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It’s only mid-September and the weather is already getting milder. That, for me, means two things: the birds are starting to migrate to warmer climates and, more importantly for most people, the trees will begin turning colors shortly.
Early morning fog, Dolly Sods, WV
The fall colors make a great background for portraits, wedding photographs, macros, and wildlife. And, of course, the same trees and vistas make great images in their own right. Whatever type of photographer you are, the fall is a great time to be outdoors taking pictures!
One of my favorite spots is Dolly Sods Scenic Area in West Virginia and, in early October, it is gorgeous. The trees have turned and the mornings are cool, maybe even cold, and the afternoons are likely to be warm. You might have fog or even snow.
Dolly Sods is located in the Monongahela National Forest near Davis, West Virginia. It is about 3 hours from Washington and is located along Forest Road 75, a narrow, gravel road that can be accessed from Canaan Valley or Petersburg, WV. Wherever you stay, leave early so you can be set up and ready to capture the first light. It will take at least 45 minutes to drive to Dolly Sods from either Canaan Valley or Petersburg but plan on an hour.
If you hit Dolly Sods at peak color, you simply won’t be able to take a bad photograph. Take your wide-angle lenses for vista shots and telephoto lenses for intimate landscapes. Also, don’t forget your tripod (exposure times can be long in the morning if want to use f/16 for maximum depth of field). Finally, take hot coffee and some snacks because there is so much potential here that you will be taking photographs all morning.
Fall Colors, Dolly Sods, WV
There are two state parks near Dolly Sods: Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls. Both deserve a post of their own and, if you go to Dolly Sods, be sure to at least stop at both parks. There are hotels in both parks and they are clean, comfortable, and inexpensive. My only word of advice is to bring a power strip; both resorts were built long ago and don’t have enough outlets to recharge all your batteries.
One final piece of advice: Any area of West Virginia is going to be crowded on fall weekends. If you can take time off during the week, you are likely to run into smaller crowds and will be more likely to find a hotel room at a reasonable price.
Where are you taking pictures this fall? Share your favorite places in the comments.
Tags: Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, Fall, West Virginia
This thing has 2 Comments
I want to get out there this year - are you hiking in or are most ops from the road?
At Dolly Sods, you can find great images from the road without any need to walk more than ten or 15 feet off the road. The two photographs in the post were both taken from the road. However, I do hike in sometimes to get a closer view of a particular area. The top of Dolly Sods is fairly flat so moving around isn’t that difficult.
I haven’t found that many terrific images in the Canaan Valley or at Blackwater Falls State Parks visible on the roads. However, there are some terrific images just a 1/4 mile or a little more away from the roads in both parks, particularly Blackwater Falls.
So, my recommendations are, when at Dolly Sods, you should move around to get the best angle and perspective but there is no need for a long hike–although you may want to–and, when at Canaan Valley or Blackwater Falls, plan on some short hikes to a multitude of small falls and overviews.