FALL CYPRESS TREES

How many of you have ever photographed cypress trees when their needles turn orange in fall? For those of you who answered no, let me tell you that you are missing an incredible opportunity to photograph some of fall’s best colors.

In fact, photographing cypress trees with their beautiful fall orange needles has become one of my top fall photo subjects.

In this post, I will share with you why cypress trees are one of my favorite fall color subjects by visiting two Georgia cypress lakes. On this road trip we will explore the photography opportunities at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge and George Smith State Park. Not only will I share tell you where these places are but also provide guidance on the best times to visit to capture the cypress trees in perfect fall color.

So grab your cameras and let’s begin our road trip in Lakeland, Georgia at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Banks Lake is located about 30 minutes northeast of Valdosta, Georgia on Highway 221 by Lakeland, Georgia way out in the country. The wildlife refuge is a 4049 acre area with a natural blackwater lake that contains large stately cypress trees.

Directions to Banks Lake

The best way to reach Banks Lake, unless you live in the area, is to take Interstate 75 and exit at Valdosta then take on of the two routes shown on the map below. I encourage you to check traffic on each route then choose accordingly.

Note: this is a screen shot and not real time traffic!

Banks Lake- Things to Know

The different habitat types at Banks Lake Wildlife Refuge include:

Bank’s Lake Wildlife Refuge Fall Cypress Tree Photography

The cypress trees on this lake are tall and very photogenic but land based photography is limited to only a small boardwalk and one portion of the shoreline. As mentioned above, If you are serious about acquiring a variety of different images from this cypress lake, some type of watercraft is highly recommended. For those who are not able to access a watercraft, don’t despair as the photography from the boardwalk and shoreline are still worth making the visit.

Examples of photo opportunities from the boardwalk and shoreline

From the Boardwalk:

From the Shoreline:

Banks Lake -When To Go and For How Long

Banks Lake Wildlife Refuge- Best Times for Photography

To capture fall color on the cypress trees at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, I recommend planning a visit anywhere from the 8th of November to around the 13th of November but I would call the refuge for color updates around October 5th to nail down the best time. The refuge number is 912-496-7366.

As to time of day to visit, if possible, visit both in the morning hours and also the afternoon hours. If not possible, I believe the best light on the cypress trees is in the afternoon but mornings can also be good.

Banks Lake Wildlife Refuge-How Long to Stay

If you are only photographing cypress trees from the shore, one to two hours is plenty time to capture the trees. However, if you rent some type of watercraft, i would allocate at least 4 hours for Banks Lake.

Drive from Banks Lake to George Smith State Park

The drive between Banks Lake and George Smith State Park just short of three hours and is 129 miles. It is not a very scenic drive so other than an occasionally cotton field, there will be little reason to stop for photography. My preferred route is Highway 221 but here are your options.

Once you arrive in Twin City, turn east on Highway 80/28 and drive a short distance until you come to a road on your right called George Smith Parkway. Turn and this will take you into the park.

George Smith State Park

George Smith State Park is located just east of Twin City, George on Highway 80. It is a small state park with just over 1,600 acres but don’t let its size fool you. Amazing photo opportunities of cypress trees in fall color await you here along with some other great photo ops including a functioning mill.

Update: As of Nov 2, 2023, the cypress trees have turned color very early this year and are now just past peak. I have cancelled my trip for the 5th and will have no new updated this year.

About George Smith State Park

George Smith State Park is a 1600 + state park named after a Georgia House of Representative speaker. The park features a 412 acre lake, cypress and tupelo trees, a refurbished Mill, a covered bridge, boat rentals cabins, and campsites. There are many more shoreline locations from which to photograph the cypress trees at George Smith than at Banks Lake. Still I recommend renting a boat for part of your visit.

The cypress trees are not as tall as those at Banks Lake Wildlife Refuge but the photography opportunities are much better here. Let me show you what I mean with the cypress photos in a later section.

George Smith State Park- Things to Know

George Smith State Park- When to go

The best time to visit George Smith State Park to see fall color in the cypress trees is from about Nov 5 through the 12. As the color progresses as shown above, I highly recommend staying for at least 2 night. There is not much to see in the nearby areas so 2 to 3 days at peak color should be adequate.

George Smith State Park Cypress Tree Photography

Every stage of fall color on the cypress trees is photogenic and worth capturing. So plan to arrive if possible before peak color and stay through the peak.

The Fall Cypress Tree Color Begins

The cypress tree needles begin to show fall color as the needles first turn yellow then light orange.

Fall Cypress Tree Color Abounds

A couple days after the first colors appear, the trees now begin to show a pretty mid-tone orange color.

In the last stages of fall color, the needles turn an incredible burnt orange color that is almost magical. Naturally this is my favorite time to photograph the fall color on the cypress trees at George Smith. However, once the leaves turn burnt orange, they are highly susceptible to wind.

Peak Fall Cypress Tree Color

Nn my last visit, I photographed the trees in the early morning hours and by lunch time, the lake was so full of needles that it was no longer photogenic. Don’t sleep in once the needles are in their final color phase.

Photographs of George Smith Cypress Trees from the Water.

This next image was taken from a boat allowing for a closer view of the trees and has also received awards in two national contests.

Although this post is about photographing fall color on cypress trees, I must mention that George Smith State Park also has a covered bridge and a mill to photograph along with woodland scenes from a hiking trail.

Cypress Tree Photography Challenges

Producing Great Cypress Tree Photos is Challenging

Final Thoughts on George Smith and Banks Lake

I have only mentioned the cypress swamps that I have visited but would be remiss if I did not also mention that once of the best places to photograph cypress trees in fall is Caddo Lake in Texas. I had not yet had a chance to visit that area but hear it is wonderful for fall cypress tree photography. Hopefully next fall I will be at Caddo Lake in the mist of it’s amazing cypress trees.

I hope this post inspired you to make a visit to one of these amazing cypress swamps as part of your fall color photo trips.

Thanks for joining me as always on another Road Trip Friday adventure and be sure to check back in a month when I post updated images and information on these areas from my upcoming fall trip.

Other Fall Color Trips