One of my favorite photography locations is the Canaan Valley area of West Virginia.  Photographic subjects abound depending on the season and your interest.  You can find mountain scenery, picturesque old barns and houses, friendly deer, a wind farm and plenty of snow and ice in winter, just for starters.

Blackwater State Park is good for water photography with Blackwater Falls and Gorge and Elakala Falls.  Blackwater Falls can be photographed from the higher handicapped accessible "Gentle Trail" viewpoint, or by descending 200+ steps to the bottom of the gorge. The best views are from the steps and at the viewing platforms on them.   The impressive gorge may be viewed from Pendleton Point, from a platform behind the Lodge or from Lindy Point by a half mile trail.   Elakala Falls is a short hike from the Lodge, but requires some scrambling for photo access.  Not in the State Park but nearby is Douglas Falls near Thomas.  It is very scenic but not easy to access. http://canaanvalley.org/2009/08/a-secret-waterfall-douglas-falls/

Canaan Valley State Park has good locations for viewing fall foliage and early morning fog in fall.  You may find macro subjects such as spiders and webs in the meadows there.  Deer are plentiful around the Lodge area.  Cortland Road through the valley can also be good for foliage.

The Dolly Sods Wilderness is a special place accessed by an unpaved Forest Service road.  Dolly Sods is located on a high plateau so the vegetation is similar to that found in the much farther north tundra. There can be brilliant color in the fall and berry picking in the summer.  The Bear Rocks are a fantastic jumble  where you can find many close-up subjects as well as landscapes.  This area is also good for sunrise, but rather remote unless you're staying at the nearby camp.

In the general area one can also explore the Otter Creek Wilderness, various  back roads, the Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, Cathedral State Park and the Mountain Made Artisan Gallery,  a fine West Virginia Crafts store in Thomas.

For an overview of some of these locations: http://canaanvalley.org/parks-wild-places/

  More information can be found at individual websites.

Judy McGuire   jkmcguire"at" cox. com

The photographs are Blackwater Falls in winter, Elakala Falls on Shays Run, Dolly Sods Wilderness from the Northland Trail, Canaan Valley Fall