal law.
36 CFR 1.6 – ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT
36 CFR 2.1 (a)(4) – PRESERVATION OF NATURAL, CULTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
The collection of dead wood is not permitted due to the insufficient resources. The collection of wood in the parks removes natural resources from the park and could result in degradation of the resource. 36 CFR 2.13(a)-FIRES
The use of fires in the parks is regulated to prevent wildfires and protect structures, natural & cultural resources and the public. This limitation does not apply to self-contained grills, stoves and other similar cooking devices. 36 CFR 2.13(a)-SANITATION AND WASTE
This limitation is necessary to protect cave resources including cave walls, ceilings, floors, and speleothems, as well as cultural, hydrologic, geologic, and biological features from damage. 36 CFR 2.15-PETS 36 CFR 2.15 (a)(1) Limitations
The cave trail and caves are located in a sensitive environment. Pets in these areas present a danger to other visitors, wildlife and the cave environment. 36 CFR 2.15 (a)(5) Excrement Pet excrement causes sanitation problems in visitor use areas and can negatively effect the local environment. 36 CFR 2.16-HORSES AND PACK ANIMALS 36 CFR 2.16(b) – Designated location
Limitations on stock use are required to protect native vegetation and minimize the introduction of exotic invasive plants.
36 CFR 2.16(b) –CONDITIONS
Limitations on stock use are required to protect native vegetation and minimize the introduction of exotic invasive plants.
36 CFR 2.2 (d) – WILDLIFE PROTECTION
The Parks are closed to all hunting activities and must ensure wildlife is not taken within their boundaries. 36 CFR 2.21-SMOKING
Smoking is prohibited to protect public health, structures and resources from fire danger or smoke, and minimize conflicts among visitor use activities. 36 CFR 2.35 (a)(3)(i) – ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
The consumption of an alcoholic beverage or the possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage would be inappropriate considering the historic, Natural and cultural significance and sensitivity associated with the parks.
The viewing of wildlife at night with the use of artificial light can temporarily blinds animals causing them to become unnatural prey for predators and poachers. 36 CFR 2.51 – Demonstrations and designated available park areas
The designated locations are in prominent locations near the park visitor centers that will allow individuals and groups to conduct demonstrations in a manner that will allow for effective communication of speech and other protected activities. At the same time, the designated location leaves ample space for visitors to enter and leave the visitor center safely and for the NPS to conduct administrative activities such as interpretive events. 36 CFR 2.52 – SALE OF PRINTED MATTER AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRINTED MATTER AND OTHER MESSAGE-BEARING ITEMS.
The designated location is in a prominent location near the visitor center that will allow individuals and groups to conduct demonstrations in a manner that will allow for effective communication of speech and other protected activities. At the same time, the designated location leaves ample space for visitors to enter and leave the visitor center safely and for the NPS to conduct administrative activities such as interpretive events. 36 CFR 4.21 (b)-SPEED LIMITS
Speed restrictions are placed to reduce vehicle accidents on narrow roadways, protect wildlife and other natural resources. 36 CFR 4.30 – BICYCLES. Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles are allowed in the following locations where traditional bicycles also are allowed:
Allowing electric bicycles on roads and parking areas will not create new, adverse impacts to resources or visitors because those locations are already used by motor vehicles and traditional bicycles. Electric bicycles provide a recreational opportunity for visitors who want to ride a bicycle but might not otherwise because of physical fitness, age, or convenience, especially at high altitudes and on terrain with changing elevations. Class 3 electric bicycles, which allow the motor to assist pedaling up to 28 mph, would create unacceptable risks to visitor safety on roads and parking areas in the park due to potential conflicts with heavier and faster motor vehicles, and with other electric bicycles and traditional bicycles, which travel at slower speeds. Accidents that occur at higher speeds increase the risk of serious injury or death. APPENDIX 1 - DEMONSTRATIONS AND DESIGNATED AVAILABLE PARK AREASAreas outlined in red are designated as available for demonstrations and the sale or distribution of printed matter, and the free distribution of other message-bearing items.Golden Spike NHPTimpanogos Cave NMFossil Butte NM APPENDIX 1 - DEMONSTRATIONS AND DESIGNATED AVAILABLE PARK AREASAreas outlined in red are designated as available for demonstrations and the sale or distribution of printed matter, and the free distribution of other message-bearing items.
Golden Spike NHP
Timpanogos Cave NM
Fossil Butte NM ![]() NPS |
Last updated: May 2, 2025