Few things top the beauty of rolling hills and summer wildflowers in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Northeast Ohio boasts some of the most beautiful hiking trails and landscapes. Whether you are visiting one of the many trails of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Cleveland Metroparks’ Emerald Necklace, or Summit Metroparks, you won’t be disappointed. Beauty abounds in every season, but summer provides a colorful bonus. If you’re a wildflower enthusiast, this season is for you. Orchids, blazing stars, coneflowers, and more provide pops of yellow, purple, and white that peak in July and August. It’s well worth braving the summer heat and bugs to capture some vibrant photos amidst this glorious landscape.
Isabella’s senior session took place mid July, and a few sprays of white and yellow flowers were just beginning to show off. The tall, lush green grasses with endless textures provided a beautiful backdrop for her mid-summer session. This location boasts rolling hills galore and does require some walking to get to these vantage points, but I promise it’s worth it. Plan to pack some comfy, supportive shoes to trek up and down these hills as well as some bug spray to keep the bugs at bay. This location serves a dual purpose for a photo session AND a workout.
By early August, the rolling hills are filled with vibrant hues of purple, yellow, and white wildflowers. The complementary colors in nature are surreal. Hiking trails provide numerous walkways through the gorgeous florals and tall grass landscape. If you choose to photograph here, respect your surroundings and those who are there to enjoy the park. Stick with photographing on the trails, and avoid trampling the tall grass and wildflowers. The possibilities really are endless here. You can choose from various vantage points. If you’re up for an adventurous session of exploring and capturing photos, you may even stumble upon some streams and a lake.
For families with little ones who aren’t up for the full hiking and photo experience, there are plenty of nooks along the trail. This allows for beautiful photos without the commitment of trekking all over the park. The tall trees and grass provide ample shade in areas to escape the blazing sun and summer heat. This is also ideal for families with little ones that do not do well with waiting until golden hour in summertime. You can schedule a session for earlier in the day and avoid bedtime moodiness. While golden hour is my preferred time of day for photo sessions, sometimes it’s better to opt for a time that most members of the family will be cooperative for the best outcome.
This summer has served up its fair share of pop-up thunderstorms, and this besties’ photo session was no exception. No sooner had we climbed to the top of the second hill to begin our session, and the claps of thunder warned us of the ensuing raindrops. We managed to capture one photo at our favorite destination before scrambling for cover.
Thankfully I had brought my large reflector and a pop up changing pod. We popped both of those open to serve as protection as we raced back down and up the hills to the car. The girls were bummed that despite their best efforts, their hair did not stand up to the drenching rain. I encouraged them to forget about perfect hair and makeup and just have some fun. They opted to get back out there once there was a break in the weather and enjoyed their time capturing photos together.
We were delighted when the sun peeked out ever so slightly during golden hour and showcased a faint rainbow in the sky. While it was not ideal weather for a session, the rain didn’t put too much of a damper on the day, and the girls were so glad we opted to wait out the storm. When the rain settled to a drizzle, they played in the misty national park for a few photos before heading home. They were pleasantly surprised with how the photos turned out, and I loved the genuine joy and connection that we were able to capture when they relaxed and had fun.
Once late fall hits, the fields of tall grass and wildflowers are mowed down for the year, so if you want to check out this location in all its glory, the summer and early fall is the time to do so. If the winter is your jam, this area has some epic sledding hills when the snowy season is in full swing. A line of pine trees along the perimeter of the hills also provide a beautiful backdrop for snowy photos if you don’t make it in the summer months. You could capture some candid moments of your family sledding and then enjoying some hot cocoa by the fire during a winter experience session. Summer may be my favorite season at this location, but there truly is beauty in every season.
Whether the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is in your backyard or a dream destination, it never disappoints. Pictures truly do not do this national treasure justice. I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself. If you’ve been here, I would love to hear about your experience! What did you enjoy about this gem in Northeast Ohio?
XO, Katie
