Quiet Waters Park

Author's Comments

The South River does a particular thing in late October when the wind dies. I have watched it happen maybe four or five times from the overlook terrace at Quiet Waters, and it is the kind of thing you have to be there for, because the window is small and the conditions have to cooperate. Late afternoon, the hardwoods on the bluffs going copper and rust, the water flattening out into something that holds the color of the sky almost perfectly. From the terrace the river opens wide enough that you feel the depth of it, but the trees frame the view in a way that keeps the photograph from going empty. The kayak launch down below is where I actually spend most of my time here. The bluff rises behind you, the water is closer, and in fall the reflections are worth the short walk from the parking area. Early morning if there is any mist, but golden hour if you want the color. The sculpture garden is small and I do not always stop, but when the light is raking in low from the west the Blue Heron pieces throw long shadows across the grass, and that is worth a few frames. Six miles of paved trails means you can spend a whole afternoon here without covering the same ground twice. Most visitors stay near the entrance. The further you walk toward the river edge, the more the park opens up.

Gallery