Top Spots in the Midwest for Nature Photography

Jun 18, 2024

Looking for a way to fuse your wanderlust with your creative interests? Nature photography is the perfect interest combining a love of travel and outdoors with your artistic vision and self-expression. Today, we’re sharing some of the top spots around the Midwest that make for prime landscape and nature photography! Get in touch with the world around you again, connecting with plants, wildlife, and incredible scenery as you immerse yourself in these protected wilderness areas and national parks.

Badlands in Kansas – This stunning national park is open 24/7, making it an incredible opportunity to shoot during the day or at night time. Sunrise and sunsets in the badlands will add some serious depth and drama to your imagery, and each timeframe will bring out different animals and creatures for feeding and hunting. Nature photographers who visit the area recommend taking a drive around the Badlands Loop Road, a 50-mile drive with overlooks and scenic views for wide shots! Must-photograph locations include “The Pinnacles” which face south, showcasing the stunning terrain and landscapes; the Medicine Root rock formation offers a beautiful grouping of buttes in a gradient of gold, red, tan, and brown jutting into the vast skyline; the Burns Basin Overlook produces stunning shots thanks to the multicolor geological formations, and the trails are home to a multitude of desert and plains wildlife species. Visitors recommend spending at least one to three full days in the area.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio – This national park was established in order to preserve the lush rolling hills and sprawling forests hugging the Cuyahoga River. It’s known for a multitude of waterfalls and lush trails that cut through the rock ledges and forest. It’s home to a diverse range of wildlife including plentiful waterfowl, curious reptiles, and furry pals. Nature photographers recommend taking the Towpath Trail along a former site on the Erie Canal, photographing the astoundingly gorgeous 65-foot tall cascading Brandywine Falls, treading the boards along the Towpath Trail, hiking up for a scenic view on the Ledges Overlook, and observing the creatures and plants along Indigo Lake. Visitors generally recommend spending two to three days here to take in all of the waterfalls, marshes, and trails along the river.

Tallgrass Prairie National Park in Kansas – This nature preserve is located on 11,000 acres of land, 33 of which are managed by the National Parks Service, and the rest by nonprofit group The Nature Conservatory. Visitors recommend hopping on one of the tours via the Visitor Center, which will help you identify more than 450 species of flowers, 1,000 species of insect, 70 different species of grasses, and a multitude of mammals, reptiles, and birds! Nature Photographers love visiting during the late spring and early summer months for the wondrous wildflower fields, and if you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of the Bison herd that’s repopulating the area. The area is also located in the “Central Flyaway” zone, where birds from the east and west gather together during migration season, creating a breathtaking sight. Visitors generally recommend a two day visit to take in as much of the plant and wildlife as you can, but a one-day stint is doable as well.

Porcupine Mountains State Park in Michigan – This 60,000 acre preserved region is known for its serene wilderness and old growth virgin forests filled with winding rivers, scenic waterfalls and top tier vista points. Nature Photographers recommend taking the trails past Overlooked Falls and Greenstone Falls at the end of Little Carp River Road and South Boundary Road. The Pinkerton Creek Trail offers access to Pinkerton Creek for shots that look straight out of a fantasy novel, featuring lush emerald green moss, rustic fallen logs, and babbling waters. The LAke of the Clouds viewing area is a must-visit spot, especially at sunrise or sunset for incredible views of the lake and mountain area from the man-made platform atop the hill. The Big Carp River can be photographed through the misty mountaintops, or up close and personal if you select the North Mirror Lake Trail Bridge. Lost Lake and Union Spring both offer unique waterscapes and marshy areas. Looking for a bit of mystery? Check out the Ghost Town of Nonesuch Mine area, former copper mining site and mill! Visitors recommend spending at least three days or more here to take advantage of all the area has to offer

Other notable Midwest hot spots for nature photography and landscape photography enthusiasts: Pictured Rocks National Park, Starved Rock National Park, Tahquamenon Falls, Clifty Falls State Park, Pewits Nest State Natural Area, Cataract Falls State Recreation Area