As Kiersten K Photography and I were driving down the road last night from an elopement shoot at Dolly Sods we were about to pass Seneca Rocks. We noticed three little lights that were moving, thinking it was hikers on their way down at first-we became more curious as we got closer.
We decided to pull over just below the Seneca Rocks visitor center and just watch the lights for a minute. It was a clear night and we thought why not try a long exposure. However, we didn’t have any tripods with us at the time so we put our Sony A7Riii on a 10 sec timer, focused on 15 second long exposure and waited for the result.
After a few tries this is what we got. These spontaneous projects and ideas is what I love about photography. In the dead of night as you were driving by you would never know that this amazing image of these rock giants were watching you.
Seneca Rocks is one of the best-known landmarks in West Virginia. These rocks have long been noted as a scenic attraction and are popular with rock climbers.
The rocks are a magnificent formation rising nearly 900 feet above the North Fork River. Seneca Rocks is a village in Pendleton County, West Virginia, at the junction of US 33, WV 28 and WV 55. It is located near the confluence of Seneca Creek and the North Fork South Branch Potomac River. The community lies at the foot of Seneca Rocks, the almost vertical cliff that attracts rock climbers from all over the world.
The village has several rock climbing operations that offer guiding and rock climbing courses. Both the village and the famous rock are part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area within the Monongahela National Forest. Seneca Rocks is the location of the historic Sites Homestead built in 1839, as well as the Seneca Rocks Visitor Center. Nearby Smoke Hole Caverns are show caves with fascinating cave formations.
The entire Seneca Rocks are among the most popular local attractions and the almost vertical rock faces are a very popular with rock climbers. Seneca Rocks is located at the north end of the River Knobs, which has other similar ridges or “fins” including Judy Rocks and Nelson Rocks, on the western side of North Fork Mountain. Rising almost 900 feet above the spot where Seneca Creek meets the North Fork, Seneca Rocks is visually striking and it overlooks the village of Seneca Rocks.
The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center is located at the base of Seneca Rocks, near the village of Seneca Rocks, West Virginia. It enjoys a majestic view of the fascinating vertical wall. The center has a gift shop, classrooms, art displays, and an indoor rock climbing wall for beginners. The center is great place to start a visit to the area. At the walking distance from the Center is the Sites Homestead, a historic home originally built as a log home in 1839 by Jacob Sites. The home is a testament to the use of local materials and skilled craftsmen. The grounds of the Homestead and the beautiful heirloom gardens are open during daylight hours. Tours of the home can be arranged.