Inspiration Point

From Inspiration Point the land falls away in a series of steps, from the mountain bench where you stand, down across orchards and farms, out to the reservoir of Willard Bay, and beyond it to the marshes and open water of the Great Salt Lake. On a clear day the eye can carry all the way to the ranges on the far side of the lake, and the sheer breadth of the scene, mountain to marsh to shining water, is what makes the overlook special.

The bench you stand on is itself a piece of geology worth knowing. It is an old shoreline of Lake Bonneville, the huge Ice Age lake that once filled this whole basin far deeper than the present Great Salt Lake. As that ancient lake shrank, it left level terraces cut into the mountainsides, and the flat benches where Willard and the other towns sit are those old beaches, high above today's water.

The wetlands spreading below the overlook are part of one of the most important bird areas on the continent, where the Bear River pours into the Great Salt Lake and creates a vast expanse of marsh, mudflat, and shallow water. Fed by the lake's brine shrimp and flies and by the fresh marshes, these wetlands draw millions of migrating birds, and from Inspiration Point you can watch them moving across the landscape below.

In spring and fall the migration is at its height, and great flocks of ducks, geese, shorebirds, pelicans, and ibis fill the marshes. Even from the overlook, birds are often visible rising and settling in waves, and with binoculars the wetlands come alive. It is a rare chance to take in an entire wetland ecosystem from above, seeing at a glance how the mountains, marsh, and lake fit together.

This country lies within the ancestral homeland of the Shoshone people, whose lands stretched across these valleys, marshes, and mountains and whose descendants remain in the region today. The wetlands below were long a place of hunting, fishing, and gathering, rich with birds, eggs, fish, and marsh plants through the seasons.

Mormon settlers reached the fertile bench beneath the mountains in the mid-1800s and founded Willard, Brigham City, and the other towns strung along the base of the Wasatch. The reliable mountain streams and the warm bench soil made this famous fruit-growing country, and the roadside fruit stands of the Golden Spike country still draw travelers each summer and fall, adding to the pleasures of a visit to the overlook.

Spring and fall are the finest seasons at Inspiration Point, with clear air, mild temperatures, and the marshes below alive with migrating birds. The bench orchards blossom in spring and hang heavy with fruit in late summer and fall, and the light in those shoulder seasons is soft and long.

Summer is warm and can bring haze over the valley by afternoon, so mornings are clearer, while winter is cold and quiet, the marshes sometimes iced and the mountains behind dusted with snow. In any season, the overlook is at its best near sunset, when the sun drops toward the far ranges and the whole sweep of water and wetland below catches fire with color.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Inspiration Point is one of the premier viewpoints along the rim of Bryce Canyon National Park, offering a breathtaking panorama over the park's vast amphitheater, a natural bowl filled with thousands of colorful hoodoos, the tall, thin rock spires Bryce is famous for. Reached by a short walk from the scenic road, with upper and lower viewing levels, it is a must-see stop that captures the otherworldly beauty of Bryce in a single sweeping view.

Sunrise is the classic time, when the rising sun sets the amphitheater of hoodoos aglow in fiery orange and red, and sunset is beautiful too. The viewpoint is rewarding year-round, and winter is especially magical, when snow dusts the red hoodoos for a striking contrast and the rim road stays open. Whenever you go, a clear day offers the fullest views, and early or late light makes the colors most vivid for photography.

It is reached by a short walk from the parking area, though the climb to the upper viewpoint is fairly steep, so take your time, especially at this high elevation. Be aware the rim has unfenced cliff edges with sheer drops, so stay back from the edge, remain on the established viewpoints, and keep children close at all times. In winter, the path can be icy, so traction devices and careful footing are important.

Bryce Canyon's rim sits above 8,000 feet, so the air is thinner and you may tire more quickly, especially on the short uphill to the viewpoint, so pace yourself and stay hydrated. The high elevation also means strong sun and cool temperatures, even in summer, with cold and snow in winter, so bring layers, sun protection, and water. Weather can change fast, so be prepared for conditions cooler than the surrounding lowlands.

It is one of a series of spectacular overlooks along the Bryce amphitheater rim, connected by the scenic Rim Trail to nearby viewpoints like Sunset Point and Bryce Point, so you can walk between several for different perspectives. In peak season, the park shuttle makes getting around easy and eases parking. Inspiration Point is an essential stop, but combining it with the other rim views and a hike down among the hoodoos makes for a fuller Bryce experience.