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You don’t have to travel to Africa and go on a safari to capture amazing wildlife photos of your own. For those who live in the United States, there are plenty of great locations throughout the country for spotting and photographing wildlife. In this article we’ll take a look at 10 of the best spots, although there certainly are plenty of others that could be great locations as well. The 10 on this list are located in different regions of the country, so regardless of where you live there will be some opportunities that don’t require you to fly across the county.
Custer State Park, South Dakota
Custer State Park in South Dakota is located in the Black Hills a short drive from Rapid City and Mount Rushmore. This area was originally established as a game preserve in 1913, and it’s a great place to spot bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, white-tail deer, mule deer, prairie dogs, hawks, and eagles.
The park includes a paved 18-mile wildlife loop that makes it easy to get around in the park, and you’re also likely to see many animals just by driving the loop. There is a herd of over 1,300 free roaming bison that often come right up the the road.
Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park, at the southern tip of Florida, is a perfect location to spot and photograph animals like alligators, crocodiles, and a wide variety of birds. The park is also the home to Florida panthers, but there are very few of them and they are unlikely to be seen. Birds commonly seen in the park include the Great Blue Heron, Osprey, and Anhinga.
For those who want to view and photograph alligators, the Shark Valley loop, Anhinga Trail, and Eco Pond are ideal locations. Crocodiles can often be found in the Flamingo area at the south end of the park.
Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park includes more than 6 million acres of land and is an ideal location for wildlife viewing. The park is home to a wide variety of species including grizzly bears, black bears, caribou, moose, martens, lynx, wolverines, pikas, beavers, and plenty of birds, including bald and golden eagles. The 92-mile Denali Park Road is the only road in the park, and the majority of the stretch is restricted to buses, which can make it more challenging for photographers, but amazing opportunities are still there.
Mount Washburn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Mount Washburn is located in Wyoming within Yellowstone National Park. It’s an excellent location to find wildlife like grizzly bears, black bears, elk, bison, moose, wolves, and pronghorn. While driving to Mount Washburn you’re likely to see some wildlife, and the Mount Washburn Trail is one of the more popular trails in the park. You can hike to the summit for amazing views and beautiful flowers in the spring.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park is home to elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and coyotes. The Coyote Valley Trail is an ideal location for spotting coyotes. They are most likely to be seen early in the morning and around sunset. There are also plenty of wildflowers and amazing views available within the parks 400+ square miles of land, including 300 miles of hiking trails.
Channel Islands National Park, California
Channel Islands National Park consists of 5 isolated islands off of Ventura, California. The islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boats. There is no transportation available on any of the islands, so you’ll have to hike or use a private boat or kayak. The islands are home to over 2,000 plant and animal species, including seals and sea lions. Because the park is not easily accessible, it is one of the least-visited national parks, which allows for plenty of privacy for photographers. The highlight is Point Bennett on San Miguel Island where you can see thousands of seals and sea lions. To reach Point Bennett you’ll need to take a 4-hour boat ride (summer through fall only) and make a 16 mile roundtrip hike.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is home to bighorn sheep, moutain goats, elk, grizzly bears, and mule deer. The park has more than 700 miles of trails for hiking, providing plenty of opportunities to view the wildlife. Near the summit of Logan Pass is a visitor’s center, and this area is a popular location for wildlife viewing.
Photo by GlacierNPS
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is an excellent location to find bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and eagles. The park includes over 200 miles of trails for hiking. The park has a helpful mammal finding guide that provides information on the best locations to find different animals.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park, just 75 miles west of Washington DC, is a great place to see white-tail deer. You may also see a black bear if you’re lucky, and you’re sure to see a variety of birds. Fall is an excellent time to visit the park with beautiful foliage.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000 acre preserve located on Assateague Island. The refuge provides a beautiful setting that includes beaches, marshes, and forests. It is home to snow geese during the fall and winter, and a variety of wading birds. One of the more well-know residents is the Chincoteague Pony. There are 150 of the wild ponies that graze within the refuge, and about another 150 are on the Maryland-side of the island which is separated by a fence.
Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Northeast Region
