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Ordinary Traveler / Blog / Utah / 5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Utah

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Utah

By Christy Woodrow, Last Modified: September 7, 2019

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Southern Utah

The state of Utah is known for being an outdoor wonderland, with unlimited hiking, rock climbing and river activities. However, Southern Utah has recently become a highly popular photography destination — and not just for professionals!

The vast deserts, rich colors and naturally photogenic wilderness landscapes make this Southwest destination a refreshing — and maybe unexpected — goldmine of picture-perfect nature backdrops for photographers.

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Southern Utah

 

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Southern Utah

 

1. Zion National Park

Utah’s own “Grand Canyon.” There are limitless sites worthy of exploration in Zion, but I’ll limit my favorite spots to a handful!

Hike through — yes, through — the Virgin River at The Narrows, head to The Subway for an enchanting tube-like gorge, or challenge yourself with an intense trek up to Angels Landing. Observation Point and Scout Lookout offer amazing aerial views, while the uniquely lush Kolob Canyons can be explored from the ground up.

For the ultimate Instagram-potential pics, check out cool Airbnb glamping options like vintage airstream trailers or trendy convertible indoor-outdoor listings!

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Southern Utah

 

2. Babylon Arch in Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

Not only does the Babylon Arch serve as the perfect photo prop, but the easy hike leading up to this eye-catching rock formation only takes an hour or two — leaving you plenty of time to snap a few shots of this cool “hidden gem.”

The red-sand trail has awesome views of the river, and is best explored in late afternoon hours when the stunning sunset casts the perfect lighting for photos.

 

3. Yant Flat (Candy Cliffs)

There’s no question why Yant Flat is nicknamed “Candy Cliffs;” the beautifully marbled red rock looks like something straight from a Dr. Seuss animation.

Expect to spend at least a couple hours round trip on this hike, and more if you plan to do any real shooting (which you most definitely should). Vibrant blue skies contrast against the colorful earth to create stunning photos year-round!

Best Photography Locations in Southern Utah

 

4. Snow Canyon State Park

At Snow Canyon, you have the unique opportunity to ATV inside the park, but that’s not all — canyoneering, rock climbing and horseback trail rides through the Navajo sandstone formations make for some cool out-of-the-box experiences.

My favorite spots inside the park are Jenny’s Canyon, Whiterocks Amphitheater — a uniquely light-colored stone in contrast to the surrounding dark reds — and the Petrified Dunes at sunset. The luxury resorts and home rentals in and around the state park — like Red Mountain Resort & Spa — only add to the Instagram potential!

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Southern Utah

 

5. Quail Creek State Park

Now you didn’t think Utah was all desert and sand did you? This park’s creek-fed reservoir makes for great water shots, and its close proximity to both Snow Canyon and Zion make Quail Creek State Park an easy place to cool down and capture the area’s scenic surroundings.

Rental paddleboards, kayaks and water carpets are just an added bonus!

 

Plan Your Trip to Utah

After traveling consistently for over 10 years, we’ve come to trust and rely on a few websites to help us find the best deals on flights and accommodation.

Flights:

  • Momondo is the first place we check when searching for cheap flights. It searches hundreds of sites for the best fare and includes both standard and budget airlines. The price calendar feature shows the cheapest days to fly in your preferred month of travel.

Accommodation: 

  • Booking.com offers savings on hotels, apartments, and villas in 80,000 destinations worldwide. You can browse hotel reviews and find the guaranteed best price on hotels for all budgets.

 

Pin it!

5 Instagram-Worthy Places to Photograph in Southern Utah

 

Read More:

Road Trip Guide to Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks

10 Amazing Outdoor Adventures in Southern Utah

How to Choose the Best Shoes for Travel

The Best Travel Cameras of 2017

The Ultimate Packing Guide for Travel Photographers

6 Must-See National Parks in The Western United States

How to Choose the Best Luggage for Your Next Trip

 

Thanks to Visit St. George and iExplore for an epic weekend of photography and exploring hidden gems in Southern Utah!

About Christy Woodrow

Christy Woodrow is a travel photographer and professional blogger based in San Diego. She has been traveling around the world with her partner, Scott, since 2006. Join them in their quest to find off-the-beaten-path destinations by signing up for weekly emails. You can read more about her on our about page.

Filed Under: Utah

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sam sandy says

    awesome places and thanks for sharing

    Reply
  2. Ryan Biddulph says

    Hi Christy,

    Zion National Park looks incredibly gorgeous. From the other-worldly beauty to the stunning views, I have enjoyed it from afar via blogs. And via Instagram 😉 Thanks for sharing.

    Ryan

    Reply
  3. Aiza Tours says

    WOW ! what a wonderful blog i liked your photos shown in this blog .Thanks for sharing such a amazing blog . keep posting like this .

    Reply

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Welcome to our adventure travel blog! We are Christy and Scott and we've been traveling the world together since 2006. Our goal is to inspire others to live an adventurous life, as well as provide trip ideas and helpful travel tips for people with limited vacation time.
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