During the golden hour follow the “yellow brick” road through lofty cathedrals of emerald leaves, and soft carpets of verdant green grasses. You will not find the Emerald Forest listed on any map or visitor guide for Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. Like the magical land of Oz, it is a place that is waiting to be discovered. Travel too fast you may miss it. Walk too slow you may not reach it in time. Linger too long and it will disappear before your eyes.
Opening shot in the series. Since I am racing against the setting sun, I was uncertain what the sun position would be when I returned to the road bend. Therefore, I took two photos. The first of two focusing on capturing the upper tree canopy.
The road through the park can be rather narrow. Without perspective it might look like a walking path. The second of two opening shots at the road bend focuses not on the forest but the sun light pattern on the road surface.
The next three series of photos are taken a considerable distance down the road. There is no parking and requires a hike. This is the location I originally spotted when passing through with my car and had to rush back on foot to still catch the sunlight.
In this area I was struck by how the trees not only made an arch over the road but almost came to a point like the archway buttresses in European cathedrals.
Focuses on the straight tall trees that eventually go on to arch over the roadway.
Returning to the bend in the road, the sun is lower in the sky. This brings out the vibrant green in the forest.
Vertical shot of the Emerald Forest. Requiring a different name for the photo. If yellow brick roads can take you to cities of emeralds, they certainly should be able to take you to Emerald Forests. Shouldn’t they?