Beautiful Fall Photography Tips for the Poconos

Step into the historic town of Milford, Pennsylvania, where autumn foliage creates a charming backdrop.

Shohola lake

In this blog post, I will share my favorite spots to capture the year’s most stunning fall colors in and around Milford, Pennsylvania, along with places to grab a post-shoot latte, lunch, or lie back and enjoy the view.

A few weeks ago I felt the first hint of fall. It was during an early morning photography session at the sunflower fields. As I rounded the path through the maze, I noted the drooped flowers. A chill in the air wasn’t there yesterday. Brown leaves crunched and crackled as they blew past, and in the distance I could hear the familiar chirp of the finches. A wave of nostalgia washed over me.

Autumn was here; a subtle arrival, yet such a strong tug at the heart, and although it leads to the thin wintry light, it was a time of year I looked forward to, especially for photography.

A two-hour drive from NYC will take you to one of Pennsylvania’s most adorable and historic towns: Milford, Pennsylvania. Tucked inside the foothills of the Poconos, this tristate town offers visitors and locals some of the best opportunities to experience nature in the Northeast without the overbearing crowds.

I have been fortunate to call Milford my “home base” for many years. Although my travels and interest in the colder parts of our world often take me away, I am always happy to return to the forests and the charm this area has to offer.

Beyond the scenery, Milford is also a hot spot for birders and serves as a special Migratory Birding Belt path in spring and autumn. It is not uncommon to spot a colorful Hooded Warbler on the trails or hear the melody of a Pine Warbler in the tree canopy, along with other seasonal visitors such as Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, and year-round residents like Black-capped Chickadees and Pileated Woodpeckers.

I will create a separate post regarding bird photography in the area because it deserves its own credence. This post focuses solely on landscape photography, but if you would like more information now on local birding activity, check out the Gifford Pinchot Audubon Society, located right here in Milford at the historic Grey Towers (yes, we even have our own Audubon Chapter!).

For now, let’s get to the foliage and views!

When to visit

Fall arrives in Northeast Pennsylvania around the last week of September. By the first week of October, temperatures begin to drop, and we may even receive our first frost.

At higher elevations, trees such as maples shift to their signature vivid reds and oranges, while pops of yellow appear on Black Walnuts and Birch.

Milford and its surrounding area sit at about 1300 feet, which isn’t very high compared with regions such as the High Peaks in upstate NY, where peak season typically arrives around late September.

Peak foliage in Milford is expected the second to third week in October, sometimes stretching out to the last week, when you will still see some colors hanging on. Personally, I like this time too because it can make for great compositions; the color really pops in the grey landscape like in the award-winning image that I captured near the McDade Trail:

How to plan

No matter when you visit, it is best to arrive with a plan or a clear idea of what kind of images you want to take, especially because some locations are spread apart or require a short hike to reach.

After I decide what images I want, I plan the timing around the light. When I first got serious with photography, I didn’t understand how important this was. I would show up at waterfalls in the morning only to realize the sun was shining harshly on them, or quite the opposite.

The key is knowing what time your light will do what, and what direction it is coming from. In the forest, this can be especially helpful because streaming sun rays can make a beautiful composition on their own (like below), and you can work with that light to leave with something you are happy with.

You also want to consider how long it will take to reach your destination, as well as how long it will take to set up your equipment and compose your shot. For example, if you are planning a foliage and fog shot from the Cliff Trail, leave enough time to hike to the cliff, prep your equipment, and play around with your composition.

Some locations, like Hornbecks Falls, require a few miles of hiking, while others, like Shohola Falls, are a short walk from the parking lot.

Here are a few of my recommended apps for your Milford Photo Planning:

Alpenglow– gives you updates on sunrise quality as well as critical times such as Blue Hour, Golden Hour, and First Light

Photo Pills– Does all of the above, plus provides a detailed coordinating map for light-direction planning and pin drops.

AllTrails– Provides a detailed map and recent reviews of trail conditions if your location involves a hike.

Where to go

Now that I covered how to plan and when to visit, let’s cover a few of my favorite spots for that perfect fall foliage photo.

Hornbeck’s Trail

Perfect for: Beautiful tree colors with tall trees and leaf-littered walking paths; a waterfall with a unique shape and a variety of angled shots; and flowing creeks with downed logs and leaves.

Distance from Milford: 12.9 miles

Need to know: Hornbecks Trail is typically quieter but often has bear sightings and is a hot spot for deer ticks. The carport is small, and it is easy to miss the turnoff from 209, so watch the distance on your GPS. A series of wooden bridges you have to cross makes for lovely compositions!

AllTrails Link

The Knob and Cliff Trail

Perfect for: A long day of exploring with many forested trails and opportunities for cliff views of the Delaware and distant hills. Waterfalls, forest foliage, foggy cliff views, birding.

Distance from Milford: .9 miles if you begin at the Ranger Station

Need to know: The Knob trail system is extensive, with multiple trailheads and deer paths that can be confusing. There is some signage on the trails but not much. I would recommend using AllTrails and not venturing onto deer paths unless you are good at orienting yourself. The trail is also home to Hackers Falls and a short walk or drive from the towering Raymondskill Falls. Both make for an amazing waterfall composition. Most people hike to the Knob overlook where you can see the town of Milford from above. Personally, I prefer the other overlooks on the Cliff Trail because they overlook the river. You can also spot Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons from here!

AllTrails Link

Mcdade Trail

Perfect for: Open grasslands with colorful cliffs in the background. Birding. Fog and low-lying mist. Wooden bridges and small streams.

Distance from Milford: Varies depending on where you begin; the beach is the closest option, but there are plenty of access points along 209.

Need to know: The McDade Trail is a well-maintained 31-mile trail that stretches from Milford Beach to Smithfield Beach in Stroudsburg. It is primarily used for walking, trail running, biking, and access points to the river. The trail has multiple entry points along Route 209, with occasional facilities closer to Smithfield Beach, as well as campgrounds. Milford Beach charges a parking fee, and park rangers check parked vehicles. I recommend not visiting the trail after October 24 because of heavy pheasant hunting use.

If you park at Milford Beach and walk the trail south, around mile 4 it becomes severely washed away, and you will have to walk on the road for a bit until the next access point.

This trail is excellent for birding, especially during the migratory season, and don’t be surprised if you also spot a bear, a fox, or a bobcat in the morning!

AllTrails Link

Cornelia Forest Preserve:

Perfect for: Quiet forest scenes, birding, pond reflections, morning light, and golden ferns at sunset.

Distance from Milford: 5.6 miles

Need to know: The Cornelia Forest Preserve is privately owned land donated for public use, with easements in place. It can get popular for dog walking and large family groups because of its accessibility, so I highly recommend visiting early in the morning or around dinner time for the golden colors on the ferns.

The entire loop is about 3.5 miles and takes about 2 hours to complete, including photo stops. This is a great spot to bring a macro, as there are usually a lot of interesting mushrooms to see in the forest. I have also spotted porcupines, foxes, black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, and milk snakes here. Keep in mind this is Timber rattlesnake territory, and ticks like to hang out in the grass.

AllTrails Link

Shohola Falls:

Perfect for: Morning mist. Dreamy lake shots. Golden waterfall light. Flowy waterfall. Dreamy pools with floating leaves.

Distance from Milford : 11.1 miles

Need to know: Shohola Falls is a small set of waterfalls off Route 6 that is very accessible from the parking lot. It is one of my favorite locations for early-morning shoots and moon shoots because of the abundance of dark sky. Although fairly small, there are a variety of places to stand to create different compositions of the falls.

AllTrails Link

What to pack

Depending on the temperature and weather, pack layers if your trip involves any hiking.

For photography equipment, I recommend the following:

Camera body or two if you are like me and would like to switch quickly between landscape and wildlife
A wide-angle lens ( 15-35 mm). A longer focal lens such as 100-500 mm for wildlife, and a macro if you have it!
Polarizing filter for waterfalls
Memory cards and spare batteries. I recently discovered this bomb proof case for carrying my spares, and I love it!
Tripod for landscape shots
Remote shutter or a shutter app for remote shutter control on your phone
Binoculars for spotting birds and critters.
Lens wipes and other cleaning tools you prefer.
A camera bag with adjustable hiking straps.