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Scenic Viewpoints to Photograph in the USA

1,425 scenic viewpoints in 46 states, each with computed light, night-sky and weather data for planning. Pick a state, or start with the most documented locations below.

Top scenic viewpoints

Air Bellows OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Air Bellows OverlookAlleghany County, NC · 1,141 m
Alligator Back OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Alligator Back OverlookAlleghany County, NC · 1,022 m
Bird Island OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Bird Island OverlookMarin County, CA · 64 m
Blacktail Ponds OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Blacktail Ponds OverlookTeton County, WY · 1,988 m
Blue Ridge Summit OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Blue Ridge Summit OverlookFrederick County, MD · 469 m
Buck Canyon OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Buck Canyon OverlookSan Juan County, UT · 1,881 m
Bullhead Mountain OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Bullhead Mountain OverlookAlleghany County, NC · 970 m
Camp Creek OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Camp Creek OverlookAvery County, NC · 1,057 m
Cedar Point OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Cedar Point OverlookMontrose County, CO · 2,134 m
Chestnut Cove OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Chestnut Cove OverlookBuncombe County, NC · 911 m
Cinder Hills OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Cinder Hills OverlookCoconino County, AZ · 2,152 m
A'a OverlookScenic Viewpoint
A'a OverlookCoconino County, AZ
Albright View TurnoutScenic Viewpoint
Albright View TurnoutTeton County, WY
Ancient Hunters OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Ancient Hunters OverlookPennington County, SD
B Reactor OverlookScenic Viewpoint
B Reactor OverlookBenton County, WA
Badlands OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Badlands OverlookBillings County, ND
Badlands Wilderness OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Badlands Wilderness OverlookPennington County, SD
Baker Bluff Overlook, Milepost 405.1Scenic Viewpoint
Baker Bluff Overlook, Milepost 405.1Maury County, TN
Balanced Rock OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Balanced Rock OverlookMontrose County, CO
Balanced Rock Viewpoint and TrailScenic Viewpoint
Balanced Rock Viewpoint and TrailGrand County, UT
Basin Cove OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Basin Cove OverlookAlleghany County, NC
Battlefield OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Battlefield OverlookRoger Mills County, OK
Bay View HomeScenic Viewpoint
Bay View HomeKalawao County, HI
Beach 4 OverlookScenic Viewpoint
Beach 4 OverlookJefferson County, WA

By state

Map

How to photograph scenic viewpoints

Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.

  • Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
  • Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
  • Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
  • Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
  • Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.

Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.