USERY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK
Location: 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ
Photo Pass: No pass required, $7 per car paid at the main entrance guard house
What to expect: Flat desert scenery with mountains in the background at select spots. Large saguaros easily accessible from trails. Easy to drive from spot to spot, park, and walk a short distance.
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS - NORTH SIDE
Location: N First Water Trailhead
Photo Pass: No pass required
What to expect: Iconic towering rock formations, dirt trails and saguaros. Photo examples are from sunset! These sessions are often shorter than others as the window for ideal lighting is smaller. We shoot right as the sun sets so your eyeballs can take the heat! I recommend sticking to one outfit for this spot so we get the most out of our time with good light.
LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK
Location: 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119
Photo Pass: No pass required, $10 entry per car for one person, $20 entry per car for 2-4 people
What to expect: Same as above — this is a closer, more direct view of the iconic Superstitions face. There is much more open desert here than the previous trail, and almost no walking required to get to my favorite spot. These photos were taken at sunset in October.
PAPAGO PARK
Location: 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ
Photo Pass: No pass required
What to expect: Desert rock scenery! Can get crowded in the small parking lots on weekends, especially when the weather is nice, but the park is large enough that it's easy to find a quiet area. Requires moderate walks on flat trails. These photos were taken an hour before sunset on the West side.
WHITE TANK MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK
Location: 20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ
Photo Pass: $7 per car to enter the park, or park at the library and pay $3 per person inside for foot traffic only
What to expect: Perfect mountain backdrop for a sunset session — this is one of the closest views in the whole Valley. Lots of saguaros, short walks to locations. They're very strict about staying on trail as of 2024, so spots for photos are sometimes limited with crowds. These photos were taken during the April 2023 superbloom.
PHON D. SUTTON - MID MOUNTAIN PARKING LOT
Location: Mesa, AZ
Photo Pass: No pass required
What to expect: Dirt parking lot that gives access to a small, easy to access desert area with amazing “down the road” mountain views. These photos were taken about 1.5 hours before sunset as the first of two locations we did that evening. The mountain views are even more gorgeous as the sun sets behind the horizon.
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN
Location: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Photo Pass: No photo pass required, only normal admission tickets purchased in advance
What to expect: Definitely not a traditional "desert" landscape, but the perfect way to add visual interest and some color to your photos! Lots of winding paths full of different greenery including cacti. It can get busy on the weekends when the weather is nice, or weekdays during peak tourism. If you're comfortable around other people, this is a great choice! (The above photos were taken on an overcast day in January)
THE SALT RIVER
Location: Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Photo Pass: $8 Tonto National Forest pass per car, acquired in advance off site
What to expect: Rocky ground, lots of trees/bushes, water access (you can wade all the way in if you want during summer/early fall) — water levels change throughout the year. Sun sets on the mountain in gorgeous orange tones.
$100 TRAVEL FEE APPLIES
CANYON LAKE
Location: AZ-88, Apache Junction, AZ
Photo Pass: $8 Tonto National Forest Pass per car, acquired in advance (not sold at the lake itself)
What to expect: About an hour's drive with no traffic from Tempe (my home base!) Large lake, towering rock formations, tall grass. Busy in the summer.
$50 TRAVEL FEE APPLIES
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS - SOUTH SIDE
Location: Lost Goldmine East Trailhead 10987-10999 E Peralta Rd, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118
Photo Pass: No photo pass or entry fee required
What to expect: Up-close views of unique rock formations with lots of desert greenery and some cacti. Easy walk from the large dirt parking lot, dirt roads for about 20 minutes leading out there easily passable by regular car (not recommended for rainy days because of how the road dips).
$50 TRAVEL FEE APPLIES
SPUR CROSS RANCH CONSERVATION
Location: 44000 N Spur Cross Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Photo Pass: No photo pass required, $3 per person paid in cash on the trail
What to expect: Gorgeous mountain views and lots of saguaros! A pretty easy walk from the parking lot.
