29 Graveyard Fields
THE SCENIC LOWER FALLS AT GRAVEYARD FIELDS
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GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES: N35° 19.220' W82° 50.829'
DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 4-mile out-and-back
HIKING TIME: 2.5 hours
HIGHLIGHTS: Two waterfalls and seasonal blueberries
ELEVATION: 5,097 feet at trailhead to 5,261 feet at Upper Falls
ACCESS: Free and always open, but vehicle access to this hike is unavailable when the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed.
MAPS: USGS Shining Rock
FACILITIES: None
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: None
COMMENTS: Please make sure that no members of your party hike or play near the top of the waterfalls.
CONTACTS: Blue Ridge Parkway (828) 298-0398 and nps.gov/blri; Shining Rock Wilderness (828) 257-4200 and fs.usda.gov/nfsnc
Overview
Graveyard Fields is one of the most popular hikes in Western North Carolina. Its expansive views, mild terrain, fall blueberries, and cascading waterfalls make it a favorite destination for hikers of varying ages and interests. The hike starts near the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Graveyard Fields Overlook. After crossing the headwaters of the Yellowstone Prong, the path travels first to Upper Falls, then retraces and continues downstream to the scenic Lower Falls (also known as Second Falls).
Route Details
When you arrive at the Graveyard Fields Overlook, you will be able to view the expanse of Graveyard Fields before starting the hike. You may wonder how the shrub-filled terrain earned its name. A sign near the trailhead explains that a violent windstorm was responsible for knocking over the spruce trees that once filled the region, and when their stumps became overgrown with moss they looked like gravestones.
However, another theory suggests that after heavy logging at the turn of the 20th century, the remaining stumps appeared as graves in the cleared landscape. What we know, for a fact, is that raging wildfires ravished the area in 1925 and then again in 1940. The flames severely damaged the soil, and the lack of nutrients in the dirt has since prevented the growth of trees on the valley floor. While Mother Nature regenerates the earth, hikers are treated to an unobstructed view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.
To begin the hike, travel to the northwest end of the parking lot and leave the pavement behind as you tread the downhill steps. When standing at the information sign in the parking lot, turn left (west) to find the correct path. (Unfortunately, there is no trailhead marker here and there is an alternate trailhead in the southeast corner of the parking lot, but you do not want that one.)
Your trail immediately enters a rhododendron tunnel. The long green passage—which blossoms with pink and purple flowers starting in early June—stops at a wooden bridge that crosses the headwaters of the Yellowstone Prong. On the north side of the bridge you will come to a trail junction. Turn left here and follow the signs toward Upper Falls. If you are hiking in August or September, you will likely take longer than calculated to reach the waterfall, as multiple berry bushes line the path. During berry season weekends, you will see faithful hikers busy at work among the thickets in the valley. The serious gatherers come prepared with plastic milk jugs, the tops cut off and the jugs tied around their waists. This allows them to pick with two hands and efficiently put the wild fruit into their plastic cartons. Despite the hoards of fruit mongrels that frequent Graveyard Fields, the bounty still outweighs the berry harvest, and there are always a few juicy treats lining the path.
Because so many berry lovers come to Graveyard Fields, there are also several rabbit trails off the main path that lead to other prime berry-picking locations or to backcountry campsites. In order to make it to Upper Falls, stay on the well-defined trail and continue hiking west toward Black Balsam Knob. At 1.5 miles the trail will come into a small clearing at Upper Falls.
Upper Falls is a mere trickle when compared to the rushing torrents at Lower Falls, but it is also less visited and thus a welcome respite from the berry crowds. Several rocks surround the waterfall and offer a nice place to rest and enjoy the view. On your hike from Upper Falls back toward the trailhead, look to your left to identify Graveyard Ridge above the valley. This ridge overlooks Graveyard Fields and the Yellowstone Prong. If you want to extend your hike, after traveling 2.1 miles to this point, you can take a left on the Graveyard Ridge Trail and add a 2-mile extension to the cumulative distance of your hike, before reconnecting with the main route at the Lower Falls.
Passing the Graveyard Ridge connector, the trail travels over several wooden boardwalks before returning to the main spur leading to the parking lot. Do not return to the parking lot; continue straight ahead, following the trail signs leading to the Lower Falls. The path remains level and crosses over several more wooden boardwalks that protect your hiking shoes from the mud after a heavy rain.
After 2.8 miles of hiking, you will arrive at a trail intersection. The trail to the right also travels back to the parking lot and can be used as a shortcut if you wish to shorten the hike. However, it is highly recommended that you finish the suggested route by taking the Mountains to Sea Trail to the right and following it 400 yards farther to the base of Lower Falls.
Lower Falls is stunning. It showcases a steady stream of water cascading down a combination of slanted and vertical rocks. Several pools at the base of the falls lend themselves to wading or splashing on a hot summer day.
When you are ready to leave the falls, return on the same trail that brought you down to the rushing water. Follow the path 0.5 miles back to the trail junction that divides Upper Falls and Lower Falls. Take the path that first brought you down into Graveyard Fields and follow it across the bridge that spans the Yellowstone Prong. From there the trail leads gently uphill through the green rhododendron tunnel and returns to the trailhead parking lot.
Directions
Take the Blue Ridge Parkway south approximately 25 miles from Asheville. The Graveyard Fields overlook and trailhead parking are located between mile markers 418 and 419 on the right.