Phoenix Area Photography Options

Phoenix

Desert plants and birds

• Desert Botanical Garden http://dbg.org
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park http://ag.arizona.edu/bta/btsa.html
• Gilbert Water Ranch http://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/riparian-preserve-at-water-ranch

Landscape

• Lost Dutchman State Park in the Superstitions   http://azstateparks.com/Parks/LODU/
• Phoenix Mountain Preserve  https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations
• County Parks:  http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/ see San Tan Mountain, Usery Mountain, Lake Pleasant
• Gold Canyon
• McDowell Sonoran Conservancy: https://www.mcdowellsonoran.org 

Wildflowers (seasonal)  

• Recommend the book Wild in Arizona by Paul Gill and Colleen Miniuk-Sperry  http://www.wildinarizona.com/  .  There is a blog on the site with some current information. 
• Desertusa site: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/az.html

Old West: 

• Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction   http://goldfieldghosttown.com/
• Pioneer Living History Museum  http://pioneeraz.org/
• Vulture City and Vulture Mine near Wickenburg: Vulture City Ghost Town 

Tucson 

Tucson is ~ 2 hours from Phoenix

Desert plants, birds and animals:

• Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum  https://www.desertmuseum.org/
• Saguaro National Park (East & West): https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm 

Architecture

• Barrio de Viejo
• San Xavier Mission

Sedona 

Sedona is ~ 2 hours from Phoenix

• Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon,
• Red Rock State Park,
• Slide Rock State Park

Flagstaff 

Flagstaff is ~ 2 hours from Phoenix

• Grand Falls (Seasonal)
• Sunset Crater

Northern Arizona

• Grand Canyon:  
  • http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/10-tips-for-the-grand-canyon.html#.VrNre1KpLW4
  • http://loadedlandscapes.com/grand-canyon-photography-guide/
• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/sucr/index.htm
• Wupatki National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

Page

Page is ~ 4 hours from Phoenix

Landscape

• Horsehoe Bend
• Glen Canyon National Recreational Area
• Vermillion Cliffs
• Slot Canyons (Antelope, Canyon X, etc.) – permit and guide required in most
• Lake Powell
• Rainbow Arch – Long hike or accessible by boat from Lake Powell in Page
• Toadstools

Wildlife

• Condors – Marble Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs

Southern Arizona

• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm
• White Water Draw (Migrating birds in Winter: Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese): https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife/viewing/wheretogo/whitewater/