Typically, the parks established east of Rockies during the early days of the National Park System tended to be small urban parks, carved out from the desire to have scenic open spaces near to home, especially for recreation, rather than with the goal of preserving a unique slice of the landscape such as the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. Cuyahoga was one such park of the former type, nestled between major urban areas, and its story is rooted in the environmental and social movements of the 20th century. Its creation is about not only providing a refuge from the urban wilderness but restoring a landscape to be culturally vibrant, less polluted, a better home for wildlife, and a model for sustainable living.
And that was why, even though it was an arms throw from urban areas, I found places of solitude. I had visited the park during the fall season, hoping to escape the maddening crowds of a major college campus I was studying at that time. During this season, this midwest park takes on a new color scheme, covered in golds and yellows. It also becomes remarkably quieter without the urban crowds. In wandering along numerous trails that meandered through the forests and old moss-covered rocks and stonework, I realized that it truly was a hidden gem that aspired to the goals for which the park was created
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
OH USA
The Eve of Fall
Fall is around the corner. And while some of the trees out here in the PNW have jumped the gun and started changing already, the majority of the foliage around the country will take its time turning over the old leaf through the months of October and November.
A couple of years ago, I got to experience the magic of the changing colors in the beautiful midwest of US in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Walking amidst the yellow forest of dogwoods, maples and oaks over trails softened by layers of fallen leaves was a memorable experience. And even in that short time I spent in the park, I got to experience the essence of this beautiful region. This is one of those quintessential scenes in the park - an wooden stairwell leading to the Brandywine falls amidst the dense foliage.
I am looking forward to another spectacular fall season. Are you?
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
OH USA
Fall at Brandywine Falls
With the fall foliage in peak and my creative eye itching for some action, I took a look back in my archives to relive my prior year adventures in fall colors photography. One such adventure was to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.
I had always dreamt of capturing a waterfall surrounded by the reds and yellows of the maples and oaks. And one such waterfall that leaped out in my research for such a scene was Brandywine falls - a beautiful fan-type waterfall that cascades down multiple rock ledges surrounded by foliage that was just starting to change for the season.
Even my journey to the falls, walking along the 1.5mi long trail to the waterfall, winding its way through a very colorful forest on a rustic boardwalk, with glimpses of the beautiful gorge below, was just amazing. And after half hour of walking, my ears picked up the comforting roar of a waterfall. And soon enough, my eyes spied, through a clearing amidst the yellow foliage, the creek racing down the segmented layers of rock, with a dusting of brown leaves all around.
The setting for this waterfall couldn't be more memorable. I quickly set to work. Anticipating a small clearing in the clouds for sunlight to get through, I captured a few choice exposures of the lovely waterfall and the vegetation around it. One such exposure was this, shot with the help of a neutral density filter.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
OH USA