The United States is a mecca for outdoor photography. Yes, our country is known for concrete jungles and urban centers like New York City or Los Angeles, but there are outdoor destinations as diverse, beautiful, and jaw-dropping as any on the planet. Each of the 50 states, while different and unique, has opportunities for photographers and content creators who crave the outdoors. Although, few stand out above the rest as true icons in the photography world. Here are the best states for outdoor photography:
Alaska
Alaska, or as it is affectionately nicknamed, the “Last Frontier,” is the wildest of the 50 states. Large enough to be its own country, Alaska spans over 660,000 square miles. Inside its borders, it’s home to eight incredible national parks as well as the tallest mountain in North America, Denali at 20,310 feet. Alaska’s mountains are big, wilderness vast, and natural wonders plentiful. The most intriguing aspect of Alaska is that there are areas of the state that have yet to be photographed. There are “blank spaces” on the map waiting to be filled. For anyone searching for adventure and opportunity, Alaska is the state for you.
Locations in Alaska to photograph:
Denali National Park & Preserve
Denali National Park & Preserve might be the most popular outdoor destination in all of Alaska. This is simply because of its biggest attraction, Denali, North America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet high. Denali is the centerpiece of the Alaska Range, which covers the southern half of the park’s 6 million acres of interior wilderness. Its epic mountainous terrain is teeming with wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep. It’s the quintessential Alaska experience and is a must for photographers visiting Alaska.
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is the only location on this list with no roads leading to the park. In fact, the only way to this beautiful national park and preserve is by boat or float plane. This only adds to the intrigue and remoteness of this place. Located at the base of the Alaska Peninsula four million acres of protected wilderness, there are endless mountain and coastal landscapes waiting to be explored.
Katmai National Park & Preserve
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on a peninsula around 260 miles southwest of Anchorage and just south of Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. It has over four million acres of beautiful tundra, forests, lakes, mountains, volcanoes, and most importantly, bears. Home to one of the most photographed locations in all of the state, Brook Falls, this is where hundreds of grizzly bears visit each year for its infamous salmon run.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest national park, not just in Alaska, but in the United States. At 13.2 million acres, it’s larger than Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined. Its filled with some of the wildest landscapes you will ever see, from massive glaciers, active volcanic fields, and mountains that climb over 18,000 feet. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is a place of extremes that will excite even the most seasoned outdoor photographer.
California
California is one of the most sought after states in America, known for its cities and beaches. However, California for outdoor photographers offers some of the most incredible and diverse destinations on the planet. From the massive granite walls and formations of Yosemite National Park, to the towering Redwoods and Sequoias in the north and south regions of the state, California boasts a gorgeous coastline, massive mountains, and unforgiving desert.
Locations in California to photograph:
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the world — and for good reason. Its world-famous Yosemite Valley, one of the most photographed outdoor destinations in history, is home to towering, glacier-carved cliffs and waterfalls that fall thousands of feet to the valley floor below. Iconic features like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls all await you. If you’re looking for more solitude, there are over 750,000 acres of wilderness to explore outside of Yosemite Valley, deep in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Big Sur & Highway 1
If the coast is more of your thing, California has one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world. The crown jewel of its coastline is Big Sur, a rugged stretch of central California coastline between Carmel-by-the Sea and San Simeon, bordered by the Santa Lucia Mountains, traversed by State Route 1, highly revered as one of the most beautiful drives in the country. Around every winding turn is a beautiful view. There are several amazing state parks on the route, like Pfeiffers Big Sur State Park and Julia Burns State Park.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
These two national parks, located next to each other in the central Sierra Nevada mountains, just north of Fresno, are incredibly scenic and special parks. They not only offer access to pristine alpine wilderness terrain but also the biggest trees in the world, the Sequoia tree. A drive up the beautiful, winding Generals Highway will connect you to both parks. There are also famous stops along the way like the Giant Forest and General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree.
Death Valley National Park
Offering a completely different perspective of California, Death Valley National Park straddles the Nevada-California border and runs parallel to the eastern Sierras. It offers some of the wildest desert landscapes in the country, like Artists Pallet and Zabriskie Point. So wild that they’ve been featured in several Hollywood space films. The park also features the lowest point in the country, Badwater Basin, located 282 feet below sea level.
Colorado
When you think about mountains, you think of Colorado. The heart of the Rocky Mountains runs through this incredibly beautiful state. It offers some of the most iconic mountain destinations in the United States. From the Elk Range and the iconic Maroon Bells in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park in the Front Range, or the magical San Juans in the southwest corner of the state, Colorado is a dream to shoot. There’s even a giant mountain sandbox, Great Sand Dunes National Park, which is great to play in.
Locations in Colorado to photograph:
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most famous and photographed national parks in the country. This is partially thanks to its close proximity to Denver, Colorado and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is known for its beautiful alpine lakes, mountain vistas, forests, and alpine tundra, along with its diverse alpine wildlife. It also features the highest continuous paved road in the U.S., Trail Ridge Road. This provides access to iconic mountains like Longs Peak, the park’s highest mountain at 14,256 feet, made famous for its distinct, knobbed shape.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America and home to one of the most beautiful and bizarre landscapes in the country. These towering, layering dunes tower over 700 feet. They make for incredible images from afar, or up close and personal, hiking within the dunes.
San Juan Mountain Range
Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, the San Juan Mountain Range is home to the most beautiful mountains in Colorado. The San Juan Mountains are tall–with over 13 peaks over 14,000 feet, jagged, distinct, and colorful, thanks to their mineral-rich soil and the plethora of wildflowers in the summer and aspen trees in the fall. The San Juans are also known for their pristine, vibrant alpine lakes, historic mountain towns like Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton, and iconic San Juan Skyway )(one of the most beautiful mountain drives in the world.)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is another southwest Colorado gem. It’s one of the most underrated photography locations in the country. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is over 48 miles long and over 2,700 feet deep at its deepest spots. It’s carved by the mighty Gunnison River. Its steep, dramatic walls and distinct landmarks, like its famous Painted Wall, can be easily photographed from various viewpoints along the canyon’s edge.
Wyoming
Wyoming might not be the first state you think of for photography opportunities, but trust me when I say it’s worth a trip. Especially if you head to the northwest corner of the state, you’ll find two of the most legendary outdoor photography spots: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton offers some of the most iconic mountains on the planet, and both parks are home to some of the best wildlife America has to offer. And, if you’re up for more of a secluded, backcountry trip, the Wind River Range is a wild and stunning section of the Rockies just south of the parks, that offers some of the most dramatic peaks in the region.
Locations in Wyoming to photograph:
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is not just one of the most beautiful places in Wyoming, it’s one of the most famous outdoor destinations in the United States, home to one of the most iconic mountain ranges in the world, the Teton Range. This park is a photographer’s dream, with legendary compositions throughout the park, that don’t take a lot of effort to get to. It’s also a national park that shines year-round and is home to some of the most diverse wildlife you will ever see, unique to the American West.
Yellowstone National Park
America’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park is truly an icon and example of modern conservation and environmental stewardship. The park is known best for two things: geothermal activity and world-renown wildlife. From the famous Old Faithful geyser and the giant, colorful Grand Prismatic spring, to the hundreds of animal species only found in the American West, Yellowstone is a photographer’s dream destination.
The Wind River Range
The Wind River Range sits below Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in west-central Wyoming and is one of the most rugged and beautiful mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountains, with amazing, notable destinations like Green River Lakes to Cirque of the Towers. However, you will have to work for your images, as most of the photo spots in this range require long hikes or multi-day treks.
Devils Tower National Monument
Located in the northeast corner of Wyoming in the Black Hills region, Devils Tower National Monument was America’s first national monument and one of the most unique and bizarre wonders of the American West. Devil’s Tower is 867 feet tall and comprised mostly of sedimentary rock. It’s a must-photograph location when visiting this part of the country.
Utah
Utah is one of the wildest places on this list. Not only does it have the “Mighty Five,” or five national parks including Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches, but it is home to some of the most incredible colors, textures, and landscapes you will ever see. From slot canyons a few feet wide, to vast canyon overlooks, Utah offers opportunities to feel incredibly close to these amazing places, and shoot some of the best photographs of your career.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park isn’t the largest national park by any means, but it is easily one of the most awe-inspiring, photogenic outdoor destinations in the United States. From Angels Landing to The Narrows, The Subway to The Watchman, there are endless, iconic photo destinations just waiting to be discovered in this stunning national park in southwest Utah.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Perched at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, Bryce Canyon National Park might be one of the most unique photo destinations in the world because there’s simply nothing else like it. The park is incredibly small, especially compared to other national parks on this list. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in sheer, bizarre beauty, known for its thousands of “hoodoo” formations breaking away from the cliffside and lining the landscape in vibrant reds and oranges. The main attractions are Sunset Point (which is ironically better for sunrise photos) and the Navajo Loop Trail, which snakes through some of the biggest and most famous hoodoos in the park.
Moab
Moab, Utah is a desert mecca, not just for photography, but for outdoor lovers and adventure seekers alike. This small desert town is basecamp for two incredible national parks: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, along with several amazing landmarks like Corona Arch and Fisher Towers, which are amazing photo destinations in their own right. It’s the perfect place to get away and experience the beauty of the Southwest while seeing so many beautiful desert destinations along the way.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a vast, isolated national monument in southern Utah, known for its rugged desert terrain and incredible, colorful arches, slot canyons, and formations, created by the Escalante River. This is an area of the country you could spend years exploring and photographing and barely scratch the surface–that’s how amazing it is.
Oregon
Of course this list wouldn’t be complete without the states in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon is absolutely alluring, and like many on this list, quite diverse. People best know Oregon for its magical and rugged coastline, but it is also home to some of the most beautiful forests, lakes, and mountains you’ll see in this region. The rows of Douglas firs and lush, temperate vegetation is enough to pique many photographers’ interest, but Oregon is also home to some of the most beautiful and epic waterfalls in the country, from the Columbia River Gorge to down south near Eugene. Add a stop to the famous Bend, Oregon area for high desert landscape at Smith Rock State Park, that will surely take your breath away. Oregon has it all, so it’s no wonder many move to this state to pursue their photography careers every year.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Running parallel to the mighty Columbia River, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is an incredible Pacific Northwest destination on the Oregon-Washington border, home to lush temperate forests and home to over 90 different waterfalls; the tallest and most famous, being Multnomah Falls, a two-tiered waterfall that falls over 620 feet, traversed by a beautiful bridge after the larger first falls. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is truly spectacular, and one of the premier outdoor destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
Willamette National Forest
The Willamette National Forest is located in west-central Oregon and encompasses over 1.6 million acres of temperate forests, waterfalls, and mountain valleys. Its main features are the 286-foot Salt Creek Falls and the incredibly clear, blue Mckenzie River, which feeds landmarks like Clear Lake, Sahalie Falls, Koosah Falls, and Tamolitch Blue Pool and Falls.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon, northeast of Medford, and is one of the most awe-inspiring, unique outdoor destinations in the United States. Created by a collapsed volcano called Mount Mazama, Crater Lake’s distinct crater shape, with its steep, dramatic cliffs and vivid, blue water is truly spectacular to photograph. Crater Lake is also one of the deepest, clearest lakes in the world, with water depths up to 1,949 feet deep.
Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor
The Oregon Coast is known as one of the most beautiful coastlines on the planet, but if there was one stretch of its coast that stands above the rest, it’s Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, located just north of the Oregon-California border and the town of Brookings. Samuel H. Boardman is home to some of the most incredible sea cliffs, sea stacks, and sea arches in the United States, making it a must-photograph destination in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington
Washington is very similar to Oregon in a lot of ways. It is teeming with beauty that is unique to this region. Washington is home to three national parks that are truly incredible: Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier.
Olympic is one of the most diverse national parks in the country, offering a rugged coastline, some of the biggest and best temperate rainforests in the country, and the Olympic Mountain range, great for alpine enthusiasts. North Cascades, centered in the northern part of the state, is in one of the most impressive sections of the Cascades, and is frequently called the “American Alps” due to its incredibly dramatic and picturesque peaks. Mount Rainier, the biggest and most iconic mountain in the Pacific Northwest, calls Mount Rainier National Park home. This park is truly remarkable, not only because you get to photograph one of the best mountains in the country, but because the surrounding area and mountains provide some of the best mountain layers you will ever shoot.
Washington is amazing, and outside of these parks, you will find endless mountains, lakes, and waterfalls. Even in the eastern part of the state, it is beautiful, with rolling hills near Palouse County, that remind of Tuscany, Italy. Washington is a state that is remarkable to shoot, and is a must visit for serious outdoor photographers.
Mount Rainier National Park
It’s not a surprise that Mount Rainier National Park is one of the best photo destinations in Washington and the United States. It’s home to the 14,411-foot tall active volcano, Mount Rainier, one of the most iconic volcanos and mountains in the world, which is reason enough to include the park on this list. But what makes this park so special, is how it gives you access to so many incredible perspectives of this mountain, from alpine lake reflections to sweeping fire tower lookouts. This park is amazing, especially in peak summer and wildflower season, so be sure to have it high on your list when photographing the Pacific Northwest.
Olympic National Park
If you’re looking for the perfect combination of lush, temperate rainforests, sweeping mountain vistas, and rugged Pacific Ocean beaches, Olympic National Park is the park for you. It’s home to landmark destinations like the Hoh Rainforest and its famous Hall of Mosses, Rialto and Ruby Beach, and the breathtaking Hurricane Ridge, which offers 360-degree views of the Olympic Mountains–and that’s just skimming the surface of this beautiful national park.
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park, located near the United States-Canada border, is a stunning alpine mecca, filled with jagged peaks and pristine alpine lakes, and covered by more than 300 glaciers. The park is home to world-class hiking and backpacking trails, but can also be seen via the beautiful North Cascades Highway, one of the most scenic drives in the Pacific Northwest. This park might be overlooked compared to its other Washington national park counterparts, but it is easily one of the region’s most beautiful, year-round photo destinations.
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area encompasses almost 400,000 acres of pristine central Cascade’s mountain wilderness and is one of the most sought-after alpine photo destinations in the country, partially thanks to its incredible alpine lakes, which are some of the best in the Pacific Northwest. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s close to Leavenworth, one of the most idyllic, photogenic mountain towns in the United States, modeled after a small village in the Bavarian Alps.
Hawaii
Hawaii is truly incredible. This is a state that feels like it belongs in the South Pacific, and is so different from the rest of the United States. It offers relaxation and luxury for some, but for the adventurous outdoor photographer, Hawaii is brimming with opportunity.
The Hawaii Islands offers some of the most unique and epic outdoor destinations out there. From the 3,000-foot tall sea cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast on Kauai, thousand-foot waterfalls of Big Island, or Haleakalā National Park and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Parks that show the power of the volcanoes that made these islands; there is so much to see and photograph. Then, when you’re done with the more adventurous side of the islands, you can find one of the many pristine beaches, home to crystal clear waters, teeming with marine life you will only see in Hawaii. These islands are remarkable, and the natural wonders, beautiful culture, and “spirit of Aloha,” you will experience while visiting here will keep you coming back again and again.
The Nā Pali Coast
Running 17 miles up Kauai’s north shore, the Nā Pali Coast is easily one of the most incredible, mind-blowing outdoor destinations on the planet. Its iconic, lush, sheer, cathedral-like cliffs and valleys are simply breathtaking and can be photographed throughout the day, from land, air, and sea. There’s simply nowhere else on earth that compares to the Nā Pali Coast and is a place you need to see to believe.
The Road to Hana
Located on the northeast corner of Maui, the Road to Hana, accessed from the historic, two-lane Hana Highway, is a quintessential Hawaii experience, leading to over 15 different waterfalls, beautiful coastline, and pristine red and black sand beaches. The opportunities for photography and adventure are endless, but it’s recommended that you get started early, as the Hana Highway can get crowded and can be very slow-going during the day.
Haleakalā National Park
Staying on Maui, next is Haleakalā National Park, which truly feels like another planet. The park itself is over 30,000 acres and includes the back stretch of the Road to Hana. But the main attraction is Haleakalā a 10,023-foot tall active shield volcano with some of the most other-worldly landscapes in the United States. It’s highly recommended to take the famous Haleakalā Highway up to the Haleakalā Summit for sunrise or sunset, to hopefully photograph a beautiful cloud inversion on top or the incredible formations of the Haleakalā Crater from the Keonehe’ehe’e Trail.
The Koʻolau Range
Last but not least, we have the Koʻolau Range of Oahu, formed by the erosion of a massive shield volcano. Its sheer, dramatic cliffs are absolutely beautiful to photograph–so dramatic, that they’ve been used in multiple Hollywood films throughout the years. The Koʻolau Range can be photographed from the valleys, towns, and highways below, or above, on the many ridgeline hikes that have made this range such a popular place to explore.
Honorable Mention: Montana
While Montana missed out on the top eight, it had to be mentioned due to Glacier National Park. This is one of the most beautiful national parks in the country. With it’s glacier-carved lakes and mountains, it is a place that outdoor photographers flock. Planning a trip to northern Montana into Waterton Lakes and Banff, Canada is a must. This section of the Rocky Mountains are home to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world.
Glacier National Park
Highly considered one of the most beautiful places in all of the United States and the world, Glacier National Park is one of the crowning gems of the Rocky Mountains. From its jagged, glacier-carved mountains and pristine alpine lakes, to its scenic “Going-to-the-Sun” Road that connects the park from east to west, Glacier National Park is truly spectacular, and one of the most photogenic places you will ever visit.
The Beartooth Mountains
The Beartooth Mountains are found in southern Montana and are home to 41 of Montana’s highest peaks, including the tallest mountain in Montana, Granite Peak, 12,799 feet high. This area serves as the northeastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is known for its beautiful alpine lakes, and sweeping mountain vistas, seen easiest from the Beartooth Scenic Highway, one of the best high mountain drives in America, climbing to almost 11,000 feet.
The Mission Mountains
The Mission Mountains, located south of Flathead Lake and Kalispell, are often overlooked by photographers heading to Glacier National Park. However, this beautiful mountain range is worth a visit, with some of the most intriguing compositions you will capture in the state, partially thanks to the multiple old, abandoned barns and homesteads that dot the Flathead River Basin, leading up to these beautiful, rugged mountains.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area
Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area features the 71-mile-long Big Horn Lake, which snakes through southern Montana and northern Wyoming. It features sheer cliffs over 1,000 feet tall and sweeping vistas like Devil’s Canyon Overlook, which are perfect for sunrise or sunset photography.
