During our day trip to Rangeley earlier this fall, we decided to visit Cascade Stream Gorge Trail for a quick hike and photo-taking opportunities. The short trail leads into the 90-foot deep gorge of Cascade Stream providing access to a series of waterfalls and chutes.
Shortly after leaving the parking lot, the trail continues into the woods and along the stream. There are several nice viewpoints of the stream and falls along the trail which at several points follows the bedrock on the side of the gorge. A higher trail away from the stream offers a 1.2-mile loop opportunity.
The trail offered an array of fall views and during this time of year, it was simply gorgeous. The changing foliage was beautiful and the low-humidity weather made for a perfect day for hiking. If you are going to hike here, I would recommend that you wear a decent pair of hiking shoes and watch your step. A few areas of the hike could be quite treacherous.
If you are going to visit the area, here is a quick warning, the short drive up the steep gravel driveway to the parking area is very steep. For those who don’t think their low-clearance cars can make it, there is an area to park on the street below. We took one look at a few of the giant potholes on the drive up as well and decided not to chance it and parked below.
Once we reached the waterfall, I wanted to practice my long-exposure photography skills. This involves using a long-duration shutter speed to sharply capture the stationary elements of images while blurring, smearing, or obscuring the moving elements. This technique allowed for the blurring of the moving water of the water so it would have mist-like qualities while keeping the stationary objects such as the rocks and other structures looking sharp. That’s the goal, anyway!
There are plenty of resources for you to learn this technique yourself. I would first recommend that you refer to your camera manual to get familiar with using your own camera. Simple steps for you taking these types of photographs include setting your camera to Manual (M) mode or Aperture Priority (A/Av) mode and your ISO to your camera’s lowest value such as ISO 100. Also, set the aperture to an appropriate value for the scene and then choose a shutter speed.
Other important equipment for you to remember is the use of a tripod and cable release and this will help to prevent camera shake. In the long run and during the editing process, this will help to limit the number of blurry images. You can also experiment with different filters and lens hoods in order to capture the lighting in different ways. I also experimented with a few different lenses during this session. I also took several photographs of different angles of the waterfall.
I would recommend taking a few test shots and remember to have fun while you practice taking these types of photographs. Feel free to experiment and let your creativity flow!
I included the specs for each photograph below:
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 100)
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 125)
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 200)
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 250)
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 200)
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 200)
(f/22, 2 seconds, ISO 160)
Here is a quick video of the gorge for your viewing pleasure.
I hope you enjoyed viewing a few photographs of one of Maine’s several beautiful waterfalls.
Directions to Cascade Stream Gorge Trail
From the North: From the intersection of ME Routes 4 and 16 in downtown Rangeley, travel south on ME Route 4 towards Sandy River Plantation. At 3.5 miles there is the intersection of South Shore Drive and Cascade Road with ME Route 4. Take a left onto Cascade Road. After about 100 yards the road ends at a T-intersection with Town Hall Road (the town hall is straight ahead). From here, take a left and then an almost immediate right (look for a Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust marker in trees). Go up the steep driveway, bearing right, to the parking area and trailhead.
From the South: Head from Phillips towards Rangeley on ME Route 4 North. At the intersection of South Shore Drive and Cascade Road with ME Route 4 in Sandy River Plantation. Take a right onto Cascade Road. After about 100 yards the road ends at a T-intersection with Town Hall Road (the town hall is straight ahead). From here, take a left and then an almost immediate right (look for a Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust marker in trees). Go up the steep driveway, bearing right, to the parking area and trailhead.
Again, as I mentioned above, If your car cannot make it up the road at the driveway to the trailhead parking, you can park along Townhall Road. Also, do not park in the Town Office parking lot.
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