Fall and some falls on the Niagara Escarpment (dial-up warning)

[JeffR]

As stunning as Niagara Falls is, it's merely the gateway to the Niagara Escarpment, which stretches for 450 miles. More about this amazing UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve here: http://www.escarpment.org/home/index.php

I spent Friday at the Spencer Gorge, about 50 miles from Niagara Falls.

This modest stream is Spencer Creek, where it forks into an east and a west branch.



The west creek picks up speed a little south of the forks...



... passes under a fine old cobblestone footbridge, recently restored...



... and then vanishes into the Spencer Gorge at Webster's Falls:







Steep stairs lead down to the base of the falls:



Rapids below Webster's Falls:



The creek continues downhill, curving deep into the woods:



A beautiful trail leads from the cobblestone bridge to the edge of the Escarpment...







... finally curving around to the east branch of the creek at Tew's Falls:



Tew's Falls is only 30 feet or so shorter than Niagara Falls, and was as wide, 10,000 years ago:



I've now gone from having nothing in the way of fall shots this year to having a ton that I'm pretty happy with. It was an exhausting day, but worth all the aches and pains that followed.

[NanceGreggs]

1. WOW!!!

Just WOW!!!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. nice work Jeff

great shots

[JeffR]

8. Thank you!

[CC]

3. Beautiful.

All of them are beautiful though I have to say I love Tew's Falls and the way you captured it. I would be missing fall completely if it weren't for DU photogs.


I am trying to think of any wheel chair friendly places that aren't too bumpy to get to so I can see and shoot some fall colors. Course the other side is a driver and he is getting worn out fast. Poor man is only starting to realize how much his other half really does around here and doing a small part of it on days off is killing him.

[JeffR]

9. Hang in there. Hope your recovery is going quickly.

It's been a strange fall here. Colors around the Escarpment usually peak around October 15, but there were still many areas with barely any turning. Looks like a lot of trees will be going from green to bare.

[Eurobabe]

4. Beautiful! I hope to take my hubby to the Niagara

region one of these years. I remember going there frequently as a kid (my Dad grew up on the St. Lawrence Seaway) and I was always fascinated and frightened of the roaring, swirling whirlpools on the Niagara River, about 1 mi. upstream from the actual falls themselves. There used to be a big white overhanging barrier across the river that basically indicated "if you pass this in a boat or whatever, you're screwn!"

Where exactly were you in these pictures? I'll try to google again. Looks like the colors were just beautiful.

[JeffR]

6. These were taken at roughly the red 'x' here:

Above a town called Dundas.

The drive up from Niagara Falls toward this area passes through Niagara wine country.

[Eurobabe]

5. Jeff, have you ever seen this map before?

The entire Niagara Escarpment throughout the Great Lakes region


Here is a better explanation of the rock deposits and differing elevations.

http://www.uwgb.edu/DutchS/GEOLWISC/niagesc.htm

I grew up along Lake Erie, and we had tons of shale cliffs, in local parks and along the lake itself. But 75 miles west there are limestone caves, most notably "the Blue Hole" in Castalia OH. And I've been up to Door County in WI, it's very scenic up there. (Unfortunately no digital camera at that time, bummer).

[JeffR]

7. Thanks. That puts a bigger perspective on things.

I've seen some of that part of Wisconsin, and the Escarpment between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron is also pretty breathtaking.

[Eurobabe]

10. I really want to take a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

and see Lake Superior. Having grown up on the Great Lakes, you tend to develop a fascination for the topography, the beaches and the water. My husband is going diving in Lake Michigan in July 2009, to see two very deep wrecks the Carl D. Bradley (which was ironically built in the city in which I was born, Lorain OH) and the Senator.

I have such fond memories from the late 60s, early 70s of our friends having a powerboat and water-skiing, late nights on the beach in the summer with bonfires, the beach is gone now thanks to the Army Corp of Engineers

Thanks for inspiring a trip down memory lane

[Callalily]

11. Great Map!

Many do not realize the length and breathe of the Niagara Escarpment.

You are right, Door County is breathtaking, especially in the fall. I go there several times a year, and enjoy all seasons.

[Callalily]

12. Your pictures are

fabulous. Colors here were brilliant to, but unfortunately my schedule has not permitted me to get out much with my camera.

Thanks for sharing.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. BEAUTIFUL!!! and thank you so much for taking by sharing on your hike