There are so many untraditional locations for adventure engagement photos around Sioux Falls if you’re willing to step out of the ‘norm’!
As a photography duo based in Sioux Falls, we’ve traveled around quite a bit and have found many unique engagement spots that don’t require you to go far (but we are willing to). Engagement photos should speak to who you and your partner are! We love doing an activity at engagements, like eating ice cream, having a picnic, biking, or canoeing.
Keep reading to learn about unique engagement photo spots in and around Sioux Falls.
Best Spots Near Sioux Falls for Adventure Engagement Photos
The Badlands
If you’re up for a drive, you can easily get to The Badlands within a few short hours, which isn’t crazy far. This is the perfect location if you want something a little adventurous with outdoorsy vibes that aren’t too green.
The Badlands are a unique area (and National Park) in South Dakota featuring interesting rock formations filled with neutral colors. They’re pretty striking, making this one of the more fun landscapes for a stunning engagement session, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the sky’s colors are cast against the rocks.
Because of the park’s remote location, it’s easy to find little pockets just for us to snap photos and celebrate your engagement. The park’s landscape makes it easy to dress either super casually (if that’s your thing) or even to the nines, making it the perfect place for engagement photos near Sioux Falls.
The Black Hills
If you want something a little more green with a classic mountain vibe, then you may want to consider The Black Hills as your engagement session location. This mountain range features dark rocks and is surrounded by beautiful trees and greenery. It takes up a bit of the US’s Great Plains, from Wyoming to South Dakota.
The Black Hills is a bit further out, just under 6 hours, but it can be fun to create an entire weekend getaway out of it! You can visit nearby Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, or Devils Tower National Monument.
Throughout the Black Hills area, there are waterfalls, beautiful forests, trails, and breathtaking views, so there are truly a lot of different landscapes here to choose from. Plus, this area is beautiful in snow, too, so if you want something outdoorsy with winter wonderland vibes, this can be perfect.
Blue Mounds State Park
A quick 45-minute drive from Sioux Falls will take you to Blue Mounds State Park for your adventure engagement photos! Located in southern Minnesota, this park has pink and orange rock formations, beautiful greenery, and great views of the plains. If you want to get out of Sioux Falls for your photos, this is a great local spot with more adventurous vibes.
Similar to The Badlands and The Black Hills, it’s pretty easy to find little spaces just for us to take some beautiful engagement photos inside Blue Mound State Park. This park is breathtaking in fall when the orange hues begin to take over the trees, creating a warm atmosphere, especially at Golden Hour.
Sertoma Park
Located directly in Sioux Falls, Sertoma Park is an ample green space and picnic area with all the vibes of the outdoors without leaving the city. A river snakes throughout the park, adding an extra touch of tranquility.
We love Sertoma Park for its variety: it has evergreen trees, tall grass, native foliage, and even a pond. Whether you picnic in the park or walk hand-in-hand along the trail, Sertoma Park is the perfect local spot for a more outdoorsy engagement session. You could even rent a vintage bike for the trail to add a nostalgic feel to your images!
If it rains, there’s even a pavilion where we could take beautiful photos, or the Butterfly House & Aquarium is nearby for a quick date.
Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF)
Now, let’s talk about a few local date ideas! Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF) is easily one of them, especially in the winter, for a coffee date vibe.
There are so many great coffee shops to pop into, like The Source Coffee Roastery + Taproom, The Breaks Coffee Roasting Co., Queen City Bakery, or even The Cattitude Cafe, which has literal cats you can cuddle with!
You could even go for a diner vibe with Phillips Avenue Diner, making you feel like you’re in Pop’s Diner in Riverdale. You and your partner could get your engagement photos taken while playfully sipping from the same milkshake or munching on some fries!
Downtown Sioux Falls is also a very walkable area, so even if you choose to get engagement photos here in summer (or the winter weather isn’t unbearable yet), you could even bike or walk around using the buildings as incredible architectural backdrops.
B&G Milkyway
This list of locations for adventure engagement photos wouldn’t be complete without B&G Milkyway, an iconic local ice cream drive-in that opened in 2001. While it may not be super “adventurous,” it is outdoors, so we’re including it for that reason!
It’s impossible to miss B&G Milkyway, with its bright red paint and shining sign, which can’t help but draw you in. You and your partner can order a sundae or soft serve to split for your engagement photos. There’s a great outdoor seating area with a classic red umbrella, which provides some great shade and adds a nice touch to photos.
The Park
Last but certainly not least, you can also opt for any local parks for fun outdoorsy activities, like a picnic or painting. Props are FUN and can help you to have something else to focus on while you’re in front of the camera.
Besides Sertoma Park, Good Earth State Park is an excellent option for a rolling hills type vibe, or Tomar park and the Greenway trail which offers a variety of senic backgrounds and native foliage. You really can’t go wrong as long as the weather is excellent!
Which Adventurous Engagement Photo Location Will You Choose?
There are an incredible number of outdoor engagement photo sessions if you want to have a little bit more of an adventurous vibe in or around Sioux Falls! We hope that this post has helped you find one that works perfectly for your session.
Are you still looking for an engagement and wedding photographer for your big day? We’d love to learn about you and your partner and what you have in mind. Click here to get in touch.
Check out these posts next:
