The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area straddles the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, just below New York State. The land was originally set aside for a dam that would have flooded the region. Fortunately the project was cancelled in 1978 and the land was transferred to the National Park Service.

Over the course of my life, I have driven through the park countless times. The scenic byway through the park was my parents’ favorite route when traveling from New York to Pennsylvania to visit our extended family. I have distinct childhood memories of driving through the park at twilight, watching fireflies flickering in the overgrown fields on the edge of the river.

As an adult, I often visit the Delaware Water Gap to escape the grind of city life and enjoy the beauty of the Pocono Mountains and the park’s many waterfalls. On one such outing, I discovered a hike that led to an overview of the Delaware River and New Jersey in the distance. I recently returned to the same trail, hiking back an hour before dawn so that I could be on site in time to watch the sun rise. I found a spot along the cliff overlooking the river and, as the day dawned, I had a stunning view to the southeast, with the fields and forest just starting to showcase their autumn colors.

This shot was taken with a wide angle, allowing me to capture both the edge of the cliff and the river valley below, which was framed nicely by the trees arching out over the clifftop.