The excitement around fall foliage photography typically withers with the leaves. While we prepare for the winter season that is to come, there’s always this awkward in-between waiting period that can appear to be difficult to photograph. We call it a “shoulder season,” or the season between peak and off seasons.
While it may not seem like there is much to photograph this time of year, there are several amazing places around the country that shine during shoulder season.
U.S. Spots to Photograph During Shoulder Season
The Southwest United States
This might seem like a very vague place. It’s because the entire region truly shines in the fall shoulder season. While many define the Southwest United States differently, most agree that the region includes the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada.
This area is widely known for its dramatic canyons, desert landscapes, and iconic sandstone features. It is carved by several rivers, including the mighty Colorado River. It also sits on top of the vast Colorado Plateau, which makes up a large portion of the four corner states (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico).
Because of this, the Southwest U.S. is mostly considered “high desert” with elevations hovering several thousand feet above sea level. It’s incredibly hot in the summer, and incredibly cold in the winter. However, in the fall shoulder season, the temperatures can be mild and enjoyable to photograph. While there are occasional storms, the region typically experiences calm, beautiful weather in the fall shoulder season with a greater chance of clouds and brilliant sunrises and sunsets.
With the greater chance for good weather, that means ample opportunities to photograph this region’s endless mind-blowing locations and landmarks. There are national parks like Zion, Grand Canyon, White Sands, and Great Sand Dunes. You can also visit state parks like Valley of Fire and Dead Horse, and national monuments like Vermillion Cliffs and Grand Staircase of the Escalante. There are hundreds of incredible places just waiting to be photographed.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
While the majority of the Teton Park Road closes on November 1st for the winter season, there are still a lot to explore in the fall shoulder season.
There are also three big benefits of visiting this time of year. The first is the lack of crowds. While Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming are always busy with tourists, late fall is particularly slow because ski season hasn’t quite started yet. If you’re looking for peace and solitude, this is the time to visit.
This is also a wonderful chance for wildlife photography. The lack of crowds means more wildlife encounters. Animals like moose, bison, and elk are very commonly seen — especially in the early morning.
Finally, the colder weather makes way for some spectacular conditions. The Tetons look amazing with their snowpack slowly growing. Also, the cold air — combined with the warmer waters of the Snake River — creates beautiful low-lying fog in the morning.
Yosemite Valley, California
Yosemite Valley is located in Yosemite National Park in central California. This iconic, world-renowned national park — known for it’s glacier-carved towering granite walls and formations — is beautiful to shoot in all four seasons.
Yosemite Valley rests squarely in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas. Shoulder season in the mountains can be a wild card. The valley floor only sits around 4,000 feet above sea level. But it typically dodges the dangerous winter storms higher up in the Sierras.
However, the colder temperatures during the fall shoulder season can actually bring some of the best conditions for photography in Yosemite Valley. You can catch low-lying fog in the mornings and even a dusting of snow if you’re lucky.
There are also considerably less crowds during the fall shoulder season. So, if you’re looking for a beautiful yet peaceful experience, now is the time to visit Yosemite National Park.
Highway 101/Highway 1, California
It’s time to visit the coast.Highway 101 in Washington and Oregon sees a lot of rain in the fall shoulder season. Although, the southern section — which winds through giant Redwoods of California — tends to experience much more favorable weather.
California Highway 1, which stems from Highway 101 near San Francisco, also sees favorable weather. It leads to one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline on the planet. From Monterey to Santa Barbara, there are endless, breathtaking views of Big Sur, Pfeiffer State Park, and more.
So if a road trip on the coast is what you’re craving as a photographer, give this idyllic stretch of highway a chance this fall shoulder season.
Death Valley National Park, California
Finally, we have Death Valley National Park. While it’s considered one of the hottest places on earth in the summer months, temperatures drop considerably in the late fall season. This makes this bizarre and beautiful national park very nice to photograph this time of year.
From layers of sand dunes and colorful hills, to vast salt flats and striking desert formations, Death Valley feels like another planet. There’s a reason this national park has been the location for several big Hollywood films and on many photographers’ bucket lists. It’s just that unique and photogenic.
If you’re looking for a location to photograph this fall shoulder season, visit any of these spots for a truly out-of-this-world experience!
