It was a chilly November afternoon and I had just pulled into Georgia after a long drive across Tennessee from Kentucky. My destination for the day had one of those magical names that just calls out to an intrepid traveler: Cloudland Canyon. This wonderful state park can be found in the far northwest corner of the state. North Georgia doesn’t much resemble the rest of the Peach State but is more akin to its Appalachian neighbors to the north. November days are short, even in the south, so I hit the trail as soon as I arrived to give myself as much time to explore as possible. I chose the short but strenuous Waterfalls Trail and was sure to pack my tripod, intent on capturing a great waterfall shot somewhere in the canyon.
The trail quickly descends down several wooden and metal staircases from the East Rim, with the steep canyon wall on one side and beautiful autumn foliage on the other. About a half mile in, a fork in the trail takes you to Cherokee Falls, the first of the trail’s two namesake falls. Tucked into the canyon, this beautiful waterfall plunges over the rock ledge and into a small pool below. I would have loved to linger, but daylight was already beginning to fade and I knew that somewhere below was the photo I was looking for.
Hemlock Falls is another half-mile down the canyon and was equally beautiful, but not quite what I was hoping for. I took photos of both of these main waterfalls, but neither really satisfied my waterfall photography cravings. Despite the sun tucking in behind the rock walls, I pushed on down the trail, over a bridge and deeper into the canyon. As I peered back over my shoulder towards the creek, I spotted this waterfall and I knew that I’d found what I was looking for. I’m sure this waterfall has a name, but it’s unknown to me. It had such wonderful cascades that I knew it would photograph well. The autumn leaves provided the context I was looking for and the single log crossing the stream, which at first I thought would be in the way, only enhanced the depth of the photo.
I stayed as long as the light allowed, and then pushed back up the trail to the overlook where I had parked, just in time to catch the sunset before I headed on down the road.
Beautifully Crafted With Fun “Whimsy” Shapes
I am thrilled to have partnered with the Wentworth Puzzle Company in South West England to offer Autumn in Cloudland Canyon, a beautifully crafted wooden jigsaw puzzle which would make a wonderful gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list. For almost 30 years, Wentworth has been producing unique and intricately crafted wooden jigsaw puzzles which have delighted enthusiasts around the world. Made from sustainably sourced wood and cut with precision laser technology, this isn’t your ordinary puzzle. My favorite Wentworth tradition is the assortment of “whimsy” shaped pieces that are a part of all of their puzzles. Autumn in Cloudland Canyon includes animal-shaped pieces and even a waterfall-shaped piece all of which make this puzzle even more of a joy to put together and a treasure to own. This puzzle comes in two sizes: 250 pieces ($49.50) and 500 pieces ($97.50) and can be shipped worldwide.
If you’ve got a puzzle enthusiast, a waterfall hiker or a nature lover on your holiday shopping list, this puzzle is sure to make them smile. To order Autumn in Cloudland Canyon, please click the link below which will take you to Wentworth Wooden Puzzles’ site. Be sure you order one for yourself, too. This puzzle, for me, is a lasting memory of an incredible day in beautiful place called Cloudland Canyon.