Southwest U.S.A has undoubtedly some of the best photography locations in the world and I love to explore here. From the sand dune deserts of Death Valley, to the cactus fields of Superstition Mountains, the enigma which is Factory Butte and the many national parks there is so much to offer in terms of location. You just have to get used to some long drives between locations! I am going to help you plan the best Southwest U.S.A trip at all of these locations and more and give you tips on how to shoot them and when the best season to visit is.
Having been to U.S.A numerous times and explored a lot of the landscapes, there are six places that stand out to me for landscape photography and that I continue to return to each time I visit.
Factory Butte is located in Wayne County, Utah and stands at an impressive 6,302 feet high (1,921m). Situated in the tiny town of Hanksville it has always been an icon of the area and a favourite to photographers. The early settlers who named the butte did so because they thought it resembled a huge factory building such as a woolen mill. The factory mills were quite grand back in those days. Often described by tourists and photographers as “alien” and otherworldly for it’s unique rock formation.
The mud fields can create layers which give depth.
How Was it Formed
Factory Butte formed through a long process of differential erosion that began roughly 80 to 90 million years ago. The area was once part of an ancient inland sea (how cool!), where sediments settled and eventually became the Mancos Shale. Later, a much harder layer of Emery Sandstone developed on top of the softer Blue Gate Shale, creating a protective caprock. Over millions of years, wind, water, and rain wore away the landscape, but the shale beneath the sandstone eroded more quickly than the resistant cap. This imbalance left the capped section standing above its surroundings, forming the steep, flat-topped hill we see today. As the softer material eroded into the surrounding badlands, the caprock preserved the striking silhouette of Factory Butte, making it a classic example of how buttes are created. So when you are exploring this area, you are actually running around on a very ancient seabed.
Where is it Located
Located about 12 miles northwest of Utah and off Utah Highway 24 sits Factory Butte. The nearest town is Hanksville which is a tiny town of roughly 170 – 600 depending on the season. Since the town is close to many scenic areas the population increases dramatically with the influx of tourists.
If you are lucky you may even get snow, which can create interesting foreground.
Here is a map location to get to The Butte.
About Hanksville
This small town sadly experienced a flash flood in 2021 and some of the businesses there suffered greatly from it, so it’s good to keep that in mind to support the locals when you are there by staying the accommodation if you can afford it, buying from the small local grocery store and using the gas stations and cafe’s associated. One gas station is even quite famous as it is built into the rock wall! Definitely check that out. Whilst I say to support the locals, do prepare yourself if you are staying for a longer period that the supermarket may not have all your needs and prices will likely vary to larger retailers.
The accommodation in Hanksville is really decent with a number of good options I can recommend. I have stayed in all of these places and they all have their pro’s and con’s depending on your perspective.
Whispering Sands Motel
Great for the price, clean and tidy and includes a fridge, kettle and good WiFi which are all the things I require when traveling. The check in and checkout times were a bit strict with a 4pm check in and no earlier allowed and an 11am checkout.
Muddy Creek Mining Company:
This accommodation is really great and deserves it’s high rating especially for the customer service. It has a great washing machine facility with free washing capsules available too. Check in is from 4pm - Midnight but early check in allowed for an extra 25USD. Checkout is very early in my opinion being before 10am! Despite having an amazingly well equipped kitchen they don’t have a stove-top here! Instead they have a bbq/grill for each cabins use. Very fancy but unpractical if you want to do some basic cooking. Also they had an issue with the hot water piping which was being resolved when we were there and each cabin had limited hot water which wasn’t much and didn’t work for very long.
Dukes slick-rock Campground and RV Park:
A great check in time of 3pm! Check out at 11am. With a paid washing machine facility, not the best washers, a bit old school but does the job type machines. The staff were really friendly and helpful though so bonus points there!
For all my comments about check in and check out time, keep in mind I am always planning as a photographer and my preferred way if I have to stay in accommodation is to be already scouting and shooting onsite around 4pm so it can be frustrating to have to check in and out of accommodation when you need to to travel to and from your shooting location. Then I like to have a lot of flexibility in the morning shooting times so ideally a midday checkout time allows for this. I’ve found its easiest to just book two nights at a place instead of one to maximize all the time
How to Photograph Factory Butte
With such a unique shape, Factory Butte makes for a really interesting subject. The most common “mistake” I see landscape photographers making is to photograph it from the North East side. Doing so makes it appear as a giant wall lacking shape and depth. Even though it can look impressive for how it’s bold shape appears to the naked eye, on a camera the giant wall effect doesn’t show it at it’s best – there lacks a peak to lead your eye to. Yes, you can find incredible foregrounds there but you can also find them from other better angles. What you should do is keep moving your way anti-clockwise around the Butte – until you are looking at it from the North-West side instead. North-West side? If you don’t have a compass you can just move around it until the shape looks pointy and dramatic.
When you move farther around Factory Butte, the shape changes again. I recommend looking for foregrounds within that range. Don’t start searching for a foreground until the shape of Factory Butte becomes pointy enough, and stop once you’ve passed the point where its peak begins to lose that sharpness.
Not only does the shape of Factory Butte improve as you walk around it, but the light is also better from this angle at sunrise and sunset. The layers and depth in the sediment hills become more visible. The types of foregrounds you can find here range from striking mud cracks in the lower valleys of the large mud hills to streams or lines of cracked mud where water has flowed down the ridgelines. These can create interesting leading lines, especially when viewed from a higher vantage point on top of a mud hill, where additional layers come into view.
Giant mud cracks can create strong leading lines.
Good thing it is really easy to hike and doesn’t take too long, I recommend leaving yourself plenty of time to explore here for a sunset shoot so you can try multiple angles and find your composition.
By Drone
Besides photographing Factory Butte with your camera, you can also capture it with a drone. What I’ve said about the best angles for shooting with a camera also applies to using a drone. Aim for the sharp, pointy peak from the northwest. In addition to the right angle of the Butte, look for leading lines beneath the drone. You have several options: you can use a valley as a leading line, or one of the sediment hills. The challenge is that most sediment hills and valleys lead away from the peak and appear to point sideways. However, if you explore carefully, you’ll find some that point more directly toward the peak of Factory Butte.
Don’t fly too high, or the peak will lose its shape. Don’t fly too low, or you’ll miss the layers. To capture everything in the frame, try a multi-shot panorama. I usually shoot in horizontal mode (the DJI Mavic Pro 4 has a true vertical mode) and often merge three vertical shots together.
Get Used to Mud!
So when Madison and I visited in 2024, we went in late November and there had been a fair bit of wet weather previously, although dry for the duration of our stay. We parked slightly off the main road in a small offshoot trail after fresh snowfall and it was a big mistake. The snow melted and the mud turned to mush. Our car was a chevrolet trux SUV but not 4 wheel drive. After 45 minutes of scraping the thick and cold mud off the tires in our third escape attempt, the sun was fully set and we were contemplating the few hours it would take to abandon the vehicle and hike back to town. Fortunately on our sixth attempt we made it out, Madison lost her driving privileges for the rest of the trip and we bemoaned the lack of hot water at our accommodation for we were covered head to toe in mud.
Stuck in mud by Madison!
Lessons were not learned however from this experience as we attempted to explore multiple other locations in this vicinity with similar results and 5 more times getting stuck and wondering is this the time we have to call for help? So get used to mud, get a better car then us, don’t go off the main road, check the weather- forecast and if all else fails I hope you have a sense of humour!
2. Long Dong Silver
Aptly named after an American actor (and pornstar) Long Dong Silver is a tall phallic shaped rock formation in the desert. The vibes you will get from this area are like trekking across Middle Earth (according to Madison) or Star Wars, as this spot is really out in the middle of nowhere in the desert and does require some hiking.
Drone shots here can give a unique perspective of the spire.
A 4x4 is the best for this trip, though we managed with a front-wheel-drive car. Be aware that once you leave the highway, you’ll be driving entirely off-road with no formal tracks to guide you. If you don’t have a 4x4, make sure the ground is completely dry before attempting it. We were lucky that conditions had been very dry, which left the ground packed and solid. We just avoided the softer sand patches.
Key coordinates:
• Turn-off from the highway: 38°22’10.1″N 110°50’20.7″W
• Long Dong Silver: 38°23’38.6″N 110°49’56.4″W
When you pull off the highway, you’ll likely notice tire marks leading toward an informal parking area. Beyond this point, you’ll also see signs clearly stating that vehicles are not allowed past the parking zone. Please respect these rules!
From the parking spot, you’ll hike north along a dry wash. After a few kilometer’s you will see a turn to the right, around a bend. If you follow the trail uphill and right, the hike becomes steeper and tougher in loose soil, but it does give you an earlier view of Long Dong Silver. For an easier approach, stick to the flatter path around the hills but will take you longer. You won’t see the spire from the start, but as you round that bend, its tip and that’s how you know you’re going the right direction. It took us about 35 minutes from the parking lot, but expect 45 minutes to an hour depending on how fast you hike. Be sure to pack water and snacks, and don’t forget your drone batteries unless you want to make the trek twice!
One important note: the soil here turns to sticky mud very quickly, even after light rain, and cars can get stuck. We always tested the ground by walking it first before driving in—something worth keeping in mind if you go without 4x4.
How to Photograph The Spire
The Long Dong Silver Spire can be photographed from many different angles, both with a camera and a drone. I’ll discuss some of my favorites, but keep in mind that many more are possible.
With a normal camera, you can hike past The Long Dong Silver Spire all the way to the end of the ridgeline, where you’ll be standing beneath the mountain wall. From here, compose your shot with the spire and the ridgeline included. You want to capture the right side and a bit of the left side. This adds depth and highlights the curved bend leading toward the spire. It’s best to shoot from this angle at sunset. If you shoot earlier, while the sun is still up, try to include clouds to partially block the sun—otherwise the light will be too harsh.
Finding good mud cracks can involve lots of exploring.
Another good spot to photograph The Spire is from the south side. From here, you can see both spires and use cracked mud in the foreground. This angle works best at sunset, when the sun hits the mountain from the side. Keep in mind, though, that the sun only lights The Spire from this angle between November and early February.
When shooting The Long Dong Silver Spire with a drone, it’s difficult to include foreground elements. However, you can still frame the shot with an object, such as a rock face or mountain, that’s closer to the drone than the rest of the landscape. Using the mountain wall on the north-northeast side as a foreground can create an interesting perspective. This is the same area as the first spot I mentioned for shooting with a normal camera. Just be careful not to fly too close to the mountain wall.
Another option is to make a big drone panorama from the North side. You fly the drone above and a little bit behind the mountain wall you are looking at (with your naked eye when operating the drone from The Spire). Then, when taking a large field of view panorama, you include the mountain below. This mountain frames the spire, and it has some incredible lines. This spot is best at sunrise.
The difficulty we found with The Long Dong Silver spire is that is quite popular and due to that number of people walking around the ground gets disturbed with tracks of footprints making it quite messy. When we were there, there were two wedding shoots or engagement shoots going on and multiple other groups of people many flying drones. So mentally prepare for it to be busy when you explore!
3. Zion National Park
For thousands of years, people have walked the paths of Zion, where soaring sandstone cliffs in shades of red, pink, and cream frame the brilliant sky. The Virgin River winds through narrow canyons, shaping the dramatic landscape that shelters both wildlife and people. Nomadic groups first visited this region about 7,000 years ago, followed by the Virgin Branch Puebloans, Fremont, and later the Southern Paiute, who called it Mukuntuweap or “straight canyon.” In the late 1800s, Mormon pioneers arrived and renamed it Zion, meaning “sanctuary.”
This park is beautiful to explore with many streams and trees!
The area gained national attention after a 1908 land survey. In 1909, President Taft protected it as Mukuntuweap National Monument. Within a decade it was renamed Zion and designated a national park. Later expansions, including Kolob Canyons in 1956, created the Zion National Park we know today.
Where is it Located: Zion National Park is in southwestern Utah, near the town of Springdale. It’s part of the Colorado Plateau region.
Getting There
The closest major airport is Harry Reid International Airport . A smaller regional option is St. George Regional Airport (SGU) , about an hour away. In the busy season (spring–fall), Zion operates a free shuttle system within the main canyon, so visitors park in Springdale or at designated lots and ride the shuttle into the park.
We went by car and I think that is best for photography purposes compared to the shuttles they run as it does give you more flexible timing, however the parking is really difficult. Since tourism is only increasing they shut off access to a key car parking in the centre of Zion which can now only be reach by shuttle. By car From Las Vegas, NV – about 2.5 hours (160 miles) via I-15 north to UT-9 east. From Salt Lake City, UT – about 4.5–5 hours (310 miles) via I-15 south. From St. George, UT – about 1 hour (40 miles).
Fees and Passes
When you drive into the park, one entrance pass covers both the driver and all passengers in the vehicle—no additional passes are required. For larger vehicles carrying more than 15 people, special pricing applies.
• Private Vehicle: $35.00
• Individual Entry (on foot or bicycle): $20.00 for visitors ages 16 and older. Children under 16 enter free
For more information on entry fees and about the park visit the official Zion National Park website.
Beautiful fallen trees and roots create leading lines.
What to photograph
I really like these mountains in Zion National Park because they are well balanced and have an interesting shape. There are some great compositions in the streams leading toward the mountains you can look for leading lines and framing among the trees and roots.
I like the mountains from this angle the most.
The best time to shoot is autumn since the trees in the valley are such a beautiful golden yellow and really complement the red sandstone mountains.
4. Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains are a range in Arizona, the highest peak reaching 6,266 ft (1,910 m). They lie within Tonto National Forest , which also encompasses the Superstition Wilderness - a rugged backcountry accessible only on foot or horseback.
The name “Superstitions” is believed to originate from the Akimel O’odham , who were among the earliest to transform the desert into productive farmland. They passed down stories of eerie noises, unexplained disappearances, mysterious deaths, and a general sense of unease surrounding the mountains. Later, when European settlers and farmers moved into the area during the 1800s, they drew on this oral history and began referring to the range as the Superstition Mountains, preserving its connection to Indigenous traditions.
How to Get There
Here are the coordinates to the parking lots where we began exploring the mountains for foreground:
Parking: 33°23'42.0"N 111°22'31.1"W
The road is a dirt road for a few kilometers but we were perfectly fine without a 4x4 and most people I saw on the road to this parking were also in regular cars. Superstition Mountains Wilderness is a popular area for recreational hiking among the Phoenix and Arizonian residents as well as tourists. Once you are the parking you can see the mountains we shot as subjects straight ahead to the Northwest. You will find a few trails heading in that direction and once you get closer you can already start looking for foreground.
Cacti of Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains have such a wide variety of cacti because of their unique desert environment and elevation range. The Superstitions sit in the heart of the Sonoran Desert , which is home to the greatest diversity of cacti in the world. This are has a varied elevation & terrain. The mountains rise from the desert floor up into higher rocky slopes, creating different micro-climates. This allows low-elevation species like prickly pear and cholla to thrive alongside higher-elevation varieties like hedgehog or barrel cacti.
Steep cliffs and deep valleys provide both hot, sun-baked areas and cooler, shaded spots. This diversity gives different cactus species places to adapt. The area gets brief but intense monsoon rains in summer and lighter winter rains. Cacti have evolved to take advantage of these two rainy seasons in different ways. Arizona, especially around Phoenix and the Superstitions, is one of the most biologically diverse desert regions in North America.
Keep and eye out for these different types of cacti! They can all be used as foreground in interesting ways, mostly as frames.
🌵 Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) – The iconic, giant cactus of the Sonoran Desert. They can live over 150 years and tower more than 40 feet tall.
🌵 Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) – Flat, paddle-like pads with bright yellow or magenta flowers and edible red fruit.
🌵 Cholla (Cylindropuntia spp.) – Known for their spiny, jointed stems. The teddy bear cholla looks fuzzy but has extremely sharp spines that detach easily. Ask Madee, she stepped on one barefoot and carried 13 spikes around for months, they don’t come out easily!
🌵 Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) – Round or cylindrical, often leaning to the southwest. Produces bright orange or yellow blooms.
🌵 Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus spp.) – Short, clumping cactus with brilliant pink to purple flowers in spring.
🌵 Fishhook Cactus (Mammillaria grahamii) – Small, round cactus with hooked spines, often hidden among rocks.
🌵 Christmas Cholla (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) – Slender, shrubby cactus that produces bright red fruit in winter.
How to Photograph Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains are only photogenic from one main angle. You can move about 400 yards in either direction, but beyond that range the shape doesn’t hold up as well. The opportunities for exploration are somewhat limited. There is one particularly good patch of cacti, along with a few others that are decent but not quite as interesting.
You can frame the Superstition Mountains with stones. Sounds simple, but it can work.
There are of course many more cacti around the Superstition Mountains which you can use. For example when shooting the mountains from further away at 50mm. This will give a different perspective.
The best (and only) light is at sunset when the light hits the side of the Superstition Mountains.
5. Death Valley
Renowned as the hottest, driest and lowest National Park in the U.S.A, Death Valley has some of the most interesting locations to shoot. I could write an entire article just on this National Park! But for the purposes of this guide I will focus on just two of my favorite photography spots here.
Wind whips sand across the dunes creating a surreal effect.
Covering more than 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is incredible and large and is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country. Its scenery ranges from sweeping sand dunes to jagged mountain peaks, with extreme changes in elevation that make it truly unique. One of its most unique features is Badwater Basin , a salt flat sitting 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America. This surreal, lake-like surface was formed when a massive ancient lake dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind thick layers of salt.
Death Valley is also famous for its heat. In fact, the highest air temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth -134°F (56.7°C), was measured here in 1913. Even today, summer highs frequently climb above 120°F, though nights can drop below 50°F because of the dry air and lack of vegetation to hold warmth. Geologically, the valley itself is part of a sunken block of land formed by movement along fault lines over millions of years, which continues to shape it.
How to Get There
There’s no public transit that serves the park so when you visit Death Valley it will be by car. Plan for long, remote roads with little-to-no cellphone service. I recommended downloading both offline maps (you can do this with Google) and the Death Valley National Park App. It’s free through Google Play and the App Store.
The closest major airport is Las Vegas (Harry Reid Intl, LAS) is the most convenient major airport for most visitors. These are approximate; follow signage / GPS and check the NPS directions page for official routing.
From Las Vegas
Two main options: via US-95 → NV-373/CA-127 → CA-190 (through Death Valley Junction), or via US-95 → Beatty → NV-374 → CA-190. Typical drive time is 2–3 hours to Furnace Creek depending on route.
From Los Angeles
Most people take I-5 or CA-14 north to US-395, then north to Lone Pine/Independence area and east on CA-190 into the park (or take CA-14 → 395 → 190). Drive time is 4–5 hours depending on route and traffic.
Park Fee
$30USD per vehicle for a 7-day pass (check NPS for current fees/changes). Buy/bring your entrance pass online or at a kiosk/visitor center in Furnace Creek which is the main of Death Valley. Keep in mind that gas is scarce. There are only a few gas stations inside/near the park. A 4WD is recommended for many unpaved roads; some routes are closed after storms. Check road conditions before you go.
How to Photograph Death Valley.
Death Valley is a vast region in the Southwest. My favorite area there is the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells. The dunes are large enough to explore for a couple of hours. The best time to photograph them is during stormy weather. You can check the weather forecast here: Zone Area Forecast for Death Valley National Park.
When it’s windy, sand blows across the dunes, creating stunning images. You don’t need a long exposure, just a fast shutter speed will do the trick. Try shooting from a high dune to capture the layers, or from a lower dune with a higher one rising above it. The best light is at sunset, shooting into the sun, which creates beautifully back-lit dunes.
When you explore around The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, you can also find other interesting subjects. Such as a branch used as a leading line together with dried and cracked mud which makes a curved shape.
Another dune area are the Eureka Dunes. This dune is the highest in Death Valley National park with a total elevation of 207 meter/ 680 feet. You can shoot from the top of the dune downwards. Use the ridge towards the south as a leading line, pointing to the smaller dunes in the valley. When there are clouds you can aim for a light-ray.
You can also shoot the Eureka Dunes from ground level. Foreground is harder to find, but there are often some patches of cracked mud especially on the east side. From this side it is best to shoot it at sunrise when the first light illuminates the top of the Eureka Dunes.
6. Joshua Tree National Park
Few places capture the desert like Joshua Tree National Park, where two distinct ecosystems - the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert - meet to create a this landscape. Famous for its twisted, spiky Joshua trees ( Yucca brevifolia ) and dramatic rock formations, the park spans over 790,000 acres of protected wilderness in Southern California. From the otherworldly boulder piles of Hidden Valley to the sweeping deserts of Keys View, Joshua Tree never fails to impress. With elevations ranging from below 1,000 feet to over 5,800 feet, the park’s diversity of terrain and climate make it a year-round destination for photography.
Joshua Tree has three main entrances:
1. West Entrance (Joshua Tree town): The most popular, near the visitor center and close to famous spots like Hidden Valley and Barker Dam. The closest major airport is Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), about a 45-minute drive to the park’s west entrance.
2. North Entrance (Twentynine Palms): Good for accessing the northern and central parts of the park.
3. South Entrance (Cottonwood, off I-10): Best for travelers coming from Phoenix or driving along I-10.
How to Photograph Joshua Tree
This big area is filled with Joshua Trees. These twisted, bristled trees may seem easy to photograph at first, but they’re more challenging than you might expect when trying to find the perfect composition - they all look so similar. Look for one tree you can use as a frame, with another tree positioned within that frame. At the same time, try to find a spot where the background also adds interest.
Joshua Trees aren’t found only in Joshua Tree National Park; they also grow in many other places across the Southwest including Death Valley National Park.
Final Thoughts
With all this information in mind you are set for an incredible journey to the Southwest USA. Just remember to plan your locations in advance and always keep an eye on the weather especially for muddy places such as Factory Butte and Long Dong Silver. I am sure you are going to thoroughly enjoy your trip and come away with incredible images to add to your portfolio. Always consider visiting in multiple seasons for different atmospheres.
Max Rive is most driven by seeking new perspectives in the natural world and capturing them in his own distinguished style. Max's powerful portrayals of his interactions with the mountains has earned him international recognition in the outdoor community.
Madison McCardle is a passionate landscape photographer driven by curiosity and a desire to capture the true essence of each place she explores. Through her lens, she seeks new perspectives that reveal the beauty and authenticity of the world.
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