The Most Instagrammable Spots in Utah
Just a short drive south of Salt Lake City, Big Cottonwood Canyon offers a stunning array of photo ops, especially along the hike to Donut Falls. This relatively easy 3.5-mile round trip trail ends at a unique waterfall that pours through a hole in the rock, creating a donut-shaped cascade that’s both playful and photogenic. The towering cliffs and verdant forest frame the scene perfectly, especially in late spring when the melting snow boosts the waterfall’s flow. The contrast of icy water and mossy green surroundings makes this spot stand out among Utah’s many waterfalls, providing a whimsical image that’s hard to replicate elsewhere in the state.
Heading southeast from Moab, Arches National Park is a mecca for capturing Utah’s iconic red rock formations. The Delicate Arch trail, about 3 miles round trip from the visitor center, leads to the park’s most famous natural feature, a graceful freestanding arch perched against a wide-open desert valley. Shooting this arch at sunset bathes the sandstone in warm oranges and pinks, a magical time when the crowds thin and the colors intensify. Unlike some of the more crowded viewpoints, the hike’s moderate difficulty means your photo can include the panoramic Utah desert, giving your images a sense of vastness that’s truly emblematic of the American West.
Farther north near Logan, the Bear Lake area is a lesser-known gem on Utah’s northeastern border. The lake’s turquoise waters against a backdrop of pine forests and rugged mountains create a vivid palette perfect for photos year-round. Sunrise at the Bear Lake Overlook on the east side reveals soft pastel skies reflected on calm waters, often with a mist hovering over the surface in cooler months. Summer brings deep blue water and wildflower blooms nearby, while winter dustings of snow on the surrounding peaks add a crisp contrast. This spot is uniquely peaceful compared to Utah’s busier national parks, making it ideal for photographers seeking tranquility and diverse seasonal moods.
In southern Utah near Kanab, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park features shifting sands in a surprising shade of coral pink. This landscape feels otherworldly, with dunes shaped by the wind into rippling waves that swell against a backdrop of red sandstone cliffs. The park’s location about 40 minutes west of Kanab places it within easy reach of other scenic treasures, but it holds its own thanks to the rare sand coloration and the ability to hike or off-road across the dunes. Early morning or late afternoon light softens the color and casts long shadows, revealing textures that make every photo rich with depth and movement.
The historic district of Park City, just a short 30-minute drive east of Salt Lake City, offers a different kind of visual appeal. Known for its preserved 19th-century buildings and charming main street, it’s a great place to capture colorful storefronts, festive murals, and bustling arts scenes framed by the Wasatch Mountains. In winter, the snow-dusted rooftops and twinkling lights create a cozy, postcard-perfect scene, while summer invites vibrant street life with outdoor dining and festivals. This blend of old-world architecture and mountain town energy sets Park City apart from Utah’s natural sites and adds cultural texture to your photo collection.
Venturing west near St. George, Snow Canyon State Park showcases a striking mix of red Navajo sandstone, black lava flows, and desert vegetation. The Hidden Pinyon Trail is a gentle 1.5-mile loop that winds through contrasting terrain, offering shots of towering cliffs, twisted juniper trees, and rare desert wildlife. What makes Snow Canyon special is its diversity condensed into a small area, providing varied backdrops without long hikes. The golden light of late afternoon highlights the red rocks’ fiery hues, and the cooler months are best for comfortable hiking and clearer skies, perfect for capturing crisp, vivid images.
East of Salt Lake City in the Uinta Mountains, Mirror Lake is a serene alpine spot that reflects towering peaks and dense forests so perfectly it’s like a natural mirror. The scenic byway leading to it, about two hours from the city, offers several pullouts where photographers can catch the changing colors of aspen groves in fall or the sparkling ice in early winter. The lake’s calm surface is often glassy in the early morning, allowing for symmetrical compositions that capture Utah’s high-country wilderness beauty. This place’s elevation and seasonal shifts make it a distinct contrast to the desert scenery more common in the southern parts of the state.
Finally, a sunset visit to Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab provides one of the most dramatic overlooks in the Southwest. The point juts out over a sheer drop into the winding Colorado River and vast canyons carved from red rock. The park’s 5-mile Rim Trail circles the overlook, offering multiple vantage points for sweeping panoramic shots of the canyonlands below. What sets Dead Horse Point apart is its combination of desert vastness and elevated perspective, creating images with extraordinary depth and scale. Evening light here transforms the canyon’s colors, casting shadows that reveal every crease and fold in the rock, a breathtaking finale to any Utah shoot.