All The BEST Utah Picture Spots Perfect For Instagram
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Utah has everything that makes this world so special, but on the grandest, most spectacular scale imaginable. Sights of red jagged rocks overlooks thousands of feet tall, and ancient rivers burrowing into the earth. Sights so impressive they can’t be created anywhere else in the world. Sights showing that Utah pictures aren’t just a collection of unforgettable vistas, they’re the story of the Earth itself.
With such remarkable and unique locations, Utah is a must for every photographer. Even if you’re an amateur looking to capture sunsets with your phone. Or a seasoned pro with years of experience hoping to find the one of a kind shot that sets your photos apart. When it comes to the best Utah picture spots, it’s impossible not to capture some stunning shots!
Keep reading for All The Best Utah Picture Spots Perfect For Instagram!
1.) Stansbury Viewpoint
Interested in seeing a beach with water atop pink salt flats so vibrant it looks as if someone dropped a bucket of pink paint? You should be, because pink waves slowly waving against the shore of Stansbury Bay as the sun sets in the background is something truly special!
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Nature
BEST SPOT
– N Stansbury Is Rd, Utah
BEST TIME
– Sunset over pink Stansbury Viewpoint waves is something that can’t be missed!
Pro tip- Getting to the Stansbury Viewpoint is a bit of a rough dirt road, so have a reliable vehicle and take your time. 👍
2.) Antelope Island
A true photo oasis within Utah. At Antelope Island you can find miles of reflective glass like waters, roaming bison, and tall mountains giving views as far as you can see. Antelope Island is full of stunning natural sights just waiting to be captured!
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Landscape and Wildlife
BEST SPOT
– Looking north on the Antelope Island Rd, and at the peak of Frary Trail
BEST TIME
– All times of day. From sunrise to sunset over the mountains or perfect midday water reflections.
Pro tip- Be on the lookout for the many different kinds of unique birds and large animals for some excellent wildlife photo opportunities.
3.) Bonneville Salt Flats
Travel to a place that feels like a different planet entirely. A blank canvas of near perfectly flat geometric salt lines and an absence of any kind of life makes the Bonneville Salt Flats one of the most unique places to photograph in Utah and the country.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Abstract, Drone and Landscape
BEST SPOT
– 0.5 mile or farther from the entrance
BEST TIME
– Sunset over the salt flats, dry or wet, is a one of a kind sight.
4.) Living Room Hike
A brisk trek up a set of mountains on the outskirts of the city, the Living Room Hike takes you through trees and foliage up the side of a mountain to a lookout point that opens up to a view over all of Salt Lake City. Plus, there are even makeshift rock chairs where you can sit and enjoy the scene.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Nature
BEST SPOT
– The Living Room Hike Overlook
BEST TIME
– Morning, to see Salt Lake City begin to start its day.
Pro tip- Try to head here during the week, as it can get a little busy on the weekends.
5.) Zion National Park
One of the most picturesque places in the world, Zion National Park is a place that keeps providing more and more spectacles everywhere you look. Whether you’re wanting some flashy Instagram content or to build out your photography portfolio, there’s no better place in Utah.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Astrolandscape, Landscape, and Adventure photography
BEST SPOT
– Angels Landing, Canyon Overlook, and The Narrows
BEST TIME
– Evening to morning, from the smooth shadows of evening, stargazing through the night into the early light of morning.
6.) Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Capture waving sand lines weaving their way up and down the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, or look to larger, more expansive shots within the park. For example, grains of sand softly swirling in the sunlight over a desert sea caught between the rocks.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Nature and Abstract
BEST SPOT
– The North half of the park along the rock wall
BEST TIME
– Sunset, to see the floating sand shimmering, plus much fewer people.
Pro tip- Renting an ATV or dune buggy makes it much easier to travel the park searching for the perfect shot.
7.) Sand Caves
Off the beaten path, the Kanab Sand Caves are more of a hidden gem of southern Utah. A series of man made caves carved out to harvest sand for glass production, these smooth caverns now make for a fun and interesting Utah picture, one that most people don’t know exists.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Nature
BEST SPOT
– Inside the caves
BEST TIME
– Morning, for softer transitions in and out of the caves.
Pro tip- Bring a pair of solid hiking shoes and some good balance, as it’s a bit tricky getting up to the caves.
8.) Bryce Canyon
Incredible rock pillars as tall as buildings like a forest of stone trees sprouting up from the ground. Light yellows and oranges of the rock blending with warm colors of sunlight. Plus, lookout points showing miles of open terrain. What more could you ask for?
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Landscape
BEST SPOT
– Sunrise Point
BEST TIME
– Sunrise, to see light slowly creep up the massive hoodoos.
Pro tip- If you plan on experiencing Sunrise Point, get there well before sunrise because it gets busy very quickly.
9.) Goblin Valley
A peculiar place of mushroom like formations, Goblin Valley State Park is a spot unlike any other. Great for capturing something unique, and being one of the darkest night skies on the planet, your unique Utah picture can extend to the stars as well!
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Astrophotography
BEST SPOT
– Valley 3 and Goblin’s Lair
BEST TIME
– Clear nights, for unobstructed dark sky certified views.
Pro tip- Explore as much as possible as every nook and cranny of Goblin Valley offers new and exciting photos!
10.) Dead Horse Point
While most people in Utah go to the more well known parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon for unforgettable vistas, the sights of Dead Horse Point may top them all. One of the most scenic spots in the state, this park is a very underrated place bursting with larger than life scenes you won’t soon forget.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Panorama and Landscape
BEST SPOT
– The southwestern most look out at Dead Horse Point
BEST TIME
– Sunset, with the sun slightly at your back makes for perfect lighting conditions.
Pro tip- Check out the hidden lookout under the southwest observation deck for a lower, more grounded vantage point.
11.) Belly of the Dragon
Found under HWY89 in what was originally used as a drainage pipe for flowing water from nearby canyons, now serves as a peculiar and mysterious type of photo spot. A view away from the grand sights this state is famous for, and into the enclosed almost eerie Belly of the Dragon.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Abstract
BEST SPOT
– Inside the tunnel looking east
BEST TIME
– Morning, as you will most likely be able to photograph the Belly of the Dragon all to yourself.
Pro tip- The West half of the tunnel is better for pictures as it creates a nice straight view.
12.) Canyonlands National Park
Craving a sight that screams Utah and the American West? Then the Canyonlands are the place for you. With sights that fully display the true sense of scale this world is capable of, all in a landscape millions of years in the making.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Panorama and Landscape
BEST SPOT
– White Rim Overlook
BEST TIME
– Sunrise and sunset, to see the sun right on the horizon edge casting shadows across the canyons.
Pro tip- Try some of the less popular trails in the Canyonlands, like Murphy Point Overlook to get all the awe-inspiring views without the crowds.
13.) Arches National Park
An area that lends itself to stunning shots of both natural bridges cresting over the open sky and fantastic surrounding scenes of the desert. The full array of sandy trails, rocky peaks, and plenty of arches make the Arches National Park a can’t miss Utah picture.
BEST TYPE OF PICTURE
– Nature
BEST SPOT
– Devil’s Garden
BEST TIME
– Sunset, to see rays of sunlight peaking through archways.
Pro tip- Stop at the Park Avenue trail for great landscape pictures of the large canyon and riverbed.
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