Nature Trail at Fantastic Caverns
During our October 2022 Kansas and Missouri Trip, we visited Fantastic Caverns, in Springfield, Missouri. And they were indeed fantastic as advertised. However, just as fantastic was the nature trail, which we had not anticipated!
Into the Woods
Near the entrance to the caverns, the trail started out with a wooden boardwalk. And if you have been around here for very long at all, you might have picked up on the fact that I like boardwalks. Don’t believe me? Check out this post, this one, this one, and this one, just for starters. There are more, by the way, but those are a good start. I was happy to add the one pictured above at Fantastic Caverns to the collection.
While it was still early autumn when we were there, the leaves had definitely begun to fall. In this view, I like the fall colors of leaves on the ground mixed in with the green leaves still on the trees. It all definitely felt autumnal.
The trail eventually led down to where the water that flows through the cave exits and runs out into a small river. Or maybe a large stream, depending on how you classify things. Because there had not been much rain in a while, there was no water flowing out from the cave, but we still got to enjoy this watery view.
As always, things like this are better with the right people to experience them with. Laura and I had a great time taking in all this beautiful scenery. As if going inside Fantastic Caverns wasn’t enough, this nature trail made it all even better. Like icing on the cave cake!
Another Reminder
Not to sound like a broken record, broken record, broken record… But I have written many times before about taking the time to enjoy the beauty of nature. So consider this just another reminder, in case you need one. Or if this is your first time, consider this your encouragement to do so.
Manmade things are pretty great sometimes. But God’s creation is beautiful all on its own, even better than the beauty of the things that man can design and build.
Too often, we rush right by the natural things, missing the beauty that is there. It is a little easier to stop and look when the leaves have their fall colors, but there is beauty to be found in nature even in the dead of winter, too.
Take some time to stop and enjoy nature. It will not be time wasted.
May there be an abundance of grain in the earth; on the tops of the mountains may it sway. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon. - Psalm 72:16
About the Photos
It was an overcast, misty day while we were there at Fantastic Caverns, although the weather was more noticeable on the nature trail than in the cave. But it was not quite as dark as these photos might make it look.
For these photos, I intentionally used some darker tones, which hopefully make the photos a little more eye-catching than they might have otherwise been. These tones also bring out the fall colors in the leaves, which was a bonus for me.
Photo: Each photo is a single Raw exposure, processed in GIMP and Raw Therapee. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 II
Lens: Rokinon 35mm f/1.8
Date: October 10, 2022
Location: Springfield, Missouri
