Where to Photograph the Fall Colors in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a terrific place to photograph the fall colors.  The park is full of hardwood trees and there are many good locations to photograph the changing colors.

The fall colors usually hit their peak in Cuyahoga Valley National Park around the second or third week of October.   In this blog, I’ll tell you the location of some of my favorite locations to photograph the autumn colors in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

If you have any favorite locations to photograph the fall colors in the park, leave a comment for this blog post.

CVNP Fall Photography Locations

Blue Hen Falls

Blue Hen Falls is a scenic waterfall in a small ravine and surrounded by hardwood trees.  I find the best compositions are from down in the ravine with the stream in the foreground.

The GPS for the parking area for the Buckeye Trailhead is 41.256280, -81.572679.  The falls are about a ½ mile hike from the trailhead.

The Ledges Overlook

The Ledges Overlook gives a great view of the valley.  In the fall, there is an abundance of trees with orange and yellow colors.  I like using the rock outcropping as a foreground for my photos.  A wide angle or ultra wide angle lens will help to capture the scenic view and foreground.

The parking area for the Ledges Trail is located at 701 Truxell Road in Peninsula, Ohio.  Park in the southeast corner of the parking lot for easy access to the trailhead.  Once at the trailhead, there is a sign for the overlook.  It is about a mile hike with a moderate incline to the overlook.

Turnpike Bridge

The bridge for the Ohio Turnpike in Cuyahoga Valley National Park also has some beautiful fall colors.  I like using the bridge as the leading line for the photo.

There is a pull off along Riverview road where you can stop for a photo.  I step on the other side of the guard rail just to be safe from traffic on Riverview road.  The GPS coordinates for the pull off is 41.255764, -81.556864.

Indigo Lake

Indigo Lake is a small lake that is surrounded by trees.  There is also a train station for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad that can be used in your compositions.

The GPS for Indigo Lake is 41.194010, -81.578347.

Kendall Lake

The trees around Kendall Lake have some brilliant color.  On a calm day, capture a reflection of the trees in the water.  Also use the curve of the earthen pier as a leading line for your composition.

Kendall Lake is located almost right across the street from The Ledges trail so plan to photograph these two locations on the same day.  Kendall Lake GPS:  41.217778, -81.524904.

Brandywine Falls

While I think the best, unobstructed composition of Brandywine Falls is at the end of the boardwalk where there is less fall color, compositions can also be made of the falls through the trees showing the colors of the changing trees.

The GPS coordinates for parking area for Brandywine Falls is: 41.217778, -81.524904.  The falls are a short hike down the boardwalk and stairs.

Written by Martin Belan

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