At the end of any vacation, it’s natural to just want to get home. MrsFaceless and I had been in Virginia, Kentucky and now West Virginia for ten days and the travel, early mornings, hiking and copious amount of really good BBQ food was kicking in. That hadn’t stopped us from getting up early one last time to photograph the Glade Creek Grist Mill. But with that done, we had one more stop to make. It had been mentioned to us in passing by another photographer knowing we would be in the area, so we figured why not just take a small detour for a look. From the moment we arrived I was smitten and MrsFaceless mightily impressed with it’s majesty and magnificence. The sheer array of composition possibilities took us completely by surprise. That place is Sandstone Falls.
Open Wide
Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River and spans a width of over 1500ft. The river itself splits into a series of falls, divided by a collection of small, rocky islands. This location sits within New River Gorge National Park. Sandstone Falls was created by the powerful flow of the New River water eroding a soft layer of conglomerate rock that lies below the hard sandstone layer from which the falls gets its name. Through time, as the river washed away the conglomerate beneath the harder sandstone, the precipice of the falls and the great boulders below were created. The falls are still a dynamic geological environment as the erosion continues and the falls slowly advance upstream.
Getting There
Car Park: 37.759476520625995, -80.90514775236919
Sandstone Falls is located on New River Road, north of Hinton, WV or for a more interesting approach, from exit 133 on I64 junction with Pluto Road then along Irish Mountain Road. Be aware that Irish Mountain Road is a gravel track which has some rough bits. I would not take a standard car down this road, but did see some on our descent and climb back to I64. In or after bad weather could make this impassable to standard cars and ‘fun’ for trucks and SUVs.
There is a visitor center, but that is a full 2 miles away to the north as the crow flies. MrsFaceless and I did visit that on the way out. I can report that they have very clean amenities!
Stepping Out
The walk out to Sandstone Falls starts by crossing short bridge from the car park over a man made channel that once powered a grist mill. Sadly, the mill no longer exists. When you reach the other side of the bridge you are on the first of the islands and can see the lower falls to your right. We stopped here for a brief time to take a few photos, get some video and also watch the fishermen who were doing extremely well!
Going Loopy
From this point onwards you can access the one half mile Island Loop Trail as well as one of the most unique botanical ecosystems in West Virginia, the Appalachian riverside flat rock plant community. This information boards are plentiful along te boardwalk and apparently this community is found in only five areas in the state and consists of several southern plant species that have migrated along the north flowing New River. They have adapted to the thin rock strewn soil and occasional scouring floods on this elevated island below the falls.
Mind The Gap
The next bridge takes you over a natural channel and onto a low lying island covered with a floodplain forest. The clue here should be ‘floodplain’. From here you can see views of the main falls. The boardwalk is well maintained and stretches from the car park to the gantry, making the view of (part of) Sandstone Falls ADA accessible.
Rocky Road
Once you’ve done the tourist bit, it’s time to head out and take your life in your hands. OK, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but leaving the relative safety of the boardwalk is a simple step down onto the rocks and from there you can in just about any direction. That means there is ample opportunity to slip, trip and fall. There are lots of loose rocks; lots or trees, bushes and branches randomly growing or washed into piles by raging waters and, not surprisingly, there’s water, sand and mud making it slippery too.
What A Pair!
I was particularly concerned for MrsFaceless who is not known for her rock hopping abilities. She was concerned for me as, after 10 days, my bad ankle was showing signs of wear and tear. What a pair we are! In the end all was fine. Mainly because we were sensible and would stop every so often to get our bearings.
Going Loopy
We’d thought about walking the rocks in a loop. That would, we thought, allow us to see as much as possible and give us the best chance of getting the perfect composition. Except, that loop simply isn’t possible. What with the vegetation, rocks and channels of water we found ourselves constantly back tracking to get to the next position which was maybe only 50 feet away. It’s a lot of fun jumping around the rocks with water around. It took me back to my childhood and summer holidays! The important point here is, as we did, keep taking stock of your position so that you can remember the way out! Don’t get stuck, don’t fall in and don’t take unnecessary risks which could lead to serious injury…or worse.
Green Is The New Gold
One thing that struck us about Sandstone Falls was the greenness. Not of the plants, but the water. It truly is a sight to behold. Not sure why this is, most likely a mineral in the water, but it really made for some gorgeous water inthe photos we took
Planning
Looking at a few photos online didn’t do this place justice. In fact, with so many compositions available, it’s easily possible to spend a couple of days here if you are taking your time. So take that into account if you are thinking of visiting. Other than the obvious need food and water think about getting around. The gantry provides a partial view, as does the beachy cove like area nearby. To get the best views is going to require some rock jumping and venturing out towards the bigger water flows. Good footwear, with grip and preferably ankle support, is advisable. It is also worth scouting around a bit before starting to take photos.
Time Crunch
We had reckoned on an hour tops to take a break, stretch our legs and have a bite to eat for lunch on our way to the pre-booked hotel. As it was, we spent over 3 hours here and could easily have spent more were it not for the several hundred miles we needed to go to get to the aforementioned hotel. The advantage we had in getting there around lunch time was that we could see where others were setting up to shoot from. So we could go and check that view out. We didn’t like all of them, but for those we quickly moved on or simply shuffled around a bit to get better leading lines or foreground interest in our compositions.
Safety
The water flows fast here. The floodplain islands were not uder water during our visit, but you can see that they can be. Check out the water height/flow through the US Geological Survey site. A flow > 3ft is considered dangerous for swimming. Be sensible if you walk out on the rocks. Don’t take risks and preferably don’t go alone. When carrying photo gear try not to overload yourself. Always put your tripod away before moving around so that it doesn’t trip you up or catch and knock you off balance. Deaths have occurred in this location.
Mastering Composition at Sandstone Falls
When photographing, take the time to explore for compositions. Good composition makes your photos more interesting and compelling.
Finding Unique Perspectives
The boardwalk gives you a great view of the falls, but explore other angles. Walk along the river’s edge, if safe, for a lower perspective. Climb to higher overlooks for a wider view. These different perspectives will yield great photos.
Utilizing Leading Lines and Natural Frames
Use the river, trees and rocks to guide the viewer’s eye. These leading lines create depth and draw people into your photo. Trees or rock formations can also frame the falls. Natural frames add interest and focus attention.
Incorporating the Surrounding Autumn Landscape
Don’t just focus on the falls. Include the colourful forests and interesting rock formations around them. The broader context adds to the story of your photo. Wide shots including the forest create a sense of place.
Capturing the Light: Optimal Settings and Timing
Light is key to great photography. The time of day and your camera settings affect your photos.
Understanding the Golden Hour and Blue Hour
Golden hour (sunrise and sunset) gives warm, soft light. Blue hour (just before sunrise and after sunset) has cool, soft light. These times of day can make Sandstone Falls look magical. Plan to shoot during these hours for best results. If you can’t hope for a flat grey sky like we had as this diffuses the light. If all else fails, use ND filters to reduce light hitting the sensor!
Long Exposure Photography Techniques
Use a long exposure to blur the water and create a silky smooth effect. You’ll need a tripod and an very possibly an ND filter for this. Place your camera in manual mode and use a slow shutter speed, then review and change the shutter speed until you achieve the desired effect. This blurs the water’s motion.
Mastering Exposure Settings for Dynamic Range
Fall scenes have a wide range of light and dark areas. Use bracketing to capture the full range. Bracketing means taking multiple photos at different exposures. You can also use a graduated ND filter to darken the sky.
Post-Processing for Fall colours
This is a must for any photographer. The camera’s sensor will capture a ‘flat’ representation of what’s really there. A jpeg is the camera manufacturer’s interpretation of what the scene should look like. Try to shoot RAW and make those changes yourself, even applying or creating your own style.
Enhancing Colour Vibrancy and Saturation
Adjust colour vibrancy and saturation to bring out the richness of the fall foliage. Be careful not to overdo it. Subtle adjustments look more natural. Boost reds, oranges, and yellows. At Sandstone Falls this also helps to bring out the rich green colour of the water.
Sharpening and Noise Reduction Techniques
Sharpen your images to bring out details. Reduce noise to clean up your photos. Use these tools carefully to avoid making your photos look unnatural. Sharpening and noise reduction can be powerful tools.
Correcting White Balance and Colour Casts
Make sure your white balance is correct. This ensures accurate colours. If your photos have a colour cast (like too much blue), adjust the white balance to fix it.
Nearby Photography Locations
If you have time, visit other scenic spots nearby. The New River Gorge area has many great photography locations. Explore the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve; Grandview State Park and Hawks Nest State Park offer amazing views of the gorge.
Babcock State Park’s Glade Creek Grist Mill
Babcock State Park has a photogenic grist mill. It’s especially beautiful in the fall. The Grist Mill sits along a creek that adds some interesting photo opportunities.
Blackwater Falls State Park
Blackwater Falls is known for its dark, amber-coloured water. The park has scenic mountain views. It’s a bit of a drive, but worth it.
Conclusion
Capturing the beauty of Sandstone Falls requires a little bit of planning, some skill and patience. Remember to visit at the right time, use the right gear and compose your shots carefully. Master your camera settings and use post-processing to enhance your photos. Sandstone Falls is a special place. Go visit and share your stunning fall landscape photographs!
Sandstone Falls WV 2024 Gallery
We hope you have enjoyed our little journey together – the blog and the video; if so please head over and leave a comment on youtube – and a like and subscribe is always much appreciated!
Until next time…..