Visiting Inspiration Point may involve perspiration

However, if you want to scale Willard Park, you take a good spur trail for a few hundred yards upward. Then, a variety of mountain goat paths lead to the craggy summit, and a little scrambling is required.

The main mountain saddle trail is well marked, but it is not for those afraid of heights. It has been carved into the side of the mountain, and the mammoth mountain fins and spires that can be seen from Willard or nearby I-15 are viewed from a different perspective along this trail — straight down!

Ben Lomond is the most dominant peak from the valley below in Weber County. From the mountain saddle, the peaks of Willard and Ben Lomond summits seem equal. Ben Lomond is most famous for having inspired the creation of the exaggerated (and fictional) mountain peak in the Paramount Pictures logo. That's no legend, it's a fact recorded in the official Paramount history.

"I love it," said Kerrie Tippets of Roy after reaching the summit of Ben Lomond Peak. "It's amazing."

Later, Dave Jensen of Perry and Rachel Boyle of North Ogden arrived at the summit to enjoy the view on an early August day afternoon. They found the cell phone reception there excellent.

However, a lot of smoke and haze made it impossible to see Davis County to the south, or much of Cache Valley to the north. This was a day when the Logan LDS Temple would not be visible to with the naked eye from here.

The scenic "Backway" dirt road from Mantua to Inspiration Point offers a lot of solitude on weekdays, though ATV riders do frequent there regularly on weekends.

Getting to the mountain saddle here is half the adventure, too, with various options to choose from.

The easiest transportation option is the 14-mile, rugged dirt road drive from Mantua to aptly named Inspiration Point. Take the first Mantua exit off Highway 89, about five miles east of Brigham City. Look for an LDS Church to the south and get on the main road that passes it and keep going.

But be warned! This road was passable by car in the 1970s, but it has since eroded and has huge rocks and ruts. A car simply can't drive this road now. A four-wheel drive vehicle is best, or an ATV or motorcycle.

Also, be cautious and slow on the many blind curves — you never know what's coming around the corner from the other direction.

You can go all the way to Inspiration Point by vehicle, then park and hike south to Willard or Ben Lomond peaks. As you round the final curve and reach Inspiration Point, it's like you're parking on a cloud, with so much dizzying open space around.

The basin road starts at an elevation of 5,500 feet in Mantua. It passes by a campground, above Perry Reservoir and a private access road.