Best Engagement Locations for Adventure Couple Photography
Engagement photos are a fun way to celebrate your love and commitment to each other. Depending on your vibe, you can choose standard engagement photos or turn it into an adventurous shoot.
On the more typical side, engagement pictures usually involve cute outfits, a lovely setting, and a couple hours of posing, kissing, and embracing. It’s fun, it’s straightforward, and it’s how most people choose to do their engagement portraits.
But maybe you’re not that kind of couple. Perhaps you want to do something a little crazy—or even super wild. Heck yeah!
Calling all adventurous couples! You enjoy biking, backpacking, off-roading, and more. You want to get out there and have an engagement session as memorable as any epic elopement day.
Sounds like you? Check out these epic spots in California for adventurous engagement photos!
Eastern Sierra Engagement Photos: Mammoth Lakes & Bishop, CA
The glorious Eastern Sierra always enraptures adventuresome couples. Why? Because there is so much to do here! Bishop’s town motto is “small town, big backyard.” And this sentiment is SO real. Mammoth Lakes is similarly a playground for outdoor lovers.
Beyond the glorious natural world, you still get the benefits of access to a town with good restaurants, charming shops, and comfortable lodging. All this and more make the Eastern Sierra a top spot on the adventure engagement list. As a bonus, pets are generally allowed here.
Engagement Photo Activities in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop:
Hiking: Tons of trails for day trips or backpacking of all kinds. Hike to alpine lakes through mountain passes or head to lower elevations for wide open high deserts and boulders.
Water: Swimming? Kayaking? Paddleboarding? Fishing? Boating? You can find all that here in alpine lakes and winding rivers with the most amazing views of the Sierra.
Hot Springs: Find both primitive and established hot springs all over the east side. Dip in wearing your favorite bathing suits—or soak au naturel in your birthday suit.
Biking: Mountain biking, dirt biking, and more! You can even take an easier route and bike the pavement through Mammoth Lakes or check out the trails in Bishop.
Offroading: There are too many spots to list! Access alpine lakes, mines, or vistas of changing leaves in the fall. Rent a 4x4 or bring your own vehicle to explore the rugged terrain.
Climbing: From world-class bouldering in Bishop to sport and trad climbs in Mammoth Lakes; there’s a reason these areas draw in climbers from all over.
Camping: Endless public land in the high desert and forest means you can camp out in a ton of locations and have a campfire or watch the stars. As an outdoor couple’s photographer with lots of local knowledge, I can help you find the perfect spot for your vibe.
Snowsports: Mammoth Mountain is a prime spot for snowboarding, skiing, tubing, sledding, and more. Looking for more adventure? Pick a hiking spot to snowshoe to or get a snowmobile tour!
Other: Picnic, bonfire, stargaze, rockhound, check out Bishop’s murals.
Engagement Photos in Alabama Hills
None too far from Bishop and Mammoth, Alabama Hills deserves its own spot on the list!
What makes the Alabama Hills so special? Visualize rolling boulders leading up to the highest point in the continental United States, stunning lupines and wildflowers in the right seasons, long stretches of rugged rocks, rock formations right out of a Hollywood western, and dark skies that show of the cosmos. Not to mention, pets are allowed here.
What adventure couple activities are available in Alabama Hills?
Hiking: There are only a few official trails here, but they lead out to epic views and interesting rock formations. If you’re willing and able to go off-trail, you can certainly make a day of it.
Camping: There are a few nearby campgrounds, or if you’re lucky, you can grab one of the very few approved spots in the park. Arrive early during a weekday to grab a spot.
Climbing: Enjoy a few climbing spots with your own gear, or (safely) scramble around on the rocks without.
Horseback Riding: Want to gallop into the sunset with your special someone? So cute! This pack station runs from June through September in the Alabama Hills and Bishop.
Mountain Biking: Love the sound of revving engines? Plenty of dirt roads make for some fun rides.
Offroading: The park is predominantly dirt roads, varying from regular dirt roads to 4x4 access only. Perfect for a romp around the rocks!
Other: Picnic, bonfire, stargaze, rent a classic car, rent a unique Airbnb.
Engagement Photo Ideas for Joshua Tree National Park
Named after the creatively curvy and crooked trees, Joshua Tree National Park has so much to offer couples who are as enthralled with the natural world as they are with each other.
With several desert towns nearby, park visitors enjoy easy access to the outdoors and amenities like vintage shops, tasty restaurants, and dazzling Airbnb options. Psst—and there are lots of cool outdoor locations outside of the park, if you plan with your photographer.
Incredible engagement photo activities in and near Joshua Tree National Park:
Hiking: Backpacking and day trips are both available in the park; the former requires a permit. Take your pick from mountain hikes with great views to technical hikes with lots of scrambling or even leisurely hikes with little to no elevation gain.
Biking: Bring a motorcycle or bike on the roads. It’s a great way to see the park. Just know that biking is not allowed on front-country trails. For extra cute photos, rent an e-bike!
Hot springs: Believe it or not, there are established hot springs in Wonder Valley and Palm Desert. Make an early appointment to watch the sunrise together—or book a nighttime soak to bath under the stars and moon.
Climbing: JT is well known for climbing of all kinds, including slacklining. And if you can’t climb or don’t have the gear, you can always scramble around on the rocks.
Camping: While there’s some dispersed camping, none of it is within the bounds of the park. Plan ahead of time to grab a campsite amongst the boulders.
Offroading: There are 4x4 roads in the park, as long as you stay on established trails. I’ve never been able to do these since I have a front-wheel drive car, so I will be extra stoked to do this with you!
Horseback Riding: There are hundreds of miles of horse trails in the park. Bring your own horse and follow all restrictions.
See Art and Roadside Attractions: Joshua Tree attracts cool people who bring cool and wacky art with them. Check out the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum or ‘Transmission’ by Daniel Popper. Or look out for some of the best roadside attractions around, like Integratron, Roy’s Motel, World Famous Crochet Museum, and Pioneertown.
Other: Picnic, bonfire, stargaze, rent a classic car, rent a unique Airbnb.
Mojave National Preserve: Engagement Photography and Activities
Mojave National Preserve has a similar desert vibe to JTNP, but it’s more remote. Which means you are likely to see fewer people. Mojave also boasts more variety in landscapes, making it an ideal spot for adventure lovers. You feel like you are really out there!
What activities can couples do in Mojave National Preserve?
Hiking: With so much to see, this is an amazing spot to hike! Head out to caves, sand dunes, Joshua trees, boulders, and more. Or spend the night and go backpacking.
Offroading: There are 4x4 roads aplenty in the park. In fact, most roads are dirt roads! Just make sure to follow all rules and regulations.
Biking: Mountain biking and dirt biking are fun activities for couples who like to ride.
Camping: Choose from three established campgrounds or head to the backcountry for dispersed camping. Just make sure to pack it out!
Horseback Riding: BYOH! If you have horses, bring them to the park and travel around by hoof.
Other: Picnic, bonfire, stargaze, rockhound, and so much more!
Engagement Pictures in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park & Salton Sea
Quirky and off-the-beaten-path, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Salton Sea are unrated treasures in Southern California.
The town of Borrego Springs is small, making access to the outdoors fast and easy. From there, check out the largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; or head out to the infamous Salton Sea. These areas have so much art, an eclectic history, and open desert spaces for the nature lovers.
What activities:
Hiking: Anza Borrego has a ton of hiking! Explore slot canyons, ancient palm trees, desert vistas, petroglyphs, springtime flowers, and more.
Offroading: There are tons of dirt trails to traverse, both easy and hard. Many of the coolest spots are down long roads, leading to mines, canyons, petroglyphs, caves, and more. Or head to an OHV area to rip it up in the dirt.
Camping: Head to an established campground or choose one of the many dispersed areas to set up your camp.
Art & Roadside Attractions: The desert brings out the weird in people. Come see the art and attractions here, like the Galleta Meadows sculptures in Borrego Springs or Salvation Mountain, Slab City, and Bombay Beach near the Salton Sea.
Other: Picnic, bonfire, stargaze, rockhound, and anything else you can imagine.
Spark Your Imagination for Adventure Engagement Photos
The whole point of this blog is to open you up to the possibilities. Obviously, there are so many breathtaking locations and thrilling activities for you and your soon-to-be spouse. That’s the fun part! But make sure you capture all the wonderful things you get up to with your adventure photographer.
If we work together, I am more than happy to help you map out the perfect day. This includes permits (if necessary), activities, timing, and so much more. It’s my job to make sure your engagement photoshoot is everything you hope it could be.
Ready to take the next step? Book a call with Love & Latitudes, your engagement photographer!
Adventure Engagement Photography Packages
+ 1-2+ hours of coverage
+ Planning and location assistance
+ Online gallery with high-resolution photos
+ Option to download images or purchase prints online
+ Travel fees included, minus permits
Meet Your Adventure Photographer
I'm Diana Lustig, a California-born adventurer with a camera for a hand and an inborn love for the outdoors. I'm a professional photographer of 15 years and counting. I’ve captured over 50 weddings, 12 of which took place in the Eastern Sierra. In my free time, you'll find me traveling through the southwest and the East Side with my husband in our van, Clyde.
How did I get into wedding and elopement photography? In 2019, I hired adventure photographers for my own wedding and they showed me there’s a different, more personal way to get married. It was such a special day, I want to bring it to so many more couples who believe in getting married their own way.
