steptoe butte state park

The views here are just incredible, some of the best I've seen and I've photographed many of the great places in the world. It's in the middle of nowhere, but make a day or two of it and drive through the hills and take some amazing photos of the landscape.It was pretty crowded when we were there, photographers everywhere, but can you blame them? We came with a group of about 15 photographers and everyone was like a kid in a candy store. Shooting in every direction, finding the best light and waiting for the sun to start to set. We were lucky to be there during a super moon which was a bonus.

Okay, I am a photographer who is a complete wimp about heights. No matter how much this reminded me of the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park, it was shorter and just as worth it. First off, it is a place to experience, secondly......you may get good images. My experience is in the late summer. There was wind and relatively poor visibility. Probably caused by the wheat being harvested.My suggestion is to get there during the golden hours and use a long lens for macro shots that are all about pattern. The best images that you hang on the wall will be the ones you post produce in B&W. Shoot high ISO and weight your tripod to counteract the wind shake.

This butte is over 1,000 feet above the surrounding farmland and offers a beautiful view of the rolling hills (the Palouse) for miles around. Be forewarned that the road to the top is not for the faint of heart. It is potholed, slightly larger than one lane, with no guard rails. I was well aware of the shear drop as I crept forward because there was no place to turn around until I got to the summit. But it was worth the effort once I saw the view. I recommend you go on a nice day and learn a little about the region's history and geography first.