16 Sep 2017 Explore and enjoy Petit Jean State Park

Posted at 10:26 PMh in Travel by

Story and photos
by Linda Henderson

Each season brings its own unique beauty to Petit Jean State Park. Winter is beautiful after the leaves have fallen and the views or the rocks and cliffs are wide open. Snow on the mountain brings a magical white cover to the park. I enjoy the spring wildflowers and the cascading water of Cedar Falls as it descends into the creek and canyon. I love the dramatic evening summer sunsets from the Palisades, Red Bluff or from Mather Lodge. 

 

For me, fall is the best time on Petit Jean Mountain. During fall, the trees are ablaze with autumn’s fiery colors. As the weather cools, hiking and exploring the trail system of the park are enjoyable.

Traipsing through the woodlands and the mountainous rock terrain is like exploring another world.  

There is a kaleidoscope of colors to enjoy and photograph. The oaks, walnut and dogwoods appear to have been painted with a brush. Each year, I eagerly await the first hint of color change and return frequently to the park to be there when the fall color is at its peak.  

During the fall, Stouts Point or Petit Jean’s grave site become a beautiful mixture of warm hues.  Fall is also likely the time that this mountain became the final resting place of Petit Jean. 

The park has an Adirondack region feel about it. The Craftsman’s style architecture of the park’s Mather Lodge, the scenic bridges of Cedar Creek Canyon, the trail system, the park cabins and campsites, picnic sites, Visitor’s Center and Lake Bailey with its boathouse are surrounded by old growth hardwoods. The native log and stone facilities were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1933. All were built with superior workmanship and have stood the test of time. They are the legacy to the men who were the involved in the CCC. 

 

Here are four tips that can improve your Petit Jean photos: 

Increase you view – When shooting landscapes, most of the time you want to capture the entire view. Use you widest focal length. For DSLR, that would be 24 mm and less. For a point and shoot camera or iPhone, zoom all the way out.  

Take them at dawn or dusk – Photos taken in bright light will appear washed out or have lots of glare. If it is a cloudy day, you will be able to shoot all day long. 

Look for a subject to add to the foreground – Subjects can be people, trees, creeks or rocks.  

Try and find a leading line – Like a fence or a creek. This lets your viewer know where their eye should rest.  

Regardless of what time of year you go to Petit Jean, any time of year is a great time to enjoy the natural beauty, rustic architecture and geology of our first state park. Go explore, make memories and spend time out in the 501.

 

Linda Henderson
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