Deckers Creek tumbles alongside Route 7 from Masontown to Morgantown in West Virginia. Although its lower stretches are polluted from an old mine leak, the upper section has some great little waterfalls that are well worth a visit! On one side is the road, on the other is the rail trail bike and hiking path and you are spoiled for choice in how to access them. Having tried both, I think that parking in the rest area on the right is the best option – at each end of the area you will find steep but passable paths down to the water.
The upper falls are more suited to tighter shots which focus on the water cascading over the dark rocks:
This area is probably my favorite, and it changes significantly depending on the flow of water in the river. This second image was taken in 2021 and the flow over the rocks to the left is reduced to a single trickle. I do like the way the leaves have just parted to give room for this tiny flow of water!
Clambering down the rocks a little to get a broader view gives this combination of falls. Nothing dramatic in terms of height, but pretty all the same!
I did think this would be intriguing as a Black and White print – much moodier!
If you climb down the steep valley sides at the lower end of the parking area (nearest to Morgantown), you see a different collection of falls. Much wider this time, reaching the width of the river:
This is a side view of that area showing a few leaves gathered on the rocks. Going a bit further downstream gives this much wider perspective on those falls:
So next time you have a hankering to see some cascading water, head to Deckers Creek and satisfy that urge!
If you would like to be the first to know of my latest work, and to get discounts on my work, please sign up to my mailing list. No obligation, no cost and unsubscribe whenever you want.
kmgunnart
27 Feb 2022Lovely scenery, and I particularly like your descriptions of how to get there. I remember admiring the view out the window on my last Amtrak trip through that area.
Steve Heap
27 Feb 2022Yes, it’s a very pretty area and great in the fall! Plenty to paint!
Bob Decker
27 Feb 2022Well with a name like “Decker Creek” this is obviously going to have to go on my bucket list! Nice work Steve.
Steve Heap
28 Feb 2022Yes, of course! This must be one that you try to visit!
Deb Beausoleil
28 Feb 2022This sounds like a wonderful place to visit! It looks like it would be a different view each time you visited, depending on the season and the water flow. Beautiful waterfalls!
Steve Heap
28 Feb 2022Yes, it’s a nice place to have close to home!
Louis Dallara Fine Art Photography
1 Mar 2022Steve, Amazing waterfall images, perfect shutter speed.
Steve Heap
1 Mar 2022Thanks Louis – yes, having a neutral density filter makes all the difference for these sort of images. I think my shutter speed is normally in the range of 1 – 2 seconds to get this sort of smoothing.