Pinson Mounds Boardwalk in the Fall
Colorful Leaves
An elevated boardwalk leads through the fall trees at Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park in Tennessee.
During our Fall Break visit to Pinson Mounds, we hiked several of the trails there, including one that features a long boardwalk. We have walked this trail before, and it is always pleasant. However, the changing leaves and fall colors made our hike on this visit even more pleasant.
The boardwalk begins here at this gate. Or maybe it ends here at this gate if you come from the other direction. But we always end up going this way. The gate has been closed on a few of our visits, which is always a little sad. But they do close the boardwalk during the winter months, so take note of that if you plan to visit.
This boardwalk runs through a low, swampy area. It was dry during this recent visit because we have not had that much rain lately. But water covered the ground in this area during some of our other visits. I like seeing it either way, but this time it was nice to be able to see all of the fall-colored leaves on the ground. We would not have been able to see those leaves as much if they had been under water.
We hiked at a leisurely pace through the woods and over the boardwalk. You could go through it much faster than we did, of course. But we like seeing all of the natural beauty, so we don’t get in too big of a hurry.
Different Looks
Isn’t it amazing how everything looks different with a change of seasons? Take for example this Pinson Mounds boardwalk area. Check out this earlier photo from a springtime visit. Everything was green and bright. The leaves on the trees were still new, and the grass was coming up. Or see this other springtime view after our area had received a good bit of rain. The trees were still green with new leaves, but there was water everywhere.
Compare both of those with the photo above, where everything is yellow and brown. Some trees have already lost some of their leaves, and there is not much grass in sight. It is the same area, but it has a completely different look.
In our area, as in so many other places, everything is always changing throughout the year. Grass and trees are either growing, thriving, or dying, and then starting all of it over again. It is fascinating to see that cycle year after year.
God’s creation is amazing. I say that often, but I still believe it is true.
Bible Verse
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. - Psalm 95:3-5
About the Photo
Everything was just about perfect for this photo. The sky was overcast, so that the sunlight filtered through the clouds as well as through the tree leaves. Perfect lighting for this scene.
Of course, the colors were nice, too. I may have tweaked them just a bit in Aurora HDR to bring out the autumn-ness, but they were nice to begin with.
And the company was nice, too. Even though you can’t see Laura in this photo, she was right there with me. It would not have been as much fun without her there.
Scenes like this always make me look forward to our next Pinson Mounds visit, whenever it might be, and whatever season it might be.
Photo: A single Raw exposure, processed in Aurora HDR. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 II
Lens: Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens
Date: October 8, 2020
Location: Pinson Mounds State Park, Tennessee
