The British online publication Nature TTL recently posted an international take on landscape photography destinations in the US which are less crowded than some more popular locations.
The USA may not be the number one place on your list for incredible landscapes, but she sure does have some magnificent spots. With 62 national parks, photographers flock to these locations, camera in hand, ready to capture that epic light. Sure, we all want those iconic photos of Half Dome at sunset or Mesa Arch glowing at sunrise, but is it worth battling the crowds to get “just another” photo of that location?
There are so many hidden gems out there within the States that I’ve decided to put together a list of my favourite hidden gems. These spots are usually far less visited, crowded and photographed then the popular areas, so if you’re looking for some diversity, give these locations for landscape photography in the USA a look!
1. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
2. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
3. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
4. Alabama Hills, California
5. Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada
6. White Pocket, Arizona
7. Caddo Lake, Texas
8. Big Bend National Park, Texas
stanikon
Loc: Deep in the Heart of Texas
Just got back from Big Bend. Spectacular landscapes, hardly anyone else there. I was with a motorcycle group so did not get much opportunity for photography but it is well worth the trip for photographers. I recommend going in the spring or fall. Summer and winter can both be brutal there.
If you are "into the wild," you might consider Isle Royale National Park off the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is rugged but beautiful. Another Michigan spot, although not a National Park but a National Lakeshore, is Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore is stunningly beautiful.....but I'm a native so I am biased.
If you want not crowded at all, then definitely Gateway to the Arctic NP.
A friend just went to Smokey Mountain, said it's not crowded.
MDI Mainer wrote:
The British online publication Nature TTL recently posted an international take on landscape photography destinations in the US which are less crowded than some more popular locations.
The USA may not be the number one place on your list for incredible landscapes, but she sure does have some magnificent spots. With 62 national parks, photographers flock to these locations, camera in hand, ready to capture that epic light. Sure, we all want those iconic photos of Half Dome at sunset or Mesa Arch glowing at sunrise, but is it worth battling the crowds to get “just another” photo of that location?
There are so many hidden gems out there within the States that I’ve decided to put together a list of my favourite hidden gems. These spots are usually far less visited, crowded and photographed then the popular areas, so if you’re looking for some diversity, give these locations for landscape photography in the USA a look!
1. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
2. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
3. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
4. Alabama Hills, California
5. Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada
6. White Pocket, Arizona
7. Caddo Lake, Texas
8. Big Bend National Park, Texas
The British online publication Nature TTL recently... (
show quote)
some really nice choices here also don't forget about southern Utah between Lake Powell and the Colorado line
Shellback
Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas
whfowle
Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque
I've camped in Big Bend and walked the dunes loop trail at White Sands. If you go to White Sands and plan on walking the loop trail, bring lots of water. It gets really hot and you don't want to get out there without water.
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
You could add:
Wrangell, AK
Katmai NP, AK
Theodore Roosevelt NP, ND
Big Horn Mts, WY
Lassen Volcano NP, CA
And don't forget Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas National Park. It is the least visited NP in the US. It is a bit off the beaten path being 80 miles west of Key West.
davidrb
Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel
GrannyAnnie wrote:
If you are "into the wild," you might consider Isle Royale National Park off the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is rugged but beautiful. Another Michigan spot, although not a National Park but a National Lakeshore, is Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore is stunningly beautiful.....but I'm a native so I am biased.
Granny, plz let sleeping bears do just that, sleep! We do not need more Fudgies running around trying to climb the Bear. Every year the Lakeshore sets new attendance records. The land for the Lakeshore was always available but the needed infrastructure was NOT. Our old and narrow roads do not handle traffic the way Interstate Highways do, and the nearest Interstate is 70 miles away in Grayling. Traverse City is overcrowded with its Cherry Festival in July and the area suffers from a deficiency of roadways. Our governor is more interested in emulating the Governor of Ohio than being an effective leader of her state. We do not need the additional traffic as we are not able to accommodate it.
I know you had great intentions in posting that list but now those parks will be ruined like the other overcrowded parks that have been loved to death.
[quote=davidrb]Granny, plz let sleeping bears do just that, sleep!
Yes!!! Please recognize that our national parks are not petting zoos and the wildlife is just that, wild. I was bicycling in Yosemite and came upon a tourist who had pulled his car over to see a sow and her cub that were near the side of the road. I got there just in time to stop him as he was carrying his toddler toward them with the intent of putting the child astride the cub for a photo.
[quote=BartHx]
davidrb wrote:
Granny, plz let sleeping bears do just that, sleep!
Yes!!! Please recognize that our national parks are not petting zoos and the wildlife is just that, wild. I was bicycling in Yosemite and came upon a tourist who had pulled his car over to see a sow and her cub that were near the side of the road. I got there just in time to stop him as he was carrying his toddler toward them with the intent of putting the child astride the cub for a photo.
"I got there just in time to stop him as he was carrying his toddler toward them with the intent of putting the child astride the cub for a photo."
Like Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid."
MDI Mainer wrote:
The British online publication Nature TTL recently posted an international take on landscape photography destinations in the US which are less crowded than some more popular locations.
The USA may not be the number one place on your list for incredible landscapes, but she sure does have some magnificent spots. With 62 national parks, photographers flock to these locations, camera in hand, ready to capture that epic light. Sure, we all want those iconic photos of Half Dome at sunset or Mesa Arch glowing at sunrise, but is it worth battling the crowds to get “just another” photo of that location?
There are so many hidden gems out there within the States that I’ve decided to put together a list of my favourite hidden gems. These spots are usually far less visited, crowded and photographed then the popular areas, so if you’re looking for some diversity, give these locations for landscape photography in the USA a look!
1. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
2. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
3. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
4. Alabama Hills, California
5. Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada
6. White Pocket, Arizona
7. Caddo Lake, Texas
8. Big Bend National Park, Texas
The British online publication Nature TTL recently... (
show quote)
I have been to # 4 & 5 twice each. From images I've seen 6 is amazing! I personally shy away from crowds.
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