Are you a photography buff? Or an amateur shutterbug? Nebraska is basically one big photo op – from the tiny villages to the big cities, the farms to the natural rock formations, the historic sites to the lovely lakes, you’ll find something exceptionally beautiful and photo-worthy everywhere you go. If you need some inspiration for your next photography jaunt, these are just a few of the picturesque places in Nebraska.
Agate Fossil Beds, Sioux County
Wikimedia/Patrickdf
Wikimedia/Ammodramus Miocene Epoch mammal fossils are preserved here, but it’s the stunning landscape that will really catch your attention. The Niobrara River flows straight through it, attracting a variety of wildlife. You’ll definitely want to get some pictures of the fascinating fossil collection, too.
Calamus River
Wikimedia/Ammodramus Break out the canoe and the camera, because the Calamus River is alive with gorgeous scenery and abundant wildlife. If canoeing isn’t your thing, head to the nearby Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area for more lovely sandhills scenery and the Calamus State Fish Hatchery.
Chadron State Park, Near Chadron
Journey to Western Nebraska
flickr/Don Barrett Nebraska’s oldest state park is nestled in the heart of Nebraska National Forest and provides some breathtaking views.
Eastern Saline Wetlands, Lincoln
flickr/Katrina J Houdek
NRDEC Some people in Nebraska aren’t even aware that this unique area exists so near the city. It’s home to an exceptionally diverse selection of animals and plants, many of which are hard to find elsewhere in the state.
Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha
Wikimedia/ItCouldBeLupus
flickr/Mark Evans There is no other place in the state to capture such a variety of animal shots! From prairie dogs to elephants, Omaha’s zoo has unlimited photo opportunities.
Harmon Park, Kearney
Wikimedia/Smallbones
Wikimedia/C.S. Imming This large park in Kearney has just about everything: peaceful water, playground equipment, open green spaces, paved trails, a rock garden, a decorative lighthouse…I could go on and on. It’s the perfect place to spend a day looking through the lens.
Indian Cave State Park, Richardson County
flickr/jreed1912
flickr/Dick Clark There’s a lot more to this park than the cave (which is quite impressive all on its own). Hiking trails lead through a stunning wilderness that you should absolutely check out in the autumn when the colors are most impressive.
Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha
flickr/Kristine Paulus
flickr/S C Hargis The large grounds at Lauritzen Gardens include all kinds of plants and more wildlife than you might expect in the middle of the city. The model train running through a tiny model Omaha is a fun place to catch some unique snapshots.
Lewis and Clark Lake, Near Crofton
flickr/Will Kirby Lewis and Clark Lake straddles the Nebraska/South Dakota border and happens to be the second largest lake in Nebraska. The lake itself is beautiful, and the surrounding wooded areas are perfect for capturing nature and wildlife photos.
State Capitol Building, Lincoln
Wikimedia/Ammodramus
flickr/joevare This celebrated historic piece of architecture is photogenic from the outside AND inside. Incredible mosaics adorn the floors and ceilings. The outdoor courtyards and pedestrian mall feature ample spots to stop and take some unique photos.
Sandhills
Wikimedia/Runner1928
Wikimedia/Ammodramus Yes, the entire Sandhills region. The Sandhills actually cover more than a quarter of the state, so you won’t come up short on places to find some really spectacular photo opportunities. This incredibly intricate and unique ecosystem contains thousands of ponds and lakes and is home to a huge variety of plants and animals.
Scotts Bluff National Monument, Near Scottsbluff
flickr/Ken Lund
Wikimedia/CyberXRef This historic natural landmark makes for a great photographic subject from a distance or from its several hiking trails. The view from the top is breathtaking and unlike anything else in Nebraska.
Snake River Falls, Near Valentine
Wikimedia/Ammodramus
flickr/Jacob Z Although it’s not as big as Smith Falls, Snake River Falls just feels more unspoiled and natural. It’s a beautifully picturesque place to flex your photography muscles. There are scenic trails in the area for further exploration and memorable nature photos.
Sunken Gardens, Lincoln
Wikimedia/babymestizo
Wikimedia/babymestizo Lincoln’s Sunken Gardens is a jewel in the city. Built in 1930 on a former dump site, the garden has only improved with time. It now has impressive water features, lovely sculptures, and of course so many flowers and other plants that you might sprain your shutter finger trying to record them all.
Toadstool Geologic Park
Wikimedia/Kahvc7
flickr/Kevin Saff This otherworldly site is known as the “badlands of Nebraska.” The unusual rock formations are the perfect place to explore and catch some photos that you really won’t find anywhere else in Nebraska.
This is, of course, nowhere near an exhaustive list of all of Nebraska’s amazing photo settings. Just about anywhere you go offers a great opportunity to catch a little piece of Nebraska. What are some of your favorite photography spots? Let us know in the comments!
Wikimedia/Patrickdf
Wikimedia/Ammodramus
Miocene Epoch mammal fossils are preserved here, but it’s the stunning landscape that will really catch your attention. The Niobrara River flows straight through it, attracting a variety of wildlife. You’ll definitely want to get some pictures of the fascinating fossil collection, too.
Break out the canoe and the camera, because the Calamus River is alive with gorgeous scenery and abundant wildlife. If canoeing isn’t your thing, head to the nearby Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area for more lovely sandhills scenery and the Calamus State Fish Hatchery.
Journey to Western Nebraska
flickr/Don Barrett
Nebraska’s oldest state park is nestled in the heart of Nebraska National Forest and provides some breathtaking views.
flickr/Katrina J Houdek
NRDEC
Some people in Nebraska aren’t even aware that this unique area exists so near the city. It’s home to an exceptionally diverse selection of animals and plants, many of which are hard to find elsewhere in the state.
Wikimedia/ItCouldBeLupus
flickr/Mark Evans
There is no other place in the state to capture such a variety of animal shots! From prairie dogs to elephants, Omaha’s zoo has unlimited photo opportunities.
Wikimedia/Smallbones
Wikimedia/C.S. Imming
This large park in Kearney has just about everything: peaceful water, playground equipment, open green spaces, paved trails, a rock garden, a decorative lighthouse…I could go on and on. It’s the perfect place to spend a day looking through the lens.
flickr/jreed1912
flickr/Dick Clark
There’s a lot more to this park than the cave (which is quite impressive all on its own). Hiking trails lead through a stunning wilderness that you should absolutely check out in the autumn when the colors are most impressive.
flickr/Kristine Paulus
flickr/S C Hargis
The large grounds at Lauritzen Gardens include all kinds of plants and more wildlife than you might expect in the middle of the city. The model train running through a tiny model Omaha is a fun place to catch some unique snapshots.
flickr/Will Kirby
Lewis and Clark Lake straddles the Nebraska/South Dakota border and happens to be the second largest lake in Nebraska. The lake itself is beautiful, and the surrounding wooded areas are perfect for capturing nature and wildlife photos.
flickr/joevare
This celebrated historic piece of architecture is photogenic from the outside AND inside. Incredible mosaics adorn the floors and ceilings. The outdoor courtyards and pedestrian mall feature ample spots to stop and take some unique photos.
Wikimedia/Runner1928
Yes, the entire Sandhills region. The Sandhills actually cover more than a quarter of the state, so you won’t come up short on places to find some really spectacular photo opportunities. This incredibly intricate and unique ecosystem contains thousands of ponds and lakes and is home to a huge variety of plants and animals.
flickr/Ken Lund
Wikimedia/CyberXRef
This historic natural landmark makes for a great photographic subject from a distance or from its several hiking trails. The view from the top is breathtaking and unlike anything else in Nebraska.
flickr/Jacob Z
Although it’s not as big as Smith Falls, Snake River Falls just feels more unspoiled and natural. It’s a beautifully picturesque place to flex your photography muscles. There are scenic trails in the area for further exploration and memorable nature photos.
Wikimedia/babymestizo
Lincoln’s Sunken Gardens is a jewel in the city. Built in 1930 on a former dump site, the garden has only improved with time. It now has impressive water features, lovely sculptures, and of course so many flowers and other plants that you might sprain your shutter finger trying to record them all.
Wikimedia/Kahvc7
flickr/Kevin Saff
This otherworldly site is known as the “badlands of Nebraska.” The unusual rock formations are the perfect place to explore and catch some photos that you really won’t find anywhere else in Nebraska.
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