I was deep into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Box Elder County, cruising along on a bumpy Jeep trail with nothing but evergreens lining the roadway. All of a sudden, two quail crossed the road ahead of me. Rounding the next corner, the trees opened up to a panoramic view of the valley floor to the east, punctuated by a stunning rock outcropping framing the scene.

It would be a long evening, winding up from the tiny village of Mantua, with a 13-mile off-road adventure up to Inspiration Point. I put the pedal to the floorboard, climbing up a steep incline to the next viewpoint.

Utah has its share of driveable high alpine roads. Guardsman Pass, just above Park City, is a great example. The journey up to Francis Peak in Davis County, or the Skyline Drive in central Utah, all offer stunning viewpoints.

But the route up Inspiration Point was never on my radar. 

After breaking out of the trees, valley views were omnipresent. Winding my way up switchback after switchback, I stopped for short hikes out to various rock formations. 

Whether it’s the window of an airliner at 35,000 feet, or perched on a rock high above a valley floor, I’ve always been transfixed by the scenes of roadways and cities, farms and fields down below. Houses dotting the landscape. Fields of crops sculpted out of the rich terrain. Trails twisting and turning from the valley up the mountainsides.

Hands down, this was the most stunning alpine drive I’ve tackled in Utah. Each turn represented yet another breathtaking photo opportunity. 

Winding up a few more switchbacks, the views took a turn. Suddenly, the expansive valley views to the east were replaced by quick peeks out to the west. Reaching to 9,000 feet, the trail hugged the side of the mountain traversing ever closer to the final climb up to Inspiration Point.

There are several components to a great Jeep outing. One is a route with sufficient adventure, though not too much. The drive up to Inspiration Point is rocky, bumpy, and steep. The other important aspect is the breathtaking views. This route overdelivers! Every time I came to a rocky overlook to photograph, I thought to myself, “Maybe this is far enough up, and I should head back down before dark.”

But I forged on towards Inspiration Point.

It was now golden hour, with the sun sinking over the Great Salt Lake. The dense forest fire smoke refracted its colorful beams, still casting brilliant red hues onto the rock faces. 

The final climb wound its way through another dense forest to a panoramic parking lot at the top. Sitting on the single park bench, I gazed out to the rocky know that was Willard Peak. The smoky haze made it difficult to see mountains in the distance. So I grabbed my Peak Finder app to see what I was missing — dozens and dozens of peaks in every direction. On a clear day you can see out to Nevada to the west, Idaho to the north, and Wyoming to the east.

To the west, you can gaze down on Willard Bay in the Great Salt Lake with the setting sun reflecting off the calm waters. The smoke-filled skies were ablaze in orange as the sun crept down to the horizon line somewhere off towards Promontory Point.

Suddenly I awoke from what seemed like a dream, realizing I still had to drive back down.

DETAILS

Getting there: Head north on I-15 to Brigham City, then take U.S. 89/91 about six miles to Mantua. Head up Main Street to Willard Peak Road and start climbing. It’s about 90 minutes from Park City to the trailhead.

Trail: While it may seem decent in the first few miles with the family Subaru, this is an offroad vehicle trail — perfect for a Jeep Wrangler or OHV. While there’s nothing notably technical, you’ll find rocks, ruts, and washouts all the way up the trail, which is very steep at times. It’s about 13 miles to the top. Plan on a 90-minute to two-hour drive up to Inspiration Point. It’s a bumpy route, so dropping the pressure in your tires to around 20 pounds will smooth things out. You can get down in 45 minutes.

What to bring: Water — lots of water — and a snack or a picnic. Load the route into your GPS app before heading up. There is decent cell coverage.