When you’re looking for your next insta-worthy photo, we’ve got seven can’t-miss spots in the Northwest to add to your vacation itinerary.
A mountainous area in Washington’s Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge offers some of the most stunning photographs of the Olympic Mountains. Popular for hiking, skiing and snowboarding, Hurricane Ridge offers year-round access to this gorgeous area.
Lake Crescent is strikingly beautiful, and folks love to photograph its majesty within Olympic National Park. A deep lake (624 feet at maximum depth), Lake Crescent is known for brilliant blue waters and extraordinary clarity. The water is missing nitrogen which inhibits algae growth thereby creating the deep, clear water. Lake Crescent is located in a recreational area where visitors will also find trails in abundance as well as “Devils Punch Bowl,” a swimming and diving area.
Mt. Hood is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, formed by a subduction zone on the Pacific Coast. About 50 minutes east/southeast of Portland and Oregon’s highest mountain, a snow-covered Mt. Hood is an amazing photo as it reflects into Mirror Lake.
The North Cascades are home to Liberty Bell Mountain, about a mile south of Washington Pass on the North Cascades Highway. The peak, made from a mixture of granite and difficult rock, is well-known within the state for high-quality alpine climbing. Don’t leave your phone behind, because you’ll definitely want to hashtag some insta-worthy shots of this natural phenomenon.
The highest point in the San Juan Islands and second-highest mountain on an ocean island (in the contiguous 48 states), Mount Constitution is an Orcas Island treasure. A stone observation tower resembling a medieval watch tower is found at the summit of this breathtaking climb. The tower offers excellent panoramic views and photographs of the neighboring islands as well as the Cascade Mountains.
Northwest Wyoming is home to Grand Teton National Park, with 310,000 acres and some major peaks. Ten miles south of Yellowstone National Park, the protected areas of Grand Teton make up part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Park itself is named for Grand Teton, the tallest mountain in the Teton Range. Folks from far and wide travel to see the natural beauty here and photographs, while nothing short of spectacular, rarely do it justice. But, it’s fun to try!
Haystack Rock, in Cannon Beach, is a 235-foot sea stack that can be reached by land. The spot is popular with tourists and the rock is adjacent to the beach, accessible by foot at low tide. The Haystack Rock tide pools provide a habitat for starfish, sea anemone, crabs, chitons, limpets and sea slugs. Additionally, the rock is a nice resting spot for sea birds, including terns and puffins. There are so many angles and reflections at Haystack Rock that it is really hard to take a bad picture.
Ready to head out to some of these and try your hand at photography excellence? Book your accommodations first (because it’s always good to know where you’ll lay your head), and plan your trip to get that perfect shot that lights up Instagram! We’ve got the perfect Kabino for you!
