Devils Tower National Monument by Guido Da Rozze / CC BY-ND 2.0
Wyoming is a paradise for the landscape photographer. This western state has several iconic destinations as well as other hidden gems that are lesser-known. The interactive map below shows the location of each spot mentioned on this page.
This page will continue to be a work in progress, so please feel free to leave a comment with your own suggestions of great places to photograph.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park attracts visitors from all over the world and includes several very unique places that you won’t find anywhere else. While the park does extend into Idaho and Montana, the majority of it lies within Wyoming. It is a huge park, so be sure to plan ahead and know what places you want to visit and photograph during your trip.
Yellowstone has a lot to offer to photographers. The geological features like geysers and hot springs can’t be matched anywhere else in the world. The rest of the landscape, not to mention plenty of wildlife, is photo-worthy as well. Below we’ll look at just a few key places within Yellowstone National Park.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Artist Point
North of Yellowstone Lake, the Yellowstone River cuts through a canyon known as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This canyon is more than 20 miles long and up to 1,200 feet deep. At the start of the canyon is the beautiful Lower Yellowstone Falls. Artist point is a spot on the south rim of the canyon that provides an amazing view.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone by Kevin Vance / CC BY-ND 2.0
Grand Prismatic Spring
Located in the Midway Geyser Basin, west of Yellowstone Lake, is Grand Prismatic Spring. This is the largest hot spring in the park and a popular location for visitors and photographers. The hot springs of Yellowstone provide photographic opportunities that are truly unique.
Grand Prismatic Spring by Mr Hicks46 / CC BY-SA 2.0
Morning Glory
From Grand Prismatic Spring you can take Grand Loop Road a few miles south and you will come to another hot spring, Morning Glory. Old Faithful is also located nearby. Morning Glory is known for its unique color, which is caused by bacteria. Unfortunately, tourists throwing coins and other debris into Morning Glory has changed its appearance over the years.
Morning Glory by Allan Harris / CC BY-ND 2.0
Castle Geyser
Castle Geyser is also located near Old Faithful. It got its name because the cone was thought to resemble a castle. The shape of the cone changes over time as minerals are deposited. It erupts for about 20 minutes every 10-12 hours.
Castle Geyser by Domenico Salvagnin / CC BY 2.0
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is located just 10 miles south of Yellowstone. The two parks are connected by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Due to the close proximity, many visitors see both parks on the same trip. Grand Teton is not as large as Yellowstone, but it is equally beautiful. If you are looking for a great location to do some mountain and lake photography, Grand Teton is one of the best destinations you will find. Below we’ll look at some particular points of interest within the park. In addition to the places listed below, the National Park Service also provides some information on scenic drives within the park.
Oxbow Bend of the Snake River
Oxbow Bend provides one of the best photo opportunities within the park. It is easy to access along US Highway 191 and offers a great view of Mount Moran and its reflection.
Oxbow Bend by Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith / CC BY-SA 2.0
Snake River Overlook
The Snake River Overlook is easy to access and it provides an iconic view of the Teton Range. It is along US Highway 191 (there is a parking lot) just about 12 miles south of Oxbow Bend.
Snake River Overlook by Brian Holsclaw / CC BY-ND 2.0
Schwabacher’s Landing
Just a few miles south of the Snake River Overlook there is a road off of US Highway 191 called Schwabacher’s Landing Road. This short road leads to another location popular with photographers, Schwabacher’s Landing.
Schwabacher’s Landing by Steppinstars / CC0
Mormon Row and Moulton Barn
One of the most photographed areas within the park is the Moulton Barn located near Mormon Row. The barn with the mountains behind it is an iconic symbol that many photographers love to capture. To get there from Schwabacher’s Landing take US Route 191 a few miles south and turn at Antelope Flats Road.
Mormon Row and Moulton Barn by Abhijit Kamerkar / CC BY 2.0
Jenny Lake
Jenny Lake is located west of US Highway 191 and can be accessed by Teton Park Road from the town of Moose. Jenny Lake presents opportunities for beautiful photos and it is also a hub for hiking trails that lead to plenty of other amazing views.
Jenny Lake by John Menard / CC BY-SA 2.0
Jackson Lake
Jackson Lake is much larger than Jenny Lake and is just a short distance away to the north. From Jenny Lake you can take Teton Park Road to reach Jackson Lake, and US Highway 191 also runs along parts of Jackson Lake.
Jackson Lake by Don Graham / CC BY-SA 2.0
Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile scenic road in northwestern Wyoming and southwestern Montana. It leads to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone and provides plenty of breathtaking views along the way. Because of snowfall the highest passes are usually only open from May through October. If you want a stunning drive with plenty of views, the Beartooth Highway is for you.
Beartooth Highway by m01229 / CC BY ND 2.0
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower National Monument is in the northeastern corner of Wyoming. It is a rock butte that rises dramatically more than 800 feet from its base, and more than 1,200 feet above the Belle Fourche River. It is popular with rock climbers, and photographers love Devils Tower as well. It is a unique and distinct landmark that is certainly worth photographing.
Devils Tower National Monument by Guido Da Rozze / CC BY-ND 2.0
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is located in southern Montana and northern Wyoming. Here you can get amazing canyon, lake, and river views. You can drive to Devil’s Canyon Overlook, hike any of the 14 trails within the park, or explore by boat.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area by NPS / Public Domain
Adobe Town Wilderness Study Area
The Adobe Town Wilderness Study Area in southern Wyoming provides a wildness badlands that is ready to be explored and photographed. There are two separate districts of rugged landscape. The buttes and colored rocks are perfect for photographing.
Adobe Town Wilderness Study Area by BLM / CC BY 2.0
Wind River Mountains
The Wind River Mountains is a range of the Rockies in western Wyoming and includes many of the highest peaks in the state. Although it is a relatively remote destination, the area is still pretty popular with hikers and climbers. If you are up for hiking and backpacking you can find some stunning mountain and lake scenery here.
Wind River Mountains by m01229 / CC BY 2.o
Bridger Wilderness
The Bridger Wilderness is in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in northwestern Wyoming. Gannett Peak, which is part of the Wind River Range and is the highest peak in the state, is within the wilderness. Although there are no roads in the wilderness there are 600 miles of mountain hiking trails to explore. For those who are willing to make the effort there are plenty of stellar views of mountains and glaciers available.
Bridger Wilderness by Peter Pham / CC BY 2.0
Sinks Canyon State Park
Sinks Canyon State Park is in the Wind River Mountains. This mountainous canyon landscape includes “The Sinks”, and area where the river disappears into an underground canyon.
Sinks Canyon State Park by Brian Harms / CC BY-SA 2.0
Vedauwoo
Vedauwoo is an area of rock outcroppings in southeastern Wyoming. It is easy to access from Interstate 80 and is popular with climbers, as well as for other types of recreation. The rock formations also allow for some very interesting and unique photographs.
Vedauwoo by Scott Dexter / CC BY-SA 2.0
National Elk Refuge
National Elk Refuge is located just south of Grand Teton National Park and is home to over 7,000 elk and 1,000 bison each winter.
National Elk Refuge by Jim Bowen / CC BY 2.0
Want to learn more about neighboring states? Please see:
- The Best Places to Photograph in Montana
- The Best Places to Photograph in Idaho
- The Best Places to Photograph in Utah
- The Best Places to Photograph in Colorado
- The Best Places to Photograph in Nebraska
- The Best Places to Photograph in South Dakota
Photo license links: CC BY-ND 2.0, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY 2.0, CC0
I have a Nikon D90 and I love photography. I like the suggestions! Thank you! I live in idaho and the mountains are amazing. I also like the wildlife.