A Little Detour through Franconia Notch

I recently took a little trip up to Quebec to meet with some friends. It was late September and I was driving through New England. Did you really think I wouldn't stop along the way to marvel at Mother Nature's display?

My first stop was Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, specifically Echo Lake, nestled below Cannon Mountain and Mt. Lafayette.

The day I arrived was just about perfect. Okay, maybe a few clouds in that brilliant blue sky would have been nice, but who am I to get greedy? The park was surprisingly quiet despite the beautiful weather, with only a handful of people scattered around the lake. I spent the afternoon wandering along the shore, enjoying the fall color and, of course, taking photographs.

Two people relaxing beneath trees overlooking Echo Lake and the autumn-covered mountains of Franconia Notch.

View across Echo Lake toward the mountains of Franconia Notch with colorful fall foliage and a visitor standing at the water's edge.

But I knew I wasn't finished.

The following morning, before continuing north toward the Canadian border, I was up and back at the lake before sunrise. And this time Mother Nature gave me those clouds I'd asked for — beautiful pink ones!

A thin layer of mist hovered over the water as the first light began to reach the mountains. The sky slowly turned pink, the mountains and clouds reflected in the still water, and the whole place seemed to wake up around me.

Pink sunrise clouds reflected in the calm waters of Echo Lake beneath the mountains of Franconia Notch, New Hampshire.

Then the sunlight began hitting the trees.

Those autumn colors that had been beautiful the afternoon before suddenly came alive — reds, yellows and oranges glowing against the darker forest and reflecting back from the lake. It was one of those mornings when I kept looking around thinking, Okay, where do I point the camera next?

Autumn foliage glowing in morning sunlight and reflected in Echo Lake at Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire.

And perhaps that's what I loved most about Echo Lake. It wasn't just one photograph. In a matter of hours I saw the same place in completely different ways — bright afternoon color, quiet morning mist, reflections, mountains, brilliant sunlight and deep shadow.

I was supposed to be on my way to Quebec.

Instead, I found a place I already know I'll return to.

Boat and colorful kayaks beside misty Echo Lake surrounded by autumn foliage and mountains in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire.

And next time, I may even put the camera down long enough to take a kayak out on that lake.

Maybe.