Nature Photography Day in Utah

Utah offers an expanse of beautiful, natural scenery making it the perfect place for any nature photographer (professional or not). 

With its wide range of terrains, Utah offers a plethora of diverse fauna and flora to shoot too (that’s fancy speak for wildlife and plants). Personally, Northern Utah is more my style but as a Southern Utah resident I’m very familiar with the desert attractions that tourists love to visit.  

Since June 15 is National Nature Photography Day, let's check out some of the coolest spots in the state to take a photo! 

Zion National Park 

This one doesn’t even need to be mentioned but as one of the biggest attractions to the state, it’s a must-see. Expansive cliffs surrounded by trees (and overly friendly squirrels) make ZNP a very tranquil place to take photos. However, it's usually crowded during the on-season and is FILLED with tourists. It’s lovely but due to its popularity, it lacks the non-human element necessary to capture fauna on camera.  

Bonneville Salt Flats 

I have been DYING to visit here! I see so many cool photos of these salt flats and it looks like standing in the middle of nowhere surrounded by miles of sand is a surreal experience. The Bonneville Salt Flats are located in Western Utah between Salt Lake City and Wendover, NV. If you’re looking for the perfect place to grab an “I'm-deserted-in-the-desert-” vibe photo, this is the spot.  

Pine Valley 

Now hear me out. Pine Valley is this hidden gem in Southern Utah that transports you to some magical land surrounded by almost nothing but mountains and trees. Whenever I need to get away from all the red rocks and the lack of trees, that’s where I go. It really shows off the diversity of places in Southern Utah. You could camp and grab some cool photos of the local birds at the same time! 

For a full list of photography spots check out https://www.thenexttrip.xyz/utah-photography-locations/