Can You Still Hike Black Balsam Knob and Graveyard Fields in November? What to Know Before Winter

Yes, as long as the Blue Ridge Parkway stays open south of US 276, and right now it is. As of 9:29 AM on Monday, November 9, the National Park Service listed the Parkway open from US 276 south past Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam all the way to NC 215. That is the stretch you need. Go on a clear day, start early, pack for wind and cold, and be back at the car before the sun sets around 5:30 PM.

Is the Blue Ridge Parkway open to Black Balsam and Graveyard Fields right now?

Yes, the part you need is open. From the house you drive up US 276 to the Parkway and turn south. The NPS road status page listed that whole run open on Monday morning: US 276 to just north of the Graveyard Fields Overlook, then on to Black Balsam Road (FS 816), then to Beech Gap at NC 215. It noted short single-lane closures near Milepost 422, past both trailheads.

The section north of US 276, toward the Pisgah Inn, was closed for road maintenance. That doesn’t change this trip, since you turn the other way.

The catch is that this can flip overnight. The Park Service says closures for bad weather happen most often in winter, and November is the doorstep. Check the status before breakfast, not the night before. The Blue Ridge Parkway guide covers how to read it.

What is different about Black Balsam Knob in November?

The leaves are down and the view is wide open. Black Balsam Knob tops out at 6,214 feet, and the summit is a treeless grassy bald. In November the grass goes tan, the rock shows through, and on a clear day the ridges stack out in every direction with nothing in the way. The classic hike is still the same: about 1.5 miles round trip and 400 feet of gain, starting in balsam fir and breaking out onto open bald.

What changes is the weather on top. Our Black Balsam guide puts it this way: weather can turn cold, wet, and windy with little warning, and people underdress for 6,000 feet and regret it. In November that warning matters more. The wind has nothing to slow it down up there. Fog can roll in and cover the summit, and on cold mornings the grass and the trail can carry a coat of ice.

Photo: o0vent0o, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Black Balsam Knob, taken October 29, 2017.

If you want the bigger day, the loop over Tennent Mountain runs about 5 miles and keeps you on open bald for nearly three of them. In November, save it for a calm, clear day with an early start. On a gray, windy day, the summit out-and-back is plenty.

Is Graveyard Fields worth it after the leaves drop?

Yes, on a clear day with the right layers. Graveyard Fields sits above 5,000 feet at Milepost 418.8, about 50 minutes from the house. Lower Falls is a 0.6-mile round trip on stairs, pavement, and boardwalk. The full loop to Upper Falls is about 3.2 miles, with rocky footing, stream crossings, and mud.

The small lot fills by mid-morning on nice weekends spring through fall, so a sunny November Saturday is still a day to get there early.

There’s also something new. On October 6, the Pisgah Conservancy, the Forest Service and the Parkway marked the completion of a 1-mile Upper Falls Connector Trail from the John Rock Overlook parking area down to the valley floor, according to Smoky Mountain News. It was built to carry crews and materials for the restoration work still to come, including bridge replacements on the Upper Falls Trail and the loop. Expect signs of that work, and stay on the marked trail.

How do you fit both into one short November day?

Start early and do the higher one first. The sun rises about 7:01 AM and sets about 5:28 PM on November 10, and it sets about 5:18 PM by the end of the month.

1. Check the Parkway status before you leave. If it shows closed, use the backup plan below.
2. Drive to Black Balsam first. It’s about 55 minutes from the house, at Milepost 420.2. Take the summit out-and-back while the morning is clear.
3. Drop back to Graveyard Fields. It’s a short drive back north on the Parkway, at Milepost 418.8. Walk to Lower Falls, or take the full loop if you have the legs and the light.
4. Head down by mid-afternoon. You want the Parkway behind you before dark, with time to spare for fog.

What should you bring for the balds in November?

More than you think you need. Both trailheads sit above 5,000 feet, and Graveyard Fields runs cooler than Brevard, with weather that shifts fast.

• A warm layer and a wind shell. Our guide calls layers and a rain shell not optional on Black Balsam.
• Hat and gloves. The summit is fully exposed once you leave the trees.
• Boots with real grip. Rocky, muddy, and icy on cold mornings.
• Trekking poles. They help on the descent.
• Water and a snack. There’s no water on top of Black Balsam.
• An offline map. Cell service is spotty to none on both trails.
• A full tank. There is no gas on the Parkway.
• Something bright to wear. See the next section.

Is it hunting season on the trails?

Yes. These trails sit in Pisgah National Forest, which is public hunting land. In the western North Carolina deer zone, blackpowder season runs November 14 to 27, and gun season opens November 28 and runs into January. Wear an orange or bright layer, keep a dog close and in something bright too, and stay on the trail.

What if the Parkway closes the day you go?

Stay low and stay on US 276. Looking Glass Falls is about 23 minutes from the house, free, and open year round, with a 60-foot drop right off the road. Moore Cove Falls is about 26 minutes away and a 1.4-mile round trip on an easy trail. Neither needs the Parkway. Save the balds for the next clear morning.

Where to stay for a November trip to the balds

Most places give you a bed and leave the rest to you. This one is set up for what happens after the miles are done. Pisgah Base Camp sits on the US 276 corridor in Pisgah Forest, so the drive up to the Parkway starts at your door, and the US 276 waterfalls are close when the high road is closed. There are gas fireplaces on both levels, so a cold, windy day on the bald ends warm. Packs and gear have a home in the garage, and the house sleeps six in three king bedrooms.

If you want a warm base for a cold day on top, check dates and book your stay.

Hero photo: o0vent0o, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. Black Balsam Knob, taken November 22, 2015.