There and Back Again

Here are some side trips I took while traveling to & from southeast Utah.

Willard Mountain

Behind Brigham City, UT, in the Wasatch Mountains, is a road that climbs a mile up to "Inspiration Point". (Why are all viewpoints named that?) The top of Willard Mountain has been flattened into a parking lot that even has a nice park bench for viewing Brigham City, Ogden, and miles out into the Great Salt Lake. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   41.3908, -111.9860 

Willard Mountain - Inspiration Point Willard Mountain - Inspiration Point

On the way, the road winds through hillsides covered with autumn-yellowed aspen trees.

Willard Mountain - Road - Black Mountain - Aspen Trees Willard Mountain - Road - Aspen Trees

Silver Island and Crater Island

Seeking the far reaches of remoteness, I drove out to Crater Island — the north end of Silver Island on the Bonneville Salt Flat. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   41.1302, -113.7732 

Crater Island - Bones Crater Island - Campsite - Sportsmobile Crater Island - Circles Crater Island - Campsite - Sunset

Not much here but wide open spaces, and some old abandoned mines.

Crater Island - Mine Crater Island - Mining Claim Crater Island - Mine Crater Island - Mine

Silver Island is loaded with little caves. Here's one I hadn't visited yet . See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   40.8065, -113.9418  Inside was a smoke-blackened ceiling, and some old mattresses.

Silver Island - Cave Silver Island - Cave Silver Island

Whitman National Forest, OR

I found this peaceful spot to camp just off Interstate 84 — just outside the official campground at Whitman National Forest's Spring Creek. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   45.3594, -118.3147  Well, it was peaceful until someone nearby started shooting their rifle at 7:30 AM.

Whitman National Forest, OR - Spring Creek - Campsite - Sunrise