Here’s Why You Need To Immediately Go Photograph Coopers Rock

From amazing landscapes to birds, insects, and fungus, there's loads to photograph at Coopers Rock State Park just east of Morgantown, WV.

Photograph Coopers Rock State Park

Recently my wife and I (re)discovered Coopers Rock State Park, just 13 miles east of Morgantown WV just off of Interstate 68 while looking for new places to explore, hike, and photograph. Coopers Rock is less than 2 hours south of Pittsburgh and well worth taking a day trip to visit.

Grand Vistas at Coopers Rock

I don't generally consider myself a landscape photographer. However, Coopers Rock is a great close-by location. Too, it's perfect if you want to photograph grand vista landscape photos.

The massive rock viewing platform at the Coopers Rock Overlook is the perfect vantage point for extensive views of the Cheat River Gorge. In fact, it reminded me a lot of Shenandoah National Park. Obviously, it is smaller. However, the rock formations are very similar and equally impressive to explore and photograph.

Almost Heaven For Landscape Photography

If you love landscape photography then photographing landscapes at Coopers Rock is a must. The large boulders, old growth forest, and variety of understory plants lend themselves to beautiful compositions quite easily.

Bird Photography at Coopers Rock State Park

I didn't take my bird photography gear to Coopers Rock this time. My wife and I were hiking and planned to keep a good pace at it. Therefore, I didn't want to be slowed by my giant lens and monopod.

That said, I saw so many opportunities for bird photography at Coopers Rock. There were vultures and other large birds soaring on the updrafts. The Cheat River Gorge gives them a tremendous boost.

Songbirds at Coopers Rock

Additionally, I saw and heard a great number of migrating and local song birds. First, there were a bunch of Chipping Sparrow which are a fun warm-weather visitor to Pittsburgh and the greater Mid-Atlantic region. In addition, I saw two American Redstarts and heard a number of Warblers. We're also within their breeding areas. Most of these migrants are a wonderful reminder that Spring is in full swing.

Besides the migratory visitors to the Pittsburgh and Morgantown areas I saw a lot of local songbirds. Cardinals and Robins were abundant as were other common birds for our region.

Ultimately, if you want to photograph birds then Coopers Rock is an excellent place to find them.

Macro Photography at Coopers Rock State Park

As with bird photography, I didn't have the time to do any macro photography. However, I can tell that Coopers Rock is a great place for macro photography. In fact, the fungus and lichens I saw were abundant. Too, there were a wide variety of butterflies. Most of which I'd never seen before. As such, it seems like a great place to visit in order to capture photos of these amazing creatures.

In addition to what I saw there are macro photo opportunities I didn't get to explore. The area is known to be home to 22 different types of salamander. Too, Coopers Rock is a great place for spiders and lots more.

In Conclusion

If you live nearby, or even if you don't, go visit and photograph Coopers Rock State Park. I promise that you'll love it. Too, I promise that there are things to photograph no matter what type of nature and wildlife photography you're into.

Want to know how to take better photos at Coopers Rock and elsewhere? Sign up for a class with me!

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