There is something special and soothing about the sound of flowing water. During my hike last week in Prince William Forest Park, I spent much of my time following Quantico Creek and listening to the different noises that it made as it moved through the varying landscapes.
The terrain I traversed was hilly and the elevation diagram below from my GPS software shows the ups and downs of my hike. From the area where I parked my car I had a rather steep descent to the creek. The first photo was my first view of the creek and gives you an idea of its size. Although the water appears quite still, it was moving towards the dam shown in the second photo that was only a short distance downstream.
To get to the next section of the creek, I had to climb up and over a ridge before beginning a long descent to a series of small cascades, one of which is shown in the penultimate photo. I followed the creek for a while as it continued to flow downhill, gradually flattening out a bit and giving me views like the one in the final photo.
Eventually, I turned around and headed back toward my car, partially retracing my steps and then taking a more direct and steeper route. During the three hours or so that I was on the trails I did not see another person. It is a little selfish, I know, but I prefer not to share my nature experiences with others. I like to proceed at my own pace, stopping whenever I choose, immersing myself in the beauty of nature, reviving and refreshing my soul.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful photos of the waterfall.
Mike, I’ve been a hiker for many years. Like you, solitude is my preference (my given situation requires me to be even more cautious on elevations alone). Rivers “speak” to me. Often I chase waterfalls. Being along a river and creek, seeing wildlife, and hearing the water bring me such peace. I really enjoyed your pictures and this post!
Sounds like a truly heavenly walk, Mike. I couldn’t agree more about listening to the sounds of flowing water, and about enjoying nature alone. Your photos illustrate each step along the way so beautifully. What a wonderfully tranquil way to spend three hours.