Bridal Veil Falls, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

A couple of miles up Overlook Drive is the trailhead to Bridal Veil Falls, one of the many attractions of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Like the bigger and better known Brandywine Falls and the Great Falls on Tinker's Creek, the hike to get to the falls is relatively short. The descent from the road is on a wide gravel path, wooden walkways, stairs, and a bridge. Once you cross Deer Lick Creek turn right on the trail and in a few steps you are in at the observation platform. From there you have a great view down into the gorge, and of the long path the water has carved over the slate. If you continue your hike Buttermilk Falls is further up the trail. I decided to stop at Bridal Veil today, having other places to visit in the park.

On this trip I found the shooting conditions from the platform to be difficult. I was getting lots of highlighting in the images, and nothing seemed to tame it. So I walked back to Deer Lick Creek and  took photos from the crest. Free from the deep green of the gorge my photos came out better, and I felt at peace as I watched water on stone. The creek was a summer trickle, and with some care I walked through the water on the rocks. I spent an hour on a hike of less than a half-mile total, and I could have spent another hour. It was time worth investing.