Best photography destinations in North America
Best photography destinations in North America
Vast sandstone canyons and colorful geothermal pools in North America
Narrow desert canyons in the American Southwest create light patterns that have become some of the most recognisable images in landscape photography, while glacial lakes further north offer turquoise water against dramatic mountain backdrops.
The destinations on this list range from narrow desert canyons where light angle matters more than almost any other factor to alpine lake landscapes best photographed at dawn before wind disturbs the water's reflection.
Booking guided canyon tours well ahead matters at the most photographed slot canyons, where access is tightly controlled and the best light windows fill up quickly. Permits and reservations often need booking weeks ahead during the busiest months. Arriving close to sunrise also tends to mean softer light and considerably fewer visitors.
Lists by region
City in United States
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
Twice a year, the setting sun lines up with the street grid in an event called Manhattanhenge. Top of the Rock gives wide skyline views at blue hour. Neon glows over Times Square at night. Rain adds mirror reflections on the pavement. Ferries offer harbour angles too.
Park in New York City
Central Park
Nature’s Heart in NYC
Elms arch over the Mall in Central Park, forming a natural tunnel in autumn. The park covers 843 acres of ponds, bridges and rock outcrops. Bethesda Terrace has an angel fountain and carved stonework. Skyline views over the Pond turn pink at dawn. Snow adds a hush.
Bridge in New York City
Brooklyn Bridge
Historic icon with stunning views
Opened in 1883, the bridge has stone towers with pointed Gothic arches and a web of steel cables. Walk the wooden promenade at sunrise for a clean view of the Manhattan skyline. Washington Street in Dumbo frames the span between brick warehouses. Blue hour adds lights on the water.
Bridge in San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge
Iconic Art Deco Engineering Marvel
Painted International Orange, the bridge opened in 1937 and has towers 746 feet tall. Fog often wraps its cables, so be patient. Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands gives a classic view. Fort Point offers a low angle up through the steel arch from below.
Valley in United States
Grand Canyon
Majestic chasm carved by time
The canyon is up to a mile deep and 18 miles wide, so light changes by the minute. Hopi Point is a sunset favourite, when layers glow red, orange and purple. Mather Point catches sunrise. Wait after storms for clouds that drift through the gorge.
Peak in United States
El Capitan
Yosemite's Iconic Vertical Giant
The granite wall of El Capitan rises 3,000 feet from the valley floor. Set up in El Capitan Meadow at sunset, when the cliff glows gold. In mid to late February, Horsetail Fall can light up orange for a few evenings. The Merced River gives clean reflections.
National Park in United States
Grand Canyon National Park
Epic Vistas, Timeless Adventure
Monsoon storms in July and August send lightning across the rim. In winter, snow dusts the rock layers. Desert View Watchtower, built in 1932, frames the Colorado River far below. A hike on the South Kaibab Trail brings ever changing views. Few places show the seasons so clearly.
Town in Canada
Banff
Rocky Mountain Majesty, Endless Adventure
Mount Rundle rises over Vermilion Lakes, where still water mirrors the peak at sunrise. Elk graze beside the Bow Valley Parkway at dusk. In winter, frost coats the pines and the aurora sometimes flickers overhead. The mountain town has plenty of cafes to warm up in.
Lake in Canada
Lake Louise
Turquoise Gem of the Canadian Rockies
Fed by the Victoria Glacier, the lake is a milky turquoise that changes shade by the hour. Red canoes make a bright foreground in summer. Shoot from the shore beside the Fairmont hotel at sunrise. In winter, a flat ice rink and snow cover the lake.
National Park in United States
Grand Teton National Park
Stunning Peaks and Wildlife Wonders
The Teton Range climbs 7,000 feet from the valley floor with no foothills in the way. Schwabacher Landing gives a mirror view at sunrise. The weathered barns of Mormon Row sit in front of the peaks. Oxbow Bend adds autumn colour and moose near dawn.
National Park in United States
Glacier National Park
Crown of the Continent
Going to the Sun Road crosses the park for 50 miles, with turnouts over glacier carved valleys. Wild Goose Island in St. Mary Lake is a classic sunrise subject. At Many Glacier, mountains reflect in Swiftcurrent Lake. The full road usually opens in late June or early July.
National Park in United States
Bryce Canyon National Park
Hoodoo Wonderland and Starry Nights
Thousands of orange hoodoos fill a natural amphitheatre at over 8,000 feet. Sunrise Point catches the early light on the spires and turns them deep red. Winter snow adds contrast against the rock. Bryce also has some of the darkest skies in the country for stargazing.
Archaeological Site in Mexico
Chichen Itza
Unravel the Mysteries of the Maya
The pyramid of El Castillo stands 98 feet tall, with a stairway on each side. On the spring and autumn equinoxes, shadows form a snake shape on the north stairs. Arrive at opening to shoot warm light without crowds. Jungle trees and cenotes frame wide photos of the site.
National Park in United States
Arches National Park
A Desert Wonderland of Stone Arches
More than 2,000 sandstone arches stand in this park near Moab. Frame the La Sal Mountains through the Windows at sunrise. Shoot Delicate Arch at golden hour after a 3 mile hike. Clear desert nights make star trails over the Garden of Eden Arch easy.
Island in United States
Kauai
Lush Landscapes and Secluded Beaches
Cliffs on the Nā Pali Coast fall in green folds to the sea. A boat or helicopter shows them best. Waimea Canyon glows red at sunset. Rain showers come and go, so rainbows are common. Hanalei Bay curves under misty mountains, with taro fields at the edge.
National Park in United States
Death Valley National Park
Otherworldly Extremes and Silent Beauty
Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level. Its salt flats form ragged white polygons. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes catch ripples of light at dawn and dusk. Zabriskie Point glows gold at sunrise. After dark, the clear sky becomes a Milky Way showcase for night shooters.
Peak in United States
Half Dome
Iconic Granite Challenge Peak
Ansel Adams made his famous Monolith, the Face of Half Dome in 1927. The 8,839 foot dome still pulls photographers to the same valley. Shoot it at dawn from Mirror Lake. Try the Merced River at dusk. Clear days after spring storms bring the sharpest air.
Viewpoint in United States
Glacier Point
Breathtaking Views of Yosemite Valley
At 3,200 feet above Yosemite Valley, the overlook faces Half Dome head on. Sunset turns the cliffs pink. After dark in summer, the Milky Way arcs over the dome. The road opens in late spring and usually closes with the first big snow of the season.
National Park in United States
Canyonlands National Park
Epic Canyons and Untamed Wilderness
Mesa Arch frames the canyon floor in a thin sandstone ring on the edge of a cliff. At sunrise, light bounces under the arch and makes the underside glow orange. Photographers line up in the dark to claim a spot. Views drop thousands of feet below.
National Park in United States
Denali National Park
Wild Alaska’s peaks and wildlife
Denali tops out at 20,310 feet, but clouds often hide it. When the sky opens, Wonder Lake gives mirror reflections of the peak. Park buses roll past caribou and grizzlies. Autumn turns the tundra red and gold. Long summer light gives hours of soft golden colour.
Lake in Canada
Moraine Lake
Turquoise jewel of the Rockies
Glacial silt turns the water a deep turquoise, set below the jagged Valley of the Ten Peaks. Climb the Rockpile, a short trail of boulders, before sunrise. First light paints the summits orange. Parks Canada shuttles carry visitors up the road, which opens in late spring.
Region in United States
Antelope Valley
Desert poppies and high skies
California poppies cover the hills of the Antelope Valley in a bright orange carpet. The bloom usually comes in March and April after a wet winter. The state reserve has gentle trails for low angle sunrise shots. Wind and heat can end the show quickly. Arrive early.
Country
Greenland
Arctic wilderness with ice landscapes
Midnight sun in summer gives hours of golden light over icebergs in Ilulissat Icefjord. The UNESCO site releases ice from Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world. In winter, green northern lights ripple across the sky. Boat tours get close to the ice.
Landmark in United States
The Wave
Stunning sandstone arches carved by wind and time
Swirls of red and orange sandstone ripple through the Wave in Coyote Buttes North. The hike takes about three hours round trip. Permits are limited and awarded by lottery. Soft midday light bounces off the curves and fills the cracks. A wide lens helps. Pack plenty of water.
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