Looking for some of the best Instagram spots in Salt Lake City? Yeah, you and the +2 million people that have used #saltlakecity in their Instagram pictures.
What? 2 MILLION?!
Yes!
And with those photos floating around social media, it can be difficult to sort through all of the hotel-bathroom-selfies, restaurant-menu-pictures, and low-quality-food-shots.
With the natural beauty surrounding Salt Lake City, it’s easy to drive up one of the numerous canyons and take a few pictures of the snow-covered peaks, fall foliage, and waterfalls a plenty.
But Salt Lake City is so much more than just natural beauty.
As someone who has lived in Utah since 2009, I’m constantly finding new places to photograph and highlight Salt Lake City!
Read on for my list of the best Instagram spots in Salt Lake City (and a few extras just a short drive away!):
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Take a step inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Temple Square and you’ll step into history.
Previously named the Hotel Utah, construction on the building began in 1909. Two years later in 1911, the hotel opened for business. During its 76 years as a hotel, the Hotel Utah was internationally recognized for its elegance and world-class service, attracting people from US presidents and celebrities to tourists.
https://www.templesquare.com/explore/jsmb/
The glistening chandelier, wrap-around balcony, and plush interior designs create an unforgettable backdrop, no matter which angle you point your camera. Take care, as you might have to work your way around a wedding party or two…this location is the perfect venue for any kind of event!
When to go:
Monday – Saturday: 9am-9pm
Sundays, Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day: Closed
For special closures and holiday hours, consult their website here.
Address:
15 E S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Parking:
Parking at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building can be a little tricky if you’re not familiar with the area. Here is a great guide put out by Temple Square, indicating a few options.
If you don’t have a car, fear not! There are multiple TRAX stations close by and are easily accessible. Plus, riding public transportation in the city center is free!
Items of note:
The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is fully accessible and free of charge to enter.
Visiting during the holiday season is a special treat. There is always a larger-than-life Christmas tree, completely decked out in the middle of the lobby.
Salt Lake City Temple
Completed in 1893, this neo-Gothic building took 40 years to build and sits at the heart of Salt Lake City in Temple Square. The granite used to build the most iconic LDS temple in the world was sourced from the nearby Little Cottonwood Canyon, which was quite an undertaking back in the days when horses were the main form of transportation!
This towering edifice is photogenic from any angle you shoot at, up close and personal or from a distance. You’re almost guaranteed a “keeper” shot every time you point your camera at this temple.
Whether you’re using a person, prop (I’ve used my feet!), or nothing else besides the temple for your picture, you’re almost guaranteed the best Instagram shot you’ll take in Salt Lake City!
When to go:
Temple Square is open daily from 9am-9pm
For special closures and holiday hours, consult their website here.
Address:
50 W North Temple St, Salt Lake City UT 84150
Parking:
Similar to the situation at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, parking can be a little tricky if you’re not familiar with the area. Here is a great guide put out by Temple Square, indicating a few options.
If you don’t have a car, fear not! There are multiple TRAX stations close by and are easily accessible. Plus, riding public transportation in the city center is free!
Items of note:
The Salt Lake City Temple is a sacred, religious site for the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please be respectful when walking around and taking pictures.
Entrance into the temple is restricted to approved members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who hold an approved recommend from their local leaders. A replica is on display in the South Visitors Center in Temple Square if you’re interested in what the interior is like.
Beginning December 29, 2019, the Salt Lake City Temple will be closed for approximately 4 years to undergo extensive renovations and restorations. The project will have an impact on the exterior of the building at certain points, so be aware. Watch the full press conference here for the expected plans and renderings.
Ensign Peak
Situated directly behind the Utah State Capitol Building lies Ensign Peak, a 0.5 mile trail that leads up to one of the most breathtaking views of the entire Salt Lake Valley.
Ensign Peak is a local favorite urban hike that gives those who summit unique vistas; from Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake to the west, to the Bingham Copper Mine to the south, and the University of Utah to the east.
I’ve taken people to the top of Ensign Peak to get the best Instagram shot of Salt Lake City at sunrise and sunset. Nothing beats natural lighting!
(Click here to check out my beginner’s guide to urban hikes in Salt Lake City!)
When to go:
Trail closes at 10pm
Local tip: start the hike about an hour before sunset for amazing colors, light reflecting off of the Great Salt Lake, and cooler temperatures during the summer months.
Address:
1002 Ensign Vista Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Parking:
Plenty of free street parking is available at the trailhead. Pay attention to street signs and don’t block any driveways.
Items of note:
It takes approximately 20 minutes to summit the peak. If you’re not a big hiker, there is a lookout point about 2 minutes into the trail that offers amazing views as well.
Parking and the trailhead are located in a neighborhood. Be courteous to those who live nearby and refrain from making excessive noise late at night.
Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are everything a photographer needs in life: color, contrast, and variety. No two markets are the same, as no two pictures are completely identical.
Salt Lake City has numerous farmers markets around town, summer, fall, and winter to accommodate any travel schedule. The biggest and most-attended market is the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market.
I love taking pictures of the vibrant colors of the vegetables and fruit. During the early mornings when the sun rays peek through the trees, try to head towards the center of the park with the food trucks. The smoke generated from their ovens will create an ethereal effect for your shots!
When to go:
Saturdays, June – October: 8am – 2pm
Tuesdays, August – September: 4pm – dusk
Saturdays, November – April: 10am – 2pm (Rio Grande Depot)
Address:
Pioneer Park – 350 S 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Rio Grande Depot – 300 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Parking:
Trying to park in any city’s downtown area can be something of a challenge. Check out the following websites for parking directions:
Pioneer Park: website
Rio Grande Depot: website
Bikes, public transportation, and ride shares are encouraged!
Items of note:
Some vendors will prohibit photography close to their stalls, such as local painters and photographers. Please be respectful to their wishes.
Street Art Installations = the BEST Instagram spots in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is home to numerous pieces of street art. I made it a priority to seek out some of the best murals and pieces of art that highlight the life and variety of Salt Lake City. There are SO MANY and more are added regularly!
One of the cool things about taking pictures of and with street art is that you really don’t need much else to make your Instagram pictures stand out!
Since there are so many options in and around Salt Lake City, I urge you to click on my articles below to figure out which one will provide your best Instagram spot in Salt Lake City!
Street Art in Salt Lake City, Part 1
Street Art in Salt Lake City, Part 2
Street Art in Salt Lake City, Part 3
The Living Room
No, this isn’t your average living room. This is the Living Room! Confused? Don’t be.
Close to the University of Utah campus is an easy hike that leads to an expansive lookout point of the Salt Lake Valley, called The Living Room.
When you summit, you’ll be rewarded with entrance to a make-shift living room (where the hike obviously gets it’s name). Hikers over the years have constructed chairs and a TV set-type contraption, complete with a remote control. Perfect props and background setting to get the best Instagram shot ever with Salt Lake City as the background!
One of the most iconic poses you can do is to sit on one of the “chairs” and hold the “remote” or just stare off into the distance!
When to go:
Any time the sun is out! The point of getting to the summit is to have sweeping views of the valley…and you’ll need sunlight to do so!
The viewpoint faces west, so if you want the sun behind you for your pictures, start the hike in the morning. Avoid the middle of the day, as there is very little shade on the trail.
Address:
Trailhead is close to 383 Colorow Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (40.76065,0-111.818817)
Parking:
Street parking is available on Colorow, but observe the street signs.
Items of note:
To get to this beautiful vista where you’ll capture the best Instagram photo of Salt Lake City, you will have to hike about 4 miles round-trip. Make sure you’re physically able to do so.
Summer months are brutal and rattlesnakes are often seen on the trail. Take caution to avoid the heat of the day and avoid crossing paths with the rattlers.
Bonus: Bonneville Salt Flats
Although not technically within the city limits, no list of the best Instagram spots in Salt Lake City can be complete without mentioning the Bonneville Salt Flats!
Similar to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the Bonneville Salt Flats is a salt crust deposit left over from when the ancient lake disappeared. What we have left behind is a vast desert that tricks the senses and renders visitors speechless.
Feeling playful? Use a prop in the foreground and have your subjects far in the distance, creating the illusion that their sizes have switched. My personal favorite? Lay down an empty Pringles can in the foreground and instruct your friends to run “into” the can!
When to go:
If you want to have the bright white salt visible to create the best Instagram pictures from your trip to Salt Lake City, make sure to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats during the dry season. After a rainfall, the flats will flood. Although this creates a beautiful mirror reflection of the sky and distant mountains, the salt disappears beneath the surface.
There are no visiting hours at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Locals and visitors alike use the flats as a star-gazing destination at night, rocket launchpad during the day, and sometimes a racetrack.
Address:
Bonneville Speedway Road, Wendover, UT 84083
Parking:
The “entrance” for the Bonneville Salt Flats is technically a rest stop. There is plenty of free parking. Take care to leave the truck spots open for the semis that will need to stop.
Items of note:
From Salt Lake City, head west on I-80 for about 90 minutes. Exit when you see the sign for the Bonneville Salt Flats. You can’t miss it – there’s nothing really out there!
The rest stop has a restroom if you need to change into separate outfits for your photo shoots!
Bonus: Antelope Island
Just a short drive north from downtown Salt Lake City lies Antelope Island, situated in the Great Salt Lake. Not only can you watch the buffalo herd roaming (or sleeping, as they often do), but take advantage of world-class bird-watching, unique hikes over rugged terrain, capturing some of the best Instagram pictures close to Salt Lake City.
(Click here to learn how to spend the day discovering Antelope Island!)
I’m willing to bet that most of your friends don’t have pictures of buffalo roaming free (or scratching themselves on a rock), or of a beautiful beach in a landlocked state, or of a valley with towering mountains in the background, akin to New Zealand.
When to go:
Open daily: 6am – 10pm
Closed: Thanksgiving & Christmas Day
Address:
4528 W 1700 S, Syracuse, UT 84075
Parking:
Parking at the visitors center, campground, and marina are all marked and available. You can also pull off along the roads, as long as you aren’t blocking traffic.
Items of note:
Antelope Island is a State Park and drone use is restricted. Check out their website for up-to-date information about using a drone.
Bonus: The UP House – the BEST Instagram spot close to Salt Lake City
Did you know that there’s a real-life replica of the house from the Disney movie “UP?” And that it’s in Utah?
Yes!
Believe it or not, it’s real. It’s beautiful. And a family actually lives in it.
(Click here to plan your visit to the UP House!)
If you’re a Disney fan on any level, put this destination on your bucket list for taking the best Instagram pictures around Salt Lake City!
When to go:
The house is lived in, so just think about it. Don’t visit the house at night or early in the morning. The colors of the house pop more when the sun is out.
Address:
13218 S Herriman Rose Blvd, Herriman, UT 84096
Parking:
Street parking is available. Do the neighbors a favor and don’t park in front of their house. There is a park across the street with plenty of spots. Plus, you won’t want a car in your pictures!
Items of note:
Like I mentioned before, the house is lived in. The owners have created a website full of information: background, photo shoot regulations, and a blog about their family. Check it out here before you go!
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