--- title: "PNWSights: Best Photo Spots in the Pacific Northwest" url: "https://www.pnwsights.com/" site: "PNWSights" --- # PNWSights The most photogenic places in the Pacific Northwest, ranked by scenic score, with the best time of day, crowd levels, and photo tips for every spot. 140 curated places in the Pacific Northwest, each with a scenic score, the best time of day, crowd levels, seasons, photo tips, and photographs. ## Categories - [Photogenic](https://www.pnwsights.com/photogenic.md) (46 places) - [Volcanoes](https://www.pnwsights.com/volcanoes.md) (5 places) - [Waterfalls](https://www.pnwsights.com/waterfalls.md) (21 places) - [Coastline](https://www.pnwsights.com/coastline.md) (17 places) - [Parks & Wilderness](https://www.pnwsights.com/parks.md) (27 places) - [Hidden Gems](https://www.pnwsights.com/hidden-gems.md) (24 places) ## Best Of lists - [It Is Supposed to Rain. Go Anyway](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/better-in-the-rain.md) - [7 Waterfalls at Full Flow](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/waterfall-chasing.md) - [Fog, Mist, and Gray Worth Waiting For](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/fog-and-mood.md) - [Last Light on the Volcanoes](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/mountain-golden-hour.md) - [Where the Sun Drops Into the Pacific](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/coast-sunset.md) - [Gold Larches and October Light: 6 Stops](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/fall-color.md) - [Five Places to Shoot Winter Storms and Snow](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/winter.md) - [Where to Take Your Holiday Visitors](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/holiday-visitors.md) - [7 Low-Traffic Corners of the Northwest](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/no-crowds.md) - [The Long Days of Alpine Summer](https://www.pnwsights.com/best/summer-alpine.md) ## Journal - [Five Degrees of Morning Light](https://www.pnwsights.com/journal/five-degrees-of-morning-light.md) (2026-09-09) - [Waiting Out the Crowd at Storm King](https://www.pnwsights.com/journal/waiting-out-the-crowd-at-storm-king.md) (2026-09-01) - [The Light That Didn't Come](https://www.pnwsights.com/journal/the-light-that-didnt-come.md) (2026-08-25) - [Chasing a Light That Didn't Come](https://www.pnwsights.com/journal/chasing-a-light-that-didnt-come.md) (2026-08-15) - [The Day the Sky Changed Its Mind](https://www.pnwsights.com/journal/the-day-the-sky-changed-its-mind.md) (2026-07-16) ## Top places - [Artist Point and Mount Shuksan](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/artist-point-and-mount-shuksan-glacier.md) (Glacier, WA) - The end of the Mount Baker Highway at 5,100 feet, where a short walk opens onto a 360-degree view of Mount Baker on one side and the jagged glaciated face of Mount Shuksan on the other. - [Lake Serene](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/lake-serene-index.md) (Index, WA) - Lake Serene sits at 2,521 feet beneath the sheer granite face of Mount Index, one of the most dramatic mountain walls in the Cascades. - [Trillium Lake](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/trillium-lake-government-camp.md) (Government Camp, OR) - Trillium Lake is a 63-acre lake located south of Mount Hood that provides one of the most iconic reflection views of the volcano. - [Heceta Head Lighthouse](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/heceta-head-lighthouse-florence.md) (Florence, OR) - A 56-foot lighthouse built in 1894 that is often cited as the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. - [Rowena Crest Viewpoint](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/rowena-crest-viewpoint-hood-river.md) (Hood River, OR) - Rowena Crest sits at the eastern edge of the Columbia River Gorge and offers sweeping views of the river, Tom McCall Point, and the Historic Columbia River Highway's horseshoe curves below. - [Tacoma Narrows Bridge](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/tacoma-narrows-bridge-tacoma.md) (Tacoma, WA) - A pair of suspension bridges spanning the Tacoma Narrows of Puget Sound between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula. - [Hurricane Ridge](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/hurricane-ridge-port-angeles.md) (Port Angeles, WA) - Hurricane Ridge sits at 5,242 feet elevation and offers panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains, including Mount Olympus on clear days. - [Crown Point Vista House](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/crown-point-vista-house-troutdale.md) (Troutdale, OR) - Vista House is a 1917 Art Nouveau observatory perched on Crown Point, a 733-foot basalt promontory overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. - [Colchuck Lake](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/colchuck-lake-leavenworth.md) (Leavenworth, WA) - Colchuck Lake is a stunning alpine lake at 5,570 feet elevation in the Enchantments area, surrounded by granite peaks including Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. - [The Enchantments (Core Zone)](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/the-enchantments-core-zone-leavenworth.md) (Leavenworth, WA) - The Enchantments is a series of alpine lakes and granite basins in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, often considered the premier alpine destination in Washington State. - [Reflection Lakes](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/reflection-lakes-ashford.md) (Ashford, WA) - A pair of subalpine lakes on the road between Paradise and Stevens Canyon that mirror the full south face of Mount Rainier on still mornings. - [Snoqualmie Falls](https://www.pnwsights.com/place/snoqualmie-falls-seattle.md) (Seattle, WA) - A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, 25 miles east of Seattle, that is one of Washington's most popular natural attractions. --- Page: https://www.pnwsights.com/ · [llms.txt](https://www.pnwsights.com/llms.txt) · [Sitemap](https://www.pnwsights.com/sitemap.xml)