Moab is one of my absolute favorite places so when Hannah and Colton reached out to me about doing a Moab couples photoshoot I was 1000% in! If you and your partner love discovering new places and being super adventurous, then Moab is definitely a location you should consider for your couples/engagement photoshoot.
Moab is a small town in Eastern Utah that offers the most beautiful desert landscapes, red rocks, canyons, and epic sunsets! So, when trying to decide where we wanted to take their couples photos, we had endless options. During the time of this photoshoot, I was camping in Moab so I wanted to explore a new spot for their couples photos. Hannah and Colton had never been to Moab before and trusted me completely with the location.
Couples Session at Needles Overlook
The location I chose was one I had never been to before but had researched prior on Google earth. Needles Overlook was at the end of an 18 mile stretch of a one way road. The road is surrounded by juniper trees, unnamed dirt roads, canyons, and snow capped mountains. At the end of the road, you ended up at a viewpoint with 360 degree views of a complex and vast canyon system. The view was made even more incredible by the the snowcapped La Sal Mountains in the distance.
More Locations for your Moab Photoshoot
Moab has so many other amazing locations that you could also take your couples/engagement photos at. Some require a longer hike and more difficult terrain, while other locations are super easy to get to. Down below, I’m sharing some of my favorite Moab locations for photos and will include the distance and difficulty of getting to some of the spots.
Canyonlands National Park:
Located in Southeastern, Utah, Canyonlands National Park offers a similar feel to Arches National Park. It has the beautiful desert landscape and epic arches but because it is a less known park, it offers a much more private and intimate space for your couples photoshoot. There are several different hikes that you can do and more information is provided in the link above.
Arches National Park:
This is by far one of the most popular locations in Moab and for good reason. It is the most beautiful and epic location with a landscape of massive textured arches and red canyon views for miles. Some hiking locations within Arches National Park Include:
- Double Arch: This is a slightly sloped, compacted dirt trail that leads to to the double arches. It is a 0.6 mile distance roundtrip making this an easy spot for engagement photos.
- Sand Dune Arch: This hike includes walking through thick sand and narrow sandstone fins to reach the secluded arch. It is an easy hike with a distance of only 0.4 miles roundtrip.
- Navajo & Partition Arches: This is a longer hike with a roundtrip distance of 3 miles. I would say that this is more of a moderate level of difficulty. If you’re wanting to do more of a hiking adventure couples session, then this is a great option.
Castle Valley/ Castleton:
Castleton Towers is a super popular location in Moab, as it is the most famous desert tower in the world. This is a more difficult hike with different types of terrain. It is a 2.6 mile hike roundtrip. And, if you and your partner are avid rock climbers, it is also a super well-known rock climbing spot.
Corona & Bowtie Arches:
A great hike for those who want a little adventure but don’t want to deal with any difficult terrain. It’s a 3 mile roundtrip hike that is moderate in difficulty. There are a couple of spots along this hike that require you to climb a ladder and hold onto a cable to ascend a steep rock. So while its not a super difficult hike, it does offer some adventure.
Fisher Towers:
This is an amazing hike which offers super unique landscapes with strangely shaped rock formations everywhere. This 5.2 mile roundtrip hike includes single-track dirt and slickrock trail. With a moderate level of difficulty, this hike should take you somewhere around 2-3 hours to complete.
When is the best time of year to go to Moab?
So when is the best time of the year to plan your adventurous couples photoshoot in Moab? Since Moab is a desert, I find that the best times of the year to visit are fall, late spring, and winter believe it or not! These are the transition seasons from it being super hot to getting pretty chilly. During the fall and late spring the temperature usually is somewhere between 60-80 degrees in the day and between 30-50 degrees at night. The best months to visit Moab April/May and September/October/November.
KIND WORDS FROM HANNAH AND COLTON
“Gabbi there are precious! These are once in a lifetime pictures and I’m absolutely obsessed. I can’t wait to frame these in our home!!! I know my parents will adore having pics together. Thank you so much! I can’t thank you enough!
